Private Practice Dietetics Workforce Development: Experiences and Perceptions of Australian Academic Educators.

Area of Science:

• Dietetics education
• Health workforce development
• Private practice nutrition

Background:

• Private practice dietetics is a growing field requiring both clinical skills and business acumen.
• Tertiary education's role in preparing dietitians for private practice is unclear.
• This study explores Australian academic educators' perspectives on private practice workforce development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate academic educators' experiences with private practice dietetics workforce development.
• To identify challenges in graduate preparedness, curriculum, and competency development.
• To explore perceptions of placement opportunities and structural barriers.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study design.
• Purposive sampling of academic educators from accredited Australian dietetics programs.
• Semi-structured interviews analyzed using thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Nineteen academics from 15 universities participated.
• Key themes included pathways, practitioner roles, preparation, competency, placements, and workforce challenges.
• Tertiary education faces challenges with private practice placements, curriculum, and competing priorities.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative approaches and consensus on workforce development strategies are essential.
• Addressing identified barriers is crucial for building the private practice dietetics workforce.
• Supporting this career pathway is vital for community nutrition service delivery.