How to Become a Nutrition and Dietetics Assistant

Are you passionate about helping people understand the relationship between food and health?

As a nutrition and dietetics assistant, you’ll work under the direction of a registered nutritionist to identify and treat dietary and nutritional problems.

If you’d love to make a career out of educating people about nutrition, this hands-on nutrition and dietetics role will allow you to help people make better food choices to prevent and treat illnesses and diseases.

Pursue a rewarding career in the allied health industry and learn how to become a clinical nutrition assistant with the right nutrition courses.

Top Traits of a Nutrition and Dietetics Assistant

Passion for Nutrition

Nutritionist and dietitian assistants should be experts in food and nutrition. Clients present to you for advice on what to eat in order to enjoy a healthier lifestyle or achieve other health-related goals.

If you’re not passionate about what you’re promoting or leading by example with your own habits, it may be difficult to influence and motivate your clients to trust your judgement and follow your instructions.

Strong Communication Skills

This role is extremely client-focused and requires outstanding communication and interpersonal skills. You’ll be required to listen and respond to the needs of each individual client, counsel them on the importance of nutrition and health, and clearly explain their meal plans.

You’ll also need to report to your supervising nutritionist or dietitian and other health care professionals.

Solid Organisational Skills

Nutrition and dietetics assistants often write reports to document patient progress. They may also be required to undertake other administrative tasks like scheduling appointments and preparing educational resources for clients.

Nutrition Courses

To become a qualified nutrition and dietetics assistant in Australia, you’ll need to successfully complete a HLT43015 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (Nutrition and Dietetics Specialisation). This nationally recognised nutrition course will set you up with the skills and knowledge required to enter the allied health industry as a nutrition and dietetics assistant, allied health assistant or therapy assistant.

Delivered through a combination of online study and hands-on experience, you’ll learn how to conduct health care program activities, confirm a patient’s physical health status, understand and apply medical terminology and follow safe work practices. You’ll also learn how to analyse nutritional deficiencies, meet individualised plans and monitor and implement diets.

Once you’ve graduated from this nutrition course, you’ll be qualified to work as a nutrition and dietetics assistant in a range of health and community areas such as rehabilitation centres, allied health, health promotion and hospital food service departments.

Kickstart a rewarding career helping people improve their wellbeing through good nutrition and learn more about a HLT43015 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (Nutrition and Dietetics Specialisation) with Foundation Education. Call our friendly and knowledgeable staff on 1300 616 197. Browse all of our health courses here.

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