Department of Nursing and Allied Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.
Department of Public Health, Centre for Health Communication and Participation, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
J Hum Nutr Diet. 2025 Feb;38(1):e13397. doi: 10.1111/jhn.13397.
Changes in Australian health policies and public funding models have increased the demand for private dietetics services over the past two decades. Limited available workforce data indicate that over half of the Australian dietetics workforce works in private practice at some level, with approximately 30%-50% of dietitians now entering private practice as new graduates. These changes in the sector have implications for dietetics workforce development. The present study aimed to explore private practice dietitians' perceptions and experiences about workforce development needed to successfully work as a private practice dietitian.
Australian private practice dietitians were purposively sampled for participation in semistructured interviews on their experiences of, and perceptions about, workforce development needs for successful private practice. Data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis methods.
Sixteen dietitians participated. Twenty-seven themes emerged across seven constructs spanning pathways to practice, the work of private practitioners, workforce preparation, competency development, placements, competency requirements and challenges.
Experienced private practice dietitians offer critical insights into the workforce development needs and challenges of the sector. Study participants indicated that their preparation for private practice was suboptimal and they have endured many challenges during their careers. This study highlights the need for a strategic approach to workforce development for private practice, including further research into the preparation and needs of this evolving area.
在过去的二十年中，澳大利亚卫生政策和公共资金模式的变化增加了对私人营养学服务的需求。有限的现有劳动力数据表明，超过一半的澳大利亚营养师劳动力在某种程度上在私人执业，现在约有 30%-50%的营养师作为新毕业生进入私人执业。该行业的这些变化对营养师劳动力发展产生了影响。本研究旨在探讨私人执业营养师对成功从事私人执业所需的劳动力发展的看法和经验。
澳大利亚私人执业营养师被有目的地抽样参加关于他们在私人执业方面的经验和对劳动力发展需求的看法的半结构化访谈。使用定性主题分析方法对数据进行分析。
16 名营养师参与了研究。在跨越实践途径、私人从业者工作、劳动力准备、能力发展、实习、能力要求和挑战的七个结构中出现了 27 个主题。
经验丰富的私人执业营养师提供了对该行业劳动力发展需求和挑战的重要见解。研究参与者表示，他们对私人执业的准备不足，在职业生涯中经历了许多挑战。本研究强调了对私人执业劳动力发展采取战略方法的必要性，包括进一步研究这一不断发展领域的准备和需求。
