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J Human Nutrition Diet - 2025 - Boak - Five Actions to Strengthen the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession Into the Future 320.78 kB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Five Actions to Strengthen the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession Into the Future: Perspectives From Australia and New Zealand
Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol.38(3), pp.1-9
2025
PMID: 40364576
Abstract
Introduction
Forecasting how workforces will meet projected challenges faced by future populations is essential to future-proof professions. This paper aims to describe the specific actions required for nutrition professionals (nutrition scientists, nutritionists, dietitians) to realise the professions' workforce development vision of the future.
Methods
A qualitative interpretive approach was employed. Individual interviews were conducted with nutrition leaders and external thought leaders. Focus groups were also conducted with experts within the nutrition and dietetics professions, academic dietetics educators and students/recent nutrition science and dietetics graduates (total sample n = 68). Key nutrition-related issues and challenges, drivers for change and potential future roles of the profession were explored. This paper documents the actions required to achieve these outcomes. Data were analysed using a team-based thematic analysis approach.
Results
Analysis and interpretation of participant interviews identified five key actions to strengthen the profession: ‘Enhance and harness the diversity of the profession’; ‘Develop a cohesive profession with a strong identity’; ‘Decolonise teaching and practice’; ‘Retain science as the fundamental basis of the profession with trans-systems knowledge integration’; and ‘Build opportunities for an agile nutrition workforce’.
Conclusions
Future-proofing the nutrition profession rests on mobilising current strengths and embracing growth and change. There will be confronting challenges for members of the profession and for a united profession. Individual professionals, professional associations, educators and education institutions need to work together to instigate change towards a more equitable future to support optimal health and wellbeing for individuals, communities and populations.
Details
- Title
- Five Actions to Strengthen the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession Into the Future: Perspectives From Australia and New Zealand
- Authors
- Rachel Boak - The University of MelbourneClaire Palermo - Monash UniversityEleanor J Beck - UNSW SydneyFiona Pelly - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Nutrition & DieteticsClare Wall - University of AucklandDanielle Gallegos (Corresponding Author) - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication details
- Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol.38(3), pp.1-9
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1111/jhn.70064
- ISSN
- 1365-277X; 0952-3871
- PMID
- 40364576
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Dietetic Association. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Data Availability
- The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
- Grant note
- This work was supported by the Council of Deans Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991129994902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Nutrition & Dietetics
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Source: InCites