WORKSHOPS

Date: Tuesday 2nd December
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Griffith University, Ian O'Connor Building (Griffith Health Centre) G40, Level 4, Room 4.111

Workshop facilitators: Dr Lana Mitchell, Griffith University & Dr Roshan Rigby, Bond University/Griffith University

Description: This workshop will provide career development for students and new graduates within the nutrition and dietetics profession. It will provide an overview of recent research from the Workforce Advice in Nutrition & Dietetics (WAND) Study that explores the perspectives of dietitians regarding their current work roles and advice they would provide to students and new graduates to help inform career planning. The workshop aims to inspire participants to consider the range of career pathways available for nutrition professionals, unpacking the benefits, challenges and required skills for each of these roles. This interactive session will allow participants to work in small groups to discuss and plan learning needs. Participants will be provided with a range of tools to discover, explore and reflect on their preferences and career development needs. 

Expected outcomes: 
This workshop will facilitate nutrition and dietetics students and new graduates to:
1. Identify key skills and traits required for their nutrition career
2. Uncover growth areas that align with their desired work roles
3. Network with other nutrition professionals about career opportunities
4. Plan their professional development goals and activities for the coming year

Date: Tuesday 2nd December
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Griffith University, Ian O'Connor Building (Griffith Health Centre) G40, Level 4, Room 4.112

Workshop facilitators: Therese O'Sullivan, ECU & Emma Beckett, ACU

Description: Weight bias is so prevalent that often people don’t notice or question it. Research indicates that some health professionals perceive people in larger bodies as less healthy, less motivated, and less capable. This can contribute to avoidance, poorer quality of care and health inequities. Weight-inclusive care encourages fair and respectful treatment for people of all body sizes, and supports overall well-being and healthy habits that can last long-term. This approach can help people feel respected and empowered, regardless of body size. This workshop will introduce the principles of weight-inclusive care and workshop practical ways to embed them into nutrition practice and tertiary education. Facilitators will help participants explore how nutritionists can move beyond weight-centred approaches to support health, wellbeing, and equity. Drawing on lived experience and insights from a university course redesign project, the session will include small-group discussions and case study analysis. Participants will have a go at redesigning practice using weight-inclusive strategies, and reflect on opportunities to embed these approaches in their own professional or educational settings.

Expected outcomes: Participants will gain a clear understanding of weight-inclusive care, its evidence base, and its application in nutrition practice and education. They will develop practical skills for reframing assessment, language, and goal setting without reliance on weight. Through case studies and peer discussion, participants will leave with the ability to recognise weight bias and promote client-centred care. Each participant will have the opportunity to identify actions to implement in their own practice or education context.

Date: Tuesday 2nd December
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Griffith University, Ian O'Connor Building (Griffith Health Centre) G40, Level 4, Room 4.113

Workshop facilitators: Sarah Burkhart, University of the Sunshine Coast, Federation of Oceanic Nutrition Societies (FONS) & Tracey McCaffrey, Monash University

Description: The Federation of Oceanic Nutrition Societies (FONS) has recently developed a several taskforces. The FONS Dietary Assessment (DA) Taskforce and the FONS Higher Education (HE) Taskforce each hold valuable expertise that, if combined, could significantly strengthen support for educators across the Oceanic region. This workshop will bring together the taskforces and interested parties to map challenges, identify synergies, and agree on tangible next steps for collaborative action. Despite the importance of DA, teaching DA in the University sector can be challenging. Rapid changes in DA methods, limited access to practical resources and time available for educators, and differences in curricula create barriers to preparing students effectively.

Participants will network and share experiences/ideas through a series of interactive activities:
- welcome (icebreaker)
- creating a snapshot of the current landscape (tech based)
- breakout discussion to map needs
- reporting back (group representative verbally)
- prioritise 2-3 collaborative actions (real-time polling)
- planning next steps (small group brainstorming)
- wrap up with a ‘commitment round’, next steps, follow up plan

Expected outcomes:
1. A clear picture of current teaching practices with a consolidated overview of how DA is being taught across universities in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
2. A prioritised list of the barriers to effective teaching of DA. Insights into the support educators most value.
3. Clear articulation of how the DA and HE Taskforces can complement one another’s mandates, including areas where joint effort will have the greatest impact.
4. Agreement on 2–3 collaborative initiatives. Assignment of lead roles, contributors, and timelines.
5. New/strengthened networks across the Oceanic region, creating opportunities for peer-peer learning.

Date: Tuesday 2nd December
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Griffith University, Ian O'Connor Building (Griffith Health Centre) G40, Level 4, Room 4.114

Workshop facilitators: A/Prof Michael Tieland, Deakin University & Dr Laura Marchese, Deakin University

Description: This interactive workshop is designed for NSA nutritionists to critically explore the shift from animal-based to plant-based protein in the context of ageing. Participants will first receive an evidence-based overview of protein requirements, protein quality, and distribution for older adults, with a focus on sarcopenia prevention and age related diseases.  The core of the workshop involves small-group work where participants assess pre-calculated animal- and plant-based diets for different older adult scenarios, including community-dwelling, frail, and aged-care populations. Groups will analyse the adequacy of protein intake, quality, and practical implementation. Each group will then present key challenges and solutions to the wider group. The session concludes with a facilitated group reflection on clinical implications, sustainability trade-offs, and opportunities to improve practice. The interactive format encourages peer learning, critical thinking, and real-world application.

Expected outcomes: 
By the end of this workshop, participants will:
• Understand current evidence on protein intake, quality, and distribution in older adults
• Recognise potential risks and benefits of transitioning from animal- to plant-based protein
• Evaluate pre-designed diets for different older populations
• Reflect on practical and clinical challenges in implementing sustainable, protein-adequate diets

Date: Tuesday 2nd December
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Griffith University, Ian O'Connor Building (Griffith Health Centre) G40, Level 4, Room 4.112

Workshop facilitators: Dr Anu Ivaturi, Monash University, Dr Merran Blair, Monash University, Dr Siew Lim, Monash University & Dr Tracy McCaffrey, Monash University

Description: Intake24: https://intake24.com/ was used by the ABS in the 2023 national nutrition survey. A prototype application: Intake24: Clinical was developed to support the delivery of dietary advice in clinical practice. This workshop offers nutrition and dietetics students and practitioners the chance to explore the evidence-base that informed Intake24 Clinical and its adaptability to evolving healthcare delivery. A 10-minute demonstration of the prototype will be followed by Q&A on its features and workflow. Participants will then engage in interactive group activities (5–6 people per group) to generate ideas through structured brainstorming to:
1. Identify the current issues around dietary assessment and feedback in clinical settings
2. Critique the design of intake24: Clinical and assess the relative advantages and pain points
3. Discuss strategies for adoption of intake24: clinic in Australian health practices
4. Map implementation and dissemination plans to reach target populations and achieve national goals on healthy eating
Each activity will take 15–20 minutes, followed by a 30-minute session to reflect and synthesise ideas into meaningful actions.

Expected outcomes: Participants will gain an understanding of human-centred design and its application to digital nutrition tools. They will actively contribute to shaping the Intake24 Clinical prototype through collaborative brainstorming and idea generation. By identifying implementation barriers and enablers, participants will develop awareness of practical challenges in delivering dietary advice within healthcare settings. They will leave equipped to apply these insights in real-world contexts, supporting the design and delivery of effective, user-centred tools for achieving national goals to advance public health nutrition.

Date: Tuesday 2nd December
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Griffith University, Ian O'Connor Building (Griffith Health Centre) G40, Level 4, Room 4.113

Workshop facilitators: Megan Rollo, Curtin University, Katya Clark, Curtin University, Susan McLeod, La Trobe University & Rebecca Russell, Curtin University

Description: The launch of the first publicly available Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tool, ChatGPT, three years ago has seen significant disruption. As the number and functionality of GenAI tools continue to rise, the impact on higher education, teaching academics and students has been rapid and profound. Educators are grappling with a ‘new normal’ with increased assessment demands to assure students satisfactorily demonstrate course-level learning outcomes, while also supporting students to develop skills to use GenAI tools ethically, strategically, and whilst maintaining oversight. Nutrition science educators play a critical role in empowering students to use GenAI tools responsibly to support learning and development of domain expertise, along with skills needed by nutrition professionals to thrive in dynamic work environments with these tools. Through a series of interactive activities and discussions, this workshop hosted by the SIG Nutrition Education & Tertiary Teaching (SIGNETT) will provide a forum to share existing and planned uses of GenAI tools in teaching, learning and assessments, and explore implications of GenAI tools for current and future nutrition-related work.

Expected outcomes: Participants will connect with fellow educators to discuss current uses of GenAI tools and practices to support their teaching, foster student learning, and course and assessment design in nutrition science programs. With increasing recognition of the potential opportunities and challenges that GenAI presents for the current and future workforce, participants will discuss the implications of GenAI tools in relation to preparing students to be confident and agile nutrition professionals. Finally, participants will identify teaching and learning strategies to support the intentional use of GenAI tools to effectively guide this future focused skill development in our nutrition graduates.

Date: Tuesday 2nd December
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Griffith University, Ian O'Connor Building (Griffith Health Centre) G40, Level 4, Room 4.114

Workshop facilitators: Dr Priscila Machado, Deakin University & Dr Emily Denniss, Deakin University

Description:  Effective nutrition communication can enhance food literacy, support informed choices and be used for policy advocacy - key priorities in the ‘Nourishing Australia Decadal Plan for Nutrition’. This workshop will explore how communication can promote healthy eating behaviours and public health, current issues and evidence-based solutions. Drawing on our teams’ recent research, we will present a novel framework for ultra-processed food (UPF) communication. Dr Denniss will outline the importance of nutrition communication and findings from a review of best-practice recommendations for educative and persuasive health messaging. Practical strategies will be discussed, including audience segmentation, message design and tailoring, and evaluation. Dr Machado will demonstrate how these recommendations informed the UPF communication framework, drawing on national survey data, and engagement with consumers, public health organisations, and experts. In small groups, participants will apply the framework to develop a communication strategy and tailor messages aimed at different nutrition communication goals and audiences, with key reflections shared to conclude.

Expected outcomes: Participants will learn how to apply nutrition communication principles in research, practice and advocacy, including ways to tailor UPF communication. Interactive activities will strengthen participants’ ability to design, adapt, and evaluate effective communications for diverse audiences and settings, and promote networking. Innovative research methodology will be showcased throughout the workshop to strengthen attendees’ capacity to conduct novel and high-quality nutrition communication research. Participants will reflect on how to apply their new communication skills to advance the 'Nourishing Australia Decadal Plan for Nutrition' goals, aligning their work with national priorities.

Date: Tuesday 2nd December
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Griffith University, Ian O'Connor Building (Griffith Health Centre) G40, Level 5, Lecture Theatre 1

Curious about what nutrition jobs actually look like day-to-day? Hear from early-mid career professionals from diverse food and nutrition-related fields. They’ll share real stories, challenges, and tips to help you navigate your own career pathway.