The rules:
- Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist in Australia– people with no qualifications at all, people who have done a short correspondence course, and people who have a three year nutrition degree
- So, all dietitians are nutritionists however nutritionists without a dietetics qualification cannot take on the expert role of a dietitian.
- There is a national standard you must meet to become a dietitian– this includes study of subjects including statistics, psychology, physiology, biochemistry, nutrition sciences, food science as well as being competent in the three main areas of dietetics – clinical, food service management and community dietetics
- Some universities offer dietetics as a postgraduate course– students looking to enter these courses must have completed specific subjects in their undergraduate nutrition degree
- If you want to become a dietitian, make sure your course of study allows you to do this
To become a dietitian and be eligible to join DAA and the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) program you must complete a university-level dietetics program accredited by DAA. DAA maintains a list of accredited dietetics programs. This list includes both undergraduate Bachelor and post-graduate Masters programs. All accredited dietetics programs are considered “entry-level” to the profession. Enquiries regarding tertiary study, including entry scores, should be directed to the University you are interested in attending.
Please note that there are numerous nutrition study programs available at Tafe and University that are not eligible for accreditation with DAA. Completing a program such as this will not provide you with eligibility to join DAA or the APD program.
The following dietetics education programs are currently accredited and accepting enrolments. Graduates of these programs are eligible to apply to become a full member of DAA to apply to join the APD Program. Please direct queries regarding a program’s accreditation expiry date to the University.
Australian Capital Territory
University of Canberra
Master of Nutrition and Dietetics (Code: 772AA)
Full Accreditation until 31 October 2018 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information, contact University of Canberra.
New South Wales
The University of Newcastle
Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) (Code: 12339)
Full Accreditation until 28 February 2018 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information, contact The University of Newcastle.
The University of Sydney
Master of Nutrition and Dietetics (Code: LC005)
Full Accreditation until 30 September 2018 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information, contact The University of Sydney.
University of Wollongong
Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) (Code: 1879)
Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) (Dean’s Scholar) (Code: 1705)
Master of Nutrition and Dietetics (Code: 1631)
Full Accreditation until 30 August 2022 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact University of Wollongong.
Queensland
Bond University
Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice (Code: CC-63041)
Provisional Accreditation to 30 March 2018 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact Bond University.
Griffith University
Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Code: 1355)
Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics with Honours (Code: 1436)
Full Accreditation until 31 October 2020 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact Griffith University.
Queensland University of Technology
Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Code: XN44)
Full Accreditation until 30 October 2019 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact Queensland University of Technology.
The University of Queensland
Master of Dietetics Studies (Code: 5473)
Full Accreditation until 30 May 2018 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact The University of Queensland.
University of the Sunshine Coast
Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Code: SC353)
Full Accreditation until 20 November 2021 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact University of the Sunshine Coast.
South Australia
Flinders University
Master of Nutrition and Dietetics (Code: 2CM093)
Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Code: 214381)
Full Accreditation until 30 November 2019 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact Flinders University.
Victoria
Deakin University
Master of Dietetics (Code: H718)
Full Accreditation until 30 April 2020 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact Deakin University.
La Trobe University
Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Dietetic Practice (Code: HZNDP)
Master of Dietetic Practice (Code: HMDP)
Provisional Accreditation until 30 March 2018 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact La Trobe University.
Monash University
Master of Dietetics (Code: M6002)
Provisional accreditation until 30 May 2019 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact Monash University
Western Australia
Curtin University
Master of Dietetics (Code: MDietCurtin)
Full accreditation until 30 November 2022 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact Curtin University.
Edith Cowan University
Master of Nutrition and Dietetics (Code: I49)
Full accreditation until 30 May 2021 (subject to ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements). For further information contact Edith Cowan University.