Donnelly Jennifer, Walsh Louisa, Hughes Roger, Lane Rebecca
Department of Allied Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.
Department of Cardiothoracics and Surgical Oncology, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
J Hum Nutr Diet. 2025 Oct;38(5):e70126. doi: 10.1111/jhn.70126.
Private practice dietetics is a rapidly growing work domain for graduate and experienced dietitians due to a competitive job market, expansion in remuneration options from health insurance systems and a desire for self-employment and flexible working conditions. Private practice dietetics requires core dietetics skills and business acumen, however, tertiary training opportunities for private practice preparation and development are unclear. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of academic educators from accredited Australian dietetics programmes on workforce development in private practice dietetics, with a focus on graduate preparedness, curriculum models, competency development, and placement opportunities.
Academic educators from accredited tertiary training programmes were purposively sampled for participation in semi-structured interviews on their experiences and perceptions on workforce development aspects for private practice. Data was analysed using qualitative thematic analysis methods.
Nineteen academics participated from 15 universities. Sixteen themes emerged across seven constructs; pathways, the work of private practitioners, preparation, competency development, placements, competency requirement, and workforce challenges. Preparing future private practice dietitians presents notable challenges within the context of tertiary education, particularly due to challenges around private practice placements, curriculum crowding and competing educational priorities. Additionally, significant professional and structural barriers were identified in relation to building capacity within the private practice dietetics workforce.
Addressing the issues raised with tertiary educators will require a collaborative approach, including the development of consensus on key workforce development strategies. Such efforts are essential to support this important career pathway, which plays a critical role in delivering nutrition services to the community.
由于就业市场竞争激烈、医疗保险系统提供的薪酬选择增加以及对自主创业和灵活工作条件的渴望，私人执业营养领域对于研究生和经验丰富的营养师来说是一个快速发展的工作领域。私人执业营养需要核心的营养技能和商业头脑，然而，针对私人执业准备和发展的高等教育培训机会并不明确。这项定性描述性研究旨在探讨澳大利亚认可的营养课程的学术教育工作者对私人执业营养领域劳动力发展的经验和看法，重点关注毕业生的准备情况、课程模式、能力发展和实习机会。
从认可的高等教育培训课程中有意抽取学术教育工作者参与关于他们对私人执业劳动力发展方面的经验和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。
来自15所大学的19位学者参与了研究。在七个结构中出现了16个主题；途径、私人从业者的工作、准备、能力发展、实习、能力要求和劳动力挑战。在高等教育背景下，培养未来的私人执业营养师面临着显著挑战，特别是由于私人执业实习、课程拥挤和相互竞争的教育重点等方面的挑战。此外，在私人执业营养劳动力队伍能力建设方面还发现了重大的专业和结构障碍。
解决向高等教育工作者提出的问题需要采取协作方法，包括就关键的劳动力发展战略达成共识。这些努力对于支持这一重要的职业途径至关重要，该途径在为社区提供营养服务方面发挥着关键作用。
