XNB149 Nutrition Communication
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | XNB149 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | XNB151 and XNB148 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $5,784 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | XNB149 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | XNB151 and XNB148 |
| Coordinator: | Carolyn Keogh | carolyn.keogh@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This introductory unit explores the critical role of communication in nutrition and dietetics, providing a foundation in learning and health behaviour change theories as well as communication techniques used in the nutrition and dietetic profession. Throughout this unit, you will develop your skills in translating food and nutrition information into practical, evidence-based advice suitable for diverse audiences. You will develop essential skills in digital communication, cultural responsiveness, and tailoring messages to varying literacy levels and learning styles. By engaging with a range of theoretical topics, practical activities, and case studies, you will enhance your understanding of how to design and evaluate effective food and nutrition communication strategies for individuals, groups, and populations. For dietetic students, counselling skills will be further developed in the latter part of your studies.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Explain and apply the principles and styles of communication in nutrition and dietetics, including foundational counselling techniques with individuals, groups, populations and other professionals.
- Identify and apply key learning and behaviour change theories to develop effective nutrition communication strategies for individuals and groups.
- Communicate technical food and nutrition information effectively using oral, written, digital and visual formats responsive to the cultural and cognitive needs of the intended audience
- Demonstrate professional and ethical communication practices in interprofessional practice, cultural safety and reflection.
- Collaborate and communicate effectively within and across teams
Content
This unit will cover the following topics:
- Individual learning and communication styles and their application to nutrition and dietetic practice
- Adult learning principles relevant to nutrition education and dietetic practice
- Health behaviour change theories including social cognitive theory, health belief model and trans-theoretical model as applied to food and nutrition contexts
- Nutrition counselling and coaching practices and strategies
- Establishing rapport and building environments conducive for dietary behaviour change
- Principles of developing a written or visual resource for nutrition messaging
- Translating complex food and nutrition messages for low literacy audiences
- The art and science of taking a diet history
- Communicating food and nutrition concepts cross-culturally (with clients and colleagues)
- Working with interpreter services in nutrition counselling
- Food photography and food styling for social media
- Digital technology including the use of social media tools to communicate food and nutrition messages
- Confidentiality and ethics associated with counselling clients and using social media
Learning Approaches
This unit will be available in internal mode and is structured using a blended approach, combining interactive workshops with self-directed, digitally enhanced learning resources. Weekly workshops offer opportunities to discuss and apply key concepts through role plays and practical examples with peers and the tutors/lecturers. Self-directed learning will allow you to explore online unit materials at your own pace, enabling you to consolidate your knowledge in preparation for collaborative activities and assessment tasks. The online Canvas unit page will be utilised for a variety of purposes, therefore weekly access is encouraged.
Throughout this unit you will engage with content that covers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health perspectives as well as other diverse and inclusive viewpoints. This will enhance your ability to provide culturally safe care to clients and communities from diverse backgrounds which is an essential component of ethical and professional healthcare practice. You will also be introduced to sustainability in healthcare, exploring how health professionals can contribute to environmentally responsible practices.
You will receive dedicated support to enhance your learning throughout the unit. Library staff and the Student Success Group will deliver educational sessions and offer resources aimed at developing your study, research and reflection skills. You will also begin to develop industry- relevant digital fluency by engaging with a variety of digital tools and resources essential for nutrition practice in Australia. You will be introduced to the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and digital software frequently used in nutrition practice.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Throughout this unit, you will receive formative, peer, academic and automated feedback.
- Formative feedback: In-class and online theory-based quizzes will evaluate your consolidation and application of key unit concepts.
- Peer feedback: Peer-based, collaborative learning activities enable real-time verbal feedback; engagement with online resources such as the unit discussion board provide further peer feedback opportunities
- Academic feedback: Written summative feedback and criterion-based evaluation of your performance on summative assessments, as well as cohort-wide feedback throughout the semester.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessments in this unit that will enable you to apply the underpinning theory and principles in developing communication that translates nutrition information. Each assessment enables you to develop your professionalism and to build your portfolio for practice as a nutrition professional.
You will include artefacts from your portfolio work in Assessment 3 to your whole of course Leadership in Nutrition Practice ePortfolio.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Video Presentation
Interpreting, translating and communication nutrition advice is a core skill of nutritionists and dietitians. In the role of a nutrition and dietetics professional, you will create an unscripted video in which you translate technical food and nutrition information into practical nutrition advice to a given audience. You will apply your knowledge of learning and behaviour change theories to inform your nutrition communication techniques.
You will receive peer evaluation and feedback on your capacity to engage, communicate information, and explain a technical task to the intended audience. You will review, evaluate and provide feedback to your peers on their task performance.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details page for specific guidelines.
Assessment: Healthy eating promotion package
This healthy eating promotion package is a creative work you will develop around a particular nutrition issue or event. It will demonstrate the application of a health behaviour change theory and adult learning principles. The creative work will be accompanied by an in class group presentation which demonstrates the application of communication theory and principles. This creative work could take the form of written resources, social media activities and a group presentation. This is an authentic assessment as nutritionists in every day practice are often required to develop resources and promotional materials.
The creative work component of this assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details page for specific guidelines.
Assessment: Digital Nutrition Communication Portfolio
This portfolio will include application of the theory on a range of nutrition and dietetic practice examples from the field and will include five activities, critiques, and/or reflections relating to nutrition communication and counselling. Examples of activities, reflections, critiques and the application of theory could include the following:
- Observation of a dietetic counselling session
- Reflecting on communication skills utilised in a simulation clinic
- Observation of a group nutrition education session
- The use of an interpreter in a dietetic consultation
- Development of a written resource related to food and/or nutrition
- Interprofessional skills utilised in nutrition and dietetic practice.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details page for specific guidelines.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Holli and Beto (2023) Nutrition Counselling and Education Skills: A Guide for Professionals, 8th Edition
Software
Video and photo editing software (provided by QUT)
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.XN43 Bachelor of Nutrition Science
- Apply broad theoretical, technical and cultural knowledge and skills in food and nutrition, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, to respond to a diverse range of contexts and audiences.
Relates to: Video Presentation, Healthy eating promotion package, Digital Nutrition Communication Portfolio - Analyse and apply evidence-based research and practice to provide informed, client-centred, and sustainable solutions to sometimes complex current and emerging food and nutrition problems.
Relates to: Video Presentation, Healthy eating promotion package, Digital Nutrition Communication Portfolio - Communicate and translate technical food and nutrition information clearly, safely and inclusively using a range of oral, written and digital technologies and formats responsive to the diverse cultural, social and cognitive needs of the intended audience, communities and other professionals
Relates to: Video Presentation, Healthy eating promotion package, Digital Nutrition Communication Portfolio - Perform as an inclusive, competent, culturally responsive and ethical professional, working autonomously and collaboratively on innovative and entrepreneurial approaches in food and nutrition.
Relates to: Video Presentation, Digital Nutrition Communication Portfolio
XN45 Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours)
- Apply advanced theoretical, technical and cultural knowledge and skills in food, nutrition and dietetics, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, tailored to respond to a diverse range of contexts and audiences.
Relates to: Video Presentation, Healthy eating promotion package, Digital Nutrition Communication Portfolio - Critically analyse and apply evidence-based research and practice to generate informed, client-centred and sustainable solutions to complex current and emerging food, nutrition and dietetic problems.
Relates to: Video Presentation, Healthy eating promotion package, Digital Nutrition Communication Portfolio - Communicate and translate complex food and nutrition information effectively, safely and inclusively using a range of oral, written and digital technologies and formats, responsive to the diverse cultural, social and cognitive needs of clients, interdisciplinary teams, stakeholders and the broader community.
Relates to: Video Presentation, Healthy eating promotion package, Digital Nutrition Communication Portfolio - Enact inclusive, clinically adept and culturally responsive client-centred practice as a reflective, accountable and ethical professional, working autonomously and collaboratively to manage and lead innovative and entrepreneurial advances in food, nutrition and dietetics.
Relates to: Video Presentation, Digital Nutrition Communication Portfolio