The Nutrition Science Competencies for use in undergraduate degrees in Australia were last developed and released in 2019 (1). Since then, new priorities affecting nutrition science have emerged, such as an increased emphasis on planetary health, Australia’s food supply chain, changing population demographics, priority groups and digital transformation (2). Simultaneously, the higher education sector is navigating the ethical use of Generative AI and has an increased focus on cultural awareness and career readiness (3, 4). Nutrition Science Competencies inform the review and development of undergraduate nutrition programs and nutrition majors in Australian universities. Competencies guide university curriculum to train graduates to fill roles in the contemporary Australian labour market that are currently in demand, and to potentially foresee emerging nutrition roles, in health care, science, food, education or otherwise. The 2019 National Nutrition Science Competencies are due to be updated and the planned 2025/2026 update is being conducted by Nutrition Society of Australia’s Special Interest Group Nutrition Education and Tertiary Teaching (SIGNETT). This presentation will share plans and a timeline for the update.
The multiple-methods project will comprise of two stages. Stage 1 will involve a scoping review of published and grey literature to identify advances relevant to nutrition competency updates. Stage 2 will derive the updated structure and set of nutrition science competencies through a Delphi process. The Delphi Panel will comprise approximately 100 nutrition experts from academia, industry and the community. A reference group comprising highly regarded nutrition experts will oversee and provide advice to the working group. We will further invite interested Nutrition Society members to contribute to this update.
This work proposes the process for developing a contemporary set of competencies to support the alignment of curriculum and training with evolving professional standards in nutrition. Given that these competencies will be developed through consultation with industry stakeholders, academic experts, and community representatives, they will provide a robust foundation for curriculum design. The inclusive development process will ensure their credibility and give confidence for endorsement as a formal SIGNETT position statement. By embedding these competencies into university programs, institutions can reinforce the evidence-based nature of nutrition education, strengthen graduates’ professional identity, and contribute to the National Trusted Voice in Nutrition.