University Courses
The Australian College of Holistic Medicine and RMIT University are pleased to announce the creation of three (3) integrated, postgraduate award programs in the theory and practice of Nutrition Medicine:
- Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Medicine (48 credit points)
- Graduate Diploma in Nutrition Medicine (96 credit points)
- Master of Nutrition Medicine (144 credit points)
These programs are designed specifically for healthcare practitioners, to upgrade their existing qualifications in the clinical application of Nutrition Medicine and are conducted by several of Australia's leading Nutrition Medicine practitioners.
With their solid foundation of contemporary nutrition research and an emphasis on understanding disease from a biochemical functional perspective, these graduate award programs in Nutrition Medicine will stimulate healthcare practitioners to incorporate a more comprehensive approach to disease management and prevention and assist their development of an ongoing and rewarding career in health care.
The key features underpinning the academic and clinical excellence of these courses include:
- Learning by distance education for Australian and overseas practitioners, with online tutorial support and semester residential schools
- An innovatory curriculum based on contemporary scientific research into the role of nutrition in the treatment and prevention of disease
- Consistent integration of theory and clinical management, well-grounded in the realities of your professional work environment and patient-centred care
- Course assessment by clinically oriented, competency based study assignments
- Recognition of your prior professional learning and clinical experience for entry into the program (see Entry Requirements)
- Programs will be accredited for ongoing Continuing Professional Education with a variety of professional bodies both in Australia and overseas
These graduate award programs will provide you with a high level of nutritional knowledge and skills that will enable you to work competently and confidently with other medical and paramedical health practitioners to provide integrated healthcare and health promotion to your patients and your community
What is Nutrition Medicine?
Nutrition Medicine is the detailed, integrated clinical application of diet and nutrient supplement programs designed for patients, according to their individual needs, to enhance health and prevent or remediate disease.
Nutritional imbalance is currently acknowledged as a major factor in the development of the many chronic disease conditions so prevalent in Western Society. In developing countries, nutrient deprivation plays a major role in the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious and chronic disease processes.
However, though nutritional status is the factor most amenable to correction, leading to substantially improved health outcomes, the majority of medical and other health practitioners have little formal tertiary training in nutrition or its clinical application in the treatment of disease or in the promotion of health.
"The majority of GPs agree that nutrition is a major factor with regard to maintenance of long-term health and prevention of disease but the extent of nutrition counseling by GPs is considerably less than might be expected given the importance of nutrition and long term health. Obstacles to nutrition counseling are lack of time, lack of confidence and inadequate nutrition knowledge." (Dr. A. Helman, Am J Clin Nutr, 1997:65 6 (Suppl).
Over the past 30 years, the generally positive findings of nutritional research have generated strong demand from the community for health care practitioners who are knowledgeable and clinically experienced in the use of nutritional interventions to prevent and treat disease. This community demand is reflected by an increasing interest in postgraduate nutritional training from a wide variety of health-care practitioners: medical practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, naturopaths, chiropractors and others.
Graduate Certificate in Nutrition Medicine
This program consists of four (4) courses OHTH2088, OHTH2089, OHTH2090 AND OHTH2091, each course being worth 12 credit points.
The graduate certificate program aims to provide a common introduction for all students (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and other healthcare graduates) to the postgraduate study of nutritional research and the clinical concepts that form the basis of Nutrition Medicine assessment and treatment.
The program's first two courses study nutritional biochemistry and physiology at a postgraduate level, whilst the third course focuses on learning the clinical skills of nutritional assessment and diet & nutrient prescription.
The fourth course, examines the therapeutic application of Nutrition Medicine in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascualar disease and diabetes.
This program is offered by distance education with computer-based Study Guides, weekly Online Tuorials and a block residential school.
The Graduate Certificate program is the prerequisite to the Graduate Diploma in Nutrition Medicine.
Graduate Diploma in Nutrition Medicine
This program consists of eight (8) courses, including the 4 courses of the Graduate Certificate plus OHTH2092, OHTH2093, OHTH2094 & OHTH2095, each course being worth 12 credit points.
The aim of this program is to enhance and consolidate the practitioner's clinical knowledge, skills and competency in patient assessment and dietary/nutrient prescription in a wide variety of common disease conditions.
It is offered by distance education with computer-based Study Guides, weekly Online Tuorials and a block residential school.
The Graduate Diploma program is the pre-requisite for the Master of Nutrition Medicine program.
Master of Nutrition Medicine
In addition to the pre-requisite Graduate Diploma in Nutrition Medicine, this program completes the requirements for the Master of Nutrition Medicine award and consists of four courses in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (worth 6credit points each) and a small research project and mini-thesis (worth 24 credit points).
The aim of this program is to provide high-level training for health professionals who desire an advanced tertiary qualification to develop and support their leadership roles in nutrition education, clinical practice or research.
It is offered by online distance education through RMIT University.
Doctoral Studies (PhD)
Completion of the Master of Nutrition Medicine program, enables the successful student to undertake further research studies towards a Doctor of Philosophy award through RMIT University.
Excellent PhD programs are also available to students to undertake research on Nutrition Medicine issues through Southern Cross, Monash University, Newscastle University and the University of New England.
