Nutrition and dietetics

  • ​​A dietitian is a professional who applies the science of food and nutrition to promote health, prevent and treat disease to optimise the health of individuals, groups, communities and populations. The profession of dietetics contributes to the promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of illness by optimising the nutrition of populations, communities and individuals. Dietitians have a defined and recognisable body of knowledge and utilise scientific principles and methods in the study of nutrition and dietetics, applying these results to influence the wider environment affecting food intake and eating behaviour. The scope of dietetic practice is such that dietitians may work in a variety of settings and have a variety of work functions.

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    Workforce characteristics for NSW Health nutrition and dietetics workforce in 2040

    2097
    Headcount

    95.3%
    Female

    27.3
    Work hours per week

    39.4
    Years average age

    8.8%
    Future 60+

    3.4%
    Aboriginal workforce target

    ​​Demand is expected to grow 1.7% (low demand scenario) to 2.4% (high demand scenario).


    Significant career opportunities

    ​Workforce modelling indicates the need to grow the NSW nutrition and dietetics workforce by around 39 to 59 new professionals per annum to meet community need in 2040 across both demand scenarios.

    Projected FTE growth for NSW Health nutrition and dietetics workforce to 2040

    20212022202320242025202620272028202920302031203220332034203520362037203820392040
    High Demand97096396210061054110511521198124012781312134313701395141814381458147514911506
    Status Quo970963962965972980985988990991991990989986984980977974971967
    Low Demand9709639629921026106210951126115411791202122212391255126912811293130313131321

    Workforce characteristics for NSW Health nutrition and dietetics workforce in 2021

    856
    Headcount

    27.0
    Work hours per week

    38.4
    Years average age

    95.6%
    Female

    2.3%
    Aged 60+

    0.5%
    Aboriginal

    Metropolitan Sydney

    448
    Headcount

    28.7
    Work hours per week

    37.9
    Years average age

    1.0%
    Aged 60+

    Non-Metropolitan Sydney

    406
    Headcount

    25.1
    Work hours per week

    38.9
    Years average age

    1.3%
    Aged 60+

    Nutrition and dietetics junior entrant positions into NSW Health

    Year20172018201920202021
    Graduates6854485947

    Workforce distribution for NSW Health nutrition and dietetics workforce in 2021

    The geographic distribution of the public workforce by local health district/network, by facility and per 100,000 population.

Legends

Per local health district

0 1-25 26-50 51-75 76-100 100+

Per 100,000 population

0 1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 20+

Per facility

0 1-25 26-50 51-75 76-100 100+

Other networks

  • Sydney Children's Hospitals: 1 to 50 | 1 to 5 per 100,000
  • Enable NSW: 0 | 0 per 100,000
  • Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health: 1 to 50 | 6 to 10 per 100,000

  • Workforce considerations

    • ​​Partnerships with universities supporting educator roles is positively influencing and assisting with building the student to clinician pipeline in NSW Health.
    • Improvements in data capture and demand (met and unmet) is a prioritised need for the workforce.
    • Population demographics and increasing incidence of complex and chronic disease may increase demand for dietetics services.
    • New government funding initiatives and policy will influence nutrition and dietetics workforce movement (gains / attrition) in NSW public health (i.e. malnutrition and NSW nutrition care policy, activity based funding).
    • Dietitians are able to work to top of scope when potentiated by supporting allied health assistant or student workforce.
    • Collaborative commissioning and interdistrict partnerships, particularly in rural and remote settings, may reduce fractionalisation of roles and is an enabler to workforce availability.

    Notes

    • ​​Data source: NSW Health. Vacancy data is excluded from the workforce model. Data included is limited to the workforce employed under the relevant health professional award. NSW Health may engage therapists on a sessional basis.
    • 2040 workforce characteristics reflect the high demand scenario.
    • Data included is limited to the workforce employed under the relevant health professional award.
    • Specialty health networks are not displayed geographically in the workforce distribution maps.
    • LHD/SHN may engage in sessional arrangements in selected circumstances.
    • Workforce that cannot be aligned to a physical location have been attributed to a pre-determined facility within each LHD/N. This may impact on Headcount shown at these facilities within the distribution map.
    • NSW Health does not make any representations or warranties whether expressed or implied with respect to the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in the fact sheet.

Current as at: Monday 29 May 2023
Contact page owner: Workforce Planning and Talent Development