CCHS

A Career in DieteticsA Career in Dietetics

Fiona Ryley

Community & Sports Dietitian (APD)

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What is an Accredited Practising What is an Accredited Practising Dietitian?Dietitian?

‘An Accredited Practising Dietitian is a member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) and is

a recognised professional who has the qualifications to interpret and communicate the

science of nutrition to enable one to make informed and practical changes about food and

lifestyle in both health and disease’

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TimelineTimeline

• 1999- Completed Yr 12

• 2000- 1st Year Bachelor of Biomedical Science

• 2001- 2nd Year Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics

• 2002- 2003- Completed Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics

• 2004- 1st year working

• 2005- 2nd year working

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11stst Year Working Year Working

• Caulfield Community Health Service• Private Practice- Doncastor &

Footscray• Completed Sports Dietetics Course

at VIS and Sports Anthropometry Course

• Worked with VFL Coburg Tigers• End of 2004- Worked at Inner South

Community Health Service

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22ndnd Year Working Year Working

• Caulfield Community Health Service

• Inner South Community Health Service

• Victorian Institute of Sport SND (Hockey, Rowing, Cricket)

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How Did I Get My Jobs?How Did I Get My Jobs?

• Caulfield Community Health Service

• Inner South Community Health Service

• Coburg Football Club• Victorian Institute of Sport

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How Do I Apply Knowledge of How Do I Apply Knowledge of Science In My Job?Science In My Job?

• Everyday! Every client I see!• Dietary advice has to given in consideration

the effect of that food on client’s body, taking into consideration all medical conditions/history, medications

• Interpreting biochemistry• Looking at hydration/carbohydrate and rates

of absorption• Using clinical studies/journals for best

practice

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A Career in DieteticsA Career in Dietetics

• A degree in dietetics allows you to have many different types of jobs:

– Clinical– Community– Sports– Industry & Marketing– Private Practice– Project Officer

How did I decide?

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Community Dietitian @ Caulfield Community Dietitian @ Caulfield Community Health ServiceCommunity Health Service

Outreach Dietitian

• 1:1 consultations with all adults referred on a range of nutrition related conditions and diseases eg:– Wt loss or recent loss of weight– Heart disease– Diabetes– Gastrointestinal problems– Modified textured diet– General healthy eating and meal preparation advice

• Working with people from SRS’s, Rooming houses (drug and alcohol issues, mental and physical disabilities, instable housing etc)

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Community Dietitian @ Caulfield Community Dietitian @ Caulfield Community Health ServiceCommunity Health Service

• Health Promotion activities with outreach populations:– Meal Deal– Menu planning within SRS’s– Food Security Working Parties in local council– Development of EFR guide

• Other health promotion activities include:– Healthy eating and lifestyle group 4 x year– Conducting nutritional risk screening for staff– Conducting evaluations of program (e.g Meal Deal) – Supervision of 4th year dietetic students– Conducting talks to different populations and organisations

in the community– Up-skilling of CCHS staff – Policy and resource development to improve quality of

nutrition service (service review)

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Community Dietitian @ Inner South Community Dietitian @ Inner South Community Health ServiceCommunity Health Service

• 1:1 consultations with ages 0- 65 (including children) on a range of nutrition related conditions and diseases

– Mainly working with mental health clients who have significant weight gain from psychotropic medications

– General healthy eating, menu planning, life skills

• Educating staff on ‘nutritional risk screening’• Development of nutrition resources (eg. Mental health

nutrition manual)• Development and maintenance of nutritional social

marketing strategies

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Sports Dietitian @ VISSports Dietitian @ VIS

• Presenting talks on various topics to assist with maximising health, performance and recovery during professional sport for players, coaches and parents– Women’s hockey- Talent Search rowing (mixed)- Women’s cricket- Coaches nutrition lunch

• Development of education material• Consulting on food provided at team dinners/social

occasions/ after training/before during and after games

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Plans for the Future- Where Dietetics Plans for the Future- Where Dietetics Can Take You…….Can Take You…….

• Whistler, Canada– Currently trying to seek connections to work with

professional skiers and snowboarders

• UK– Work to earn money for travel– Just had HPC papers approved– Am currently investigating locum

companies

• Career goals when I get back?– Who knows?

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My AdviceMy Advice• Try to observe what a Dietitian does in a range of settings

to gain a understanding of different types of jobs• Don’t rule out anything! All experience is a learning

experience• Try to keep as many doors open in your 1st years working• Always network where you can• Be enthusiastic• Be willing to volunteer for sports things in the sports area

initially- Join SDA• Find someone you trust as a mentor to ask all your dumb

questions- you don’t learn if you don’t ask• Learn from your mistakes and think about how you will do

things differently next time• If you don’t like working with people- don’t do dietetics!

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Any Questions?Any Questions?