Nutritionist
What the work is
Integrates, disseminates and applies knowledge drawn from the relevant sciences to enhance positive effects of food on the health and wellbeing of human populations.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Plans, implements and evaluates public health nutrition policies, programs and initiatives
- Assesses the nutritional needs of individuals and groups, and develops customised nutrition plans such as dietary modification and supplementation, to promote health and prevent, or support the remediation of, illness or disease
- Explains the relationship between nutrition and health to attain and maintain people's health
- Conducts research on the relationship between nutrition and health
- Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of nutrition plans
- Provides guidance on food selection and preparation to individuals and groups
- Develops and delivers nutrition education materials and presentations
- Provides primary and secondary health care in settings that include community health centres and specialised clinics
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 263232, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.