How to Become a Nutritionist in Australia

This article explains in detail what you must do to become a nutritionist in Australia. Setting fitness and nutrition goals is something you want to take seriously. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity continues to be prevalent among adults and children in America. Worldwide, 300 million people are obese, and 750 million people are overweight. According to the Parliament of Australia's Parliamentary Library, as of 2006, more than 30% of the adult population is obese.

The obesity trend continues to rise in Australia, especially in children. Clearly, eating healthy and losing weight has become critical. So to whom can you turn to get sound nutritional advice? A nutritionist is the best resource for setting fitness and nutrition goals. How do you become a nutritionist? Every country has certain criteria. To become a nutritionist in Australia, take these steps:

Things You'll Need

• Bachelor of science degree Graduate degree in nutrition

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Instructions

Find the Nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate

• 1

  The Dieticians Association of Australia oversees nutritionist/dietetic professional qualifications. If you are coming to Australia from overseas and you already have qualifications from your country of origin, then you must first visit an Australian Embassy or Consulate. Once you find the nearest Consulate, immediately purchase what is called the "General Skilled Migration" booklet. This booklet will give you all the information you need about testing and assessment for your qualification to be a nutritionist in Australia.

• 2

  If you are already an Australian Citizen, to become a nutritionist in Australia you must: receive a Bachelor of Science degree; or receive a 4-year undergraduate degree majoring in nutrition and dietetics and receive a graduate degree in dietetics.

  Here are a few accredited Australian institutions that provide appropriate training to become a nutritionist: Curtin University of Technology, located in Perth, Western Australia; Deakin University, located in Melbourne, Victoria; and Flinders University, located in Adelaide, South Australia. Once you've graduated from an accredited university, you can then apply to the DAA. The DAA is not an employment agency. Rather, it is a community of professionals dedicated to providing the most up-to-date health and nutrition information to its members. Through association with the DAA and participating in its workshops, employment opportunities open up quickly for members seeking employment in the nutrition field.

• 3

  Lastly, because as a nutritionist setting fitness and nutrition goals with your clients, you need to have a comprehensive understanding of the biochemical, physiological and psychological components of nutrition as it relates to health. Once you've gained your credentials as a nutritionist in Australia, a wide array of employment opportunities await you. For instance, you can be hired in the food industry wherein you give nutritional advice to companies, gain employment in public hospitals, private hospitals or community health centers. Some nutritionists in Australia do research work for universities and receive the benefit of free or low-cost education to further their credentials. Like the United States, due to the obesity epidemic in Australia, there will be a continuing growing need for nutritionists to help people set fitness and nutrition goals far into the future.