Upcoming events

Certificate in Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetics

The Department of Nutrition and Food Services at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne began a Certificate in Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetics in 1997. This highly regarded course is exclusively for qualified dietitians, with the course content targeted to meet the training needs and learning outcomes for Paediatric Dietitians. 

Entry criteria

University entry criteria apply. Candidates must hold a graduate or post graduate qualification in Dietetics. Evidence of qualifications must be provided.

Successful completion of Unit 1 is required to proceed to Unit 2.  It is not possible to complete Unit 2 prior to Unit 1. However, Dietitians with 3+ years experience in paediatric dietetics may apply to complete Unit 2 only.

Dates

The course will run within a financial year i.e. July - June. 

2023

• Unit 1 - Monday 4th September - Thursday 7th September 2023 
• Unit 2 - Monday 8th May- Thursday 11th May 2023. COMPLETE

2024

• Dates will be confirmed in late 2023

Contact hours 

Two Units will be held in blocks of 4 days. Each unit provides approximately 23 contact hours with additional non-contact hours required to complete assessment tasks.  

Venue 

The course will run online in 2023, mode for 2024 is yet to be confirmed. The course is intended run live to allow participants to ask questions throughout and participate in workshop-style presentations.

Copies of slides will be provided where possible.

Assessment

Assessment for both units is by a written online examination (multiple choice questions and short answer questions) to be completed following each of the units.  .

Participants pass the examination to receive a certificate of completion.

NB:  Completion of Unit 1 and 2 does not render participants experienced, paediatric dietitians. Within the realms of the two units, it is only possible to provide the theoretical background on which future practice can be based.  Following the course, it is the responsibility of each participant to keep their knowledge regarding paediatric nutrition updated.

Registration

In order to register you will need to create an account on the RCH online learning platform, please follow the instructions once you have clicked on the below link.

Unit 1 2023: Registrations are open for Unit 1 2023. Please visit the Royal Children's Hospital Online Learning Platform. The timetable will not be released until closer to the event however please see below for the Unit 1 topics. 

Registrations close 1 week prior to the event.

Price

$950 per unit (excluding GST)

Refunds

As per the Royal Children's Hospital Online Learning Platform:

a) Requests for refunds must be made in writing and should be emailed to the course administrator

b) The below table outlines when learners can request a refund and the % refund.  Please note the 1.5% card-processing fee included in the course fee is non-refundable. 

Course Information:

Unit 1 Nutrition and Child Health 

On successful completion of this unit participants will:

• Be competent in assessment of nutritional status, growth and nutritional requirements of infants, children and adolescents.
• Understand the aetiology of common nutrition-related diseases, which have their origins in childhood.
• Be competent to provide the nutritional requirements of infants, children and adolescents across common nutrition related disorders. 
• Understand and apply current research findings to the care of paediatric patients.

Unit 1 Topics

General Paediatrics:

• Growth and nutritional assessment
• Breastfeeding and introduction of solids
• Infant formula - new developments and manipulations to meet altered requirements
• Toddler nutrition and fussy eating
• Workshops on growth and energy requirements from infancy through to adolescents

Specific Nutrition Problems

• Common childhood disorders requiring nutritional intervention such as growth faltering and iron deficiency
• Management of common infant gastrointestinal disorders: constipation, colic, reflux and gastroenteritis.
• Feeding difficulties including practical aspects of feeding children with a disability
• Enteral feeding
• Dietary management of IgE-mediated allergy

Community Nutrition Topics

• Paediatric public health issues e.g. childhood obesity
• Communicating with children and adolescents
• NDIS

Unit 2: Clinical Paediatric Dietetics

On successful completion of this unit participants will:

• Be competent in the nutritional and dietary assessment of infants, children and adolescents with a range of acute and chronic diseases.
• Have a detailed understanding of nutritional management and dietary therapy in children with acute and chronic diseases.
• Be able to plan, implement and evaluate nutritional interventions, including dietary manipulation and artificial nutrition support measures.
• Understand and apply current research findings to the care of paediatric patients.

Unit 2 Topics:            

Unit 2 focuses on clinical conditions common in paediatrics. Lectures and workshops are disease specific and include an overview of the condition, nutritional assessment, estimating nutritional requirements and management. 

• Topics include diabetes, renal disease, oncology, liver disorders, GI disorders, neonates, eating disorders, congenital heart disease, ketogenic diets for epilepsy, parenteral nutrition, intestinal failure, cystic fibrosis, non-IgE mediated food allergy, inborn errors of metabolism and PICU.

Nursing Education Day 2023

Nurses play a key role in monitoring children’s growth and development and supporting families.  With so many areas to address keeping up to date and ensuring practice is evidence based can be challenging.  This symposium provides a unique opportunity to update knowledge on a range of nutrition related topics in a one day program. 
Who should attend?
Maternal and Child Health Nurses – including students or those wishing to increase knowledge and skills, Community Nurses and Allied Health Professionals with an interest in early child nutrition, health and development. 

Course Information:

Date: Thursday 3rd August 2023

Time: 8.55am-4.10pm

Venue: Online via Zoom

Price: $200 (+GST)

Registration: Open RCH Learn Platform

Timetable

Dietitian Professional Development Day 2023

Opportunities for updating and maintaining skills in the area of paediatric nutrition are limited. This professional development day provides an update across a range of topics of interest to both community and clinical dietitians.

Who should attend?
Dietitians working in clinical, community or private practice settings seeking to develop or update skills in providing nutrition services for children and adolescents.
The program is suitable for dietitians looking for an update after completing the Certificate in Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetics at The Royal Children’s Hospital as well as those with an interest in paediatric nutrition.

Information: 

Date: 16th November 2023

Time: 9.00am-4.15pm

Venue 

This day will run online via Zoom.

Further details including registration will be confirmed in mid 2023

For queries regarding the above courses please contact nutrition.education@rch.org.au