Program Overview

Unit Overview

The unit NUTR305 - Community and Public Health Nutrition is designed to provide students with an understanding of contemporary public health nutrition issues and priorities. The unit aims to equip students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to work as culturally competent reflective practitioners in community and public health.

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

The unit covers the major contemporary nutrition issues in national and global populations and communities, including nutrition transitions, food literacy, and the impact of non-sustainable food systems on food security and health. The unit provides a focus on the analysis of the determinants and management of population-based nutrition issues by exploring historical and contemporary community nutrition policy and practice.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this unit, students will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

• Articulate the principles and philosophy of public health, health promotion, nutrition education, and primary health care
• Evaluate major public health nutrition issues and priorities, and population groups at risk, focusing on migrants and Indigenous Australians
• Evaluate food and nutrition systems and their relevance to community nutrition practice
• Develop a culturally appropriate program to address nutrition issues at the community level
• Reflect critically on the application of the principles of community engagement in community nutrition settings

Unit Content

Topics will include:

• Conceptual frameworks for Public Health and Community Nutrition
• Nutrition Epidemiology nutrition-related chronic disease
• Nutrition standards and food regulations
• Food systems and sustainability
• Principles of nutrition education, learning theory, and practice
• Historical perspectives of Community Nutrition
• Nutrition issues and special groups
• Public health nutrition programs
• Needs assessment
• Community nutrition program planning
• Intervention implementation
• Program evaluation
• Community engagement to address food and nutrition issues

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

The assessment strategy includes:

• ACU online Child-Safe Organisations Module
• Completion of minimum 30 hours of community engagement and reflection
• Written tasks to apply unit learning and demonstrate communication skills
• Project to apply knowledge and skills in community and public health nutrition

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

The learning and teaching strategy includes:

• Active learning
• Case-based learning
• Individual and group activities
• Cooperative learning
• Online learning
• Reflective/critical thinking activities
• Community engagement delivered over 12 weeks

Representative Texts and References

• Hughes, R. & Margetts, B. M. (2011). Practical Public Health Nutrition
• Lawrence, M., and Worsley, T. (2007). Public Health Nutrition: From Principles to Practice
• Spark, A., Obenchain, J., and Dinour, L.M. (2015). Nutrition in Public Health (2nd Ed.)

Unit Details

• Credit points: 10
• Year: 2025
• Locations: Melbourne, North Sydney