What is nutrition?
Nutrition is a type of natural medicine that explores the interrelationship between health, diet and disease. By maintaining good nutrition in one's diet and lifestyle, it will ensure the right balance of nutrients in the body. This subsequently improves an individual's health and well-being by improving their mental development, strengthening the immune system, and improving productivity. The role of nutritionists is to plan diets for their clients who are dealing with the following problems:
- Obesity
- Food allergies
- Abdominal pain
- Heart disease
- Intolerances
- High blood pressure
- Bloating
- Bowel irritation
- Malnutrition
- Diabetes
- Nausea
- Other chronic diseases
The curriculum of many nutrition colleges is nationally recognised by industry associations like:
- Nutrition Australia (NA)
- Dietitians Australia (DA)
- Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA)
- Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA)
Should you study nutrition?
Do you hope to have a rewarding career where you get to teach others about the importance of nutrition in promoting a balanced lifestyle?
If this sounds like something that you want to explore in more detail in your studies and career, then nutrition is the best industry for you! For you to succeed as a nutritionist, it is vital that you possess the following traits and skills:
- Strong listening and note-taking skills to accurately document a client's nutritional needs and lifestyle.
- Strong problem-solving skills when planning nutritional intervention programs that are tailored to the client's needs.
- Good analytical and numerical skills as you will need to constantly calculate nutritional values of diets, menus and meal plans.
- Good verbal and written communication skills when going over nutrition assessment reports with clients and explaining their benefits.
If you see a strong alignment between your career aspirations and qualities with those mentioned above, continue reading to discover your course and career options in the Sunshine Coast.
What are the course and study options of nutrition in the Sunshine Coast?
If you are simply looking to gain a brief overview of the world of nutrition, it is highly recommended that you first complete a Certificate or Diploma in Nutrition. This will allow you to determine if this is the right career path for you.
Once you complete these short courses and are set on pursuing a career in the field of nutrition, you will need to have finished a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Nutrition in order to become a qualified clinical nutritionist in the Sunshine Coast. Many nutrition course providers offer a variety of delivery learning options to accommodate your preferred learning style and schedules such as face-to-face, online or blended learning streams.
During these courses, you will be learning about a vast range of topics relating to chemistry, food science, biochemistry and the sociology of food science. By the end of your degree, you will gain a better understanding of how energy is converted in the human body through an analysis of the physiological and biochemical processes involved. Furthermore, along with your studies, you will need to complete a practical work experience module. This will allow you to work with a professionally trained nutritionist and adopt the skills and techniques that you have learned in the classroom in real-life situations.
If you are ready to pursue your dream job in the field of nutrition, scroll up to the top of this page to find some nutrition courses on the Sunshine Coast. Once you have explored all of your options and shortlisted your favourite courses, you can get in touch with the nutrition school directly for any further information you might need about their:
- Syllabus
- Accreditation
- Fees
- Start dates
What happens after you finish a nutrition course in the Sunshine Coast?
Once you complete your undergraduate degree you will need to register with the Nutrition Society Australia (NSA) Voluntary Register of Nutritionists. This will permit you to work as a nutritionist in both the Sunshine Coast and Australia as a formally recognised nutritionist. Furthermore, in terms of your professional opportunities, you will be able to work as a:
- Nutritionist
- Nutritional consultant
- Nutrition research
- Food technologist
- Dietitian
On the other hand, if you are looking for more flexibility in your career and life, it is highly recommended that you establish your own private practice specialising in nutrition. This self-employment alternative will allow you to have more control over your business and client management. Natural Therapy Pages can also provide you with valuable assistance throughout every stage of this rewarding yet challenging journey. By listing your face-to-face nutrition services or online consultations, you will be able to drive awareness about your service which can lead to an increase in your client base.
Finally, you have the option to continue studying through completing a postgraduate course such as a Master's degree in Nutrition or Dietetics and then later on a Doctorate in Nutrition. This will allow you to develop your knowledge in the field of nutrition, expand your skills to address a greater range of conditions. Another benefit of further education is the increased employment prospects through pay and the ability to become an academic in nutrition at a reputable university or institution.
