Dietitian
What the work is
Applies the science of food and human nutrition to promote health, prevent and treat illness and disease, and to optimise the health of individuals, groups, communities and populations.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Assesses the dietary needs of individuals and groups, and develops customised dietary plans
- Provides individualised nutrition advice to people with a range of health conditions
- Explains the relationship between food and health to attain and maintain people's health
- Plans menu options and manages the preparation of special meals or diets
- Provides guidance on food selection and preparation to individuals and groups
- Monitors and evaluates the progress of individuals on dietary plans
- Maintains accurate and confidential records of people's health when following dietary plans
- Provides primary, secondary and tertiary health care in settings that include hospitals and palliative care facilities
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a community health centre, with group sessions in a nearby hall. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A client tells you a recipe you suggested became the family's favourite
- A group session where everyone swaps ideas and goes home with a plan
- Someone says eating no longer feels like a battle
Hard days
- Clients who have been given conflicting advice by a dozen sources online
- A person who wants a quick fix when the answer is slow and gradual
- Being asked to endorse a popular diet you know does not hold up
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 263231, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.