Nutrition

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics is comprised of accredited practicing dietitians, dietitian assistants and administrative support and provides a comprehensive range of nutrition services for people with acute care requirements, chronic disease and complex needs. Our services extend to inpatients, outpatients and aged care facility residents and include:

  • Clinical dietetic service across the continuum of care, integrating individualised patient assessments, nutrition support, and education and counseling to promote recovery, health and well-being
  • Home enteral nutrition service for patients living in the community reliant on a feeding tube to meet their nutritional needs 
  • Patient food services collaboration to ensure meals available for patients and residents meet nutritional, cultural and quality standards 
  • Menu services to inpatients to offer appropriate choice and compliance with nutritional and cultural needs and national safety and quality standards 
  • Teaching and Training including provision of nutrition and dietetic expertise to health professional and general staff education programs, and coordinating work experience and tertiary clinical and food service management placements for Nutrition and Dietetics students

Overview

In the hospital setting, adequate nutrition is essential for achieving a rapid recovery. Optimising nutritional status has been linked to a number of better health outcomes including:

  • Decreasing the risk of malnutrition in hospitals
  • Reducing the risk of infection or pressure ulcers
  • Optimising wound healing
  • Improving recovery after surgery
  • Reducing mortality risk

Nutrition and Dietetics services provided in hospital include nutrition assessment, ordering appropriate diets and/or nutritional supplements for patients, or recommending specialised nutritional formula or intravenous feeding if patients are unable to eat normally during their treatment and recovery. 

Dietitian assistants deliver menus and assist patients with menu choices as required. They work with dietitians and nursing staff to communicate with the kitchen and ensure patients receive the correct meals. 

Our services also include nutrition education and follow up after discharge home. Our dietitians ensure continuity of care by reviewing patient progress via phone, outpatient appointment, or by referral to other dietitians in the community. 

The dietitians at St Vincent’s provide dietetic services to all wards, as well as outpatient nutrition clinics and home visits if eligible. Cardiac Rehabilitation Group talks are also available and run weekly.

Education

One of the most significant transitions in a graduate’s career is the move from student life into a role as a qualified health professional.  The Interprofessional Graduate Program offers a structured program for allied health new graduates to explore the importance of collaborative practice, and to enhance clinicians’ skills and confidence in working in teams. The benefits of collaborative practice include the capacity to optimize team members’ strengths, share case management, reduce stress on health workers by engendering support and trust, enhance job satisfaction and provide better services to the community.

The Program is designed to complement the induction and supervision already available to new staff within each discipline and to support an interprofessional approach to graduates. It is an opportunity to welcome and induct new staff and to give them a sense of the culture and expectations of the organisation.

Students

University affiliations

Latrobe University

Research

Nutrition Department research activities are broad and encompass projects focusing on clinical outcomes in the acute and sub acute settings through to improving the quality of life of residents at our residential care facilities. 


Careers

For more information please visit the careers page.


Contact

Nutrition Department - Fitzroy Campus
Monday to Friday 9.00am-4.30pm
Telephone: (03) 9231 3755
Fax: (03) 9231 3765

Nutrition Department - St. George's Campus
Monday to Friday 9.00am-4.30pm
Telephone: (03) 9231 8336