Clinical Dietetics Practicum PG (8661.2)

Please note these are the 2022 details for this unit
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Clinical Dietetics Practicum PG
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods Placement
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.5 12 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Nutrition & Dietetics Post Graduate Level Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit provides professional placement experience in the hospital and outpatient setting. Students will be given the opportunity to develop competency in dietetic case management of individuals and small groups, and to demonstrate competency in work management skills and professional ethics. On successful completion of this unit students will have demonstrated competency related to medical nutrition therapy as described by the Dietitians Australia 2021 National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia.

Learning outcomes

1. Collect, interpret and assess data necessary to make an appropriate diagnose/s and prioritise care;
2. Develop and implement interventions and monitor and evaluate outcomes in collaboration with the multidisciplinary care team including the client and carer/s;
3. Use dietetic knowledge, communication skills and client-centred counselling to facilitate and empower individuals to make nutrition, behaviour and lifestyle change and self manage their health; and
4. Demonstrate a professional, culturally responsive, ethical and evidenced based approach to advocating for excellence in nutrition and dietetics.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - apply their knowledge to working with Indigenous Australians in socially just ways
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians in ethical and culturally respectful ways
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - use Indigenous histories and traditional ecological knowledge to develop and augment understanding of their discipline


Prerequisites

8250 Counselling and Communication for Dietitians PG AND 8660 Food Service Management PG AND 9297 Clinical Dietetics 1 PG AND 9298 Clinical Dietetics 2 PG.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

7405 Clinical Dietetics 1 PG (part B)

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2026 Bruce, Canberra Practice 1 05 January 2026 Placement Dr Ekavi Georgousopoulou
Not available

Materials and Equipment

It is a requirement that all students participating in field practice be easily identified as University of Canberra students. Therefore, students are required to wear an identification card/name tag in a way that is clearly visible to staff and patients/clients at all times. The standard of dress required should be discussed with the placement Worksite Educator prior to the commencement of the placement.  Students are expected to wear a specified University of Canberra polo T-shirt on all placements. These are available from the University of Canberra campus store.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Artificial intelligence

Students are permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as indicated in the assessment instructions for this unit, as well as Studiosity Writing Feedback Plus.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

  1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for Students Links to an external site. Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI Links to an external site..

Any use of GenAI needs to also comply with placement site policies and ensure that the confidentiality of patients/clients is maintained at all times.

Special assessment requirements

Students must satisfactorily complete all assigned placement assessment items to pass the unit. Attendance at 100% of the professional placements is required, and is a condition for passing this unit, see section 6c for more details.

Note: Your e- portfolio showcase (see (5a) Assessment Requirements) will be assessed by a panel within the assessment unit 10137 Assessment of Dietetic Competence PG. Until this time you will receive a withheld grade for this unit with the grade allocated prior to undertaking unit 9301 Nutrition and Dietetics Professional Internship PG. This process provides moderation for the work completed within this unit.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

As this is a 12cp work integrated learning unit.  Students are therefore required to complete the equivalent of 600 hours over the semester. Students are required to complete a minimum of 10 weeks (400 hours) in a clinical practice setting.  Additional work will include preparation for placement, the online learning preparation program between placement sites, and completion of your e-portfolio.

Participation requirements

Students are required to attend 100% of all professional placements unless they have a valid reason for non-attendance (e.g. illness) or permission by the Unit Convener.  Further details regarding placement attendance requirements are outlined in the UC Student Nutrition and Dietetics Placement Manual 2026.

Required IT skills

Students are expected to be familiar with the use of diet analysis software (i.e. FoodWorks, Foodscan and Serve).  Students will be required to use Mahara. Online information including videos is available at: ePortfolio (Mahara) - Digital Skills Hub - UC Library Guides at University of Canberra. Additional face-to-face support is also available through the UC Library Rovers.

In-unit costs

Students must travel to placement sites and be accommodated at their own expense. Uniforms and textbook costs must be paid for by students. Some sites, such as the Canberra Hospital require students to pay a deposit to obtain a compulsory ID card. This money is fully refunded on return of the ID on the last day of placement. 

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit involves Clinical Placement,. Students must adhere to University policy during WIL activities, including the University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023, the WIL Policy and WIL Procedure, and the Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedure.

This unit has pre-placement requirements (e.g. Working with Vulnerable People registration, immunisation/s). You must complete Pre-Place: Preparation for Work Integrated Learning prior to commencement of your  Placement. You can self-enrol in this module through the UC Learn site here.You are also required to complete details in InPlace, refer to inplace.canberra.edu.au. If you have any queries related to InPlace please contact placement@canberra.edu.au. Contact your unit convener if you have any concerns with meeting the requirements of this unit.

Students must also adhere to teh information provided in the UC Student Nutrition and Dietetics Placement Manual 2026.

Additional information

Additional information required to successfully complete this placement unit is available in the UC Student Nutrition and Dietetics Placement Manual 2026.