Embracing our broader duty of care: Monash Nutrition supporting workforce capacity to address planetary health

Dietitians Australia held their annual conference in Melbourne in July 2023, with the theme “It’s time”. In the morning of the first day, a plenary session titled Future Foods and Sustainability featured presentations by Dr Liza Barbour (Monash University), Professor Karen Charlton (University of Wollongong) and Dr Diana Bogueva (Curtin University). 

Dr Liza Barbour, Lecturer at Monash University, presented in this plenary about 'Dietetics and Planetary Health- Embracing a broader duty of care'. Her presentation took the audience on a journey to: 

• Acknowledge the harsh reality of our current climate crisis, and understand what this means for the future of food in Australia and globally, and the impact on health, as well as our role as health professionals. 

• Explore why dietitians are well-positioned to contribute to planetary health action. To do this, Liza interviewed members of Dietitians Australia’s Food and Environment Interest Group’s Leadership committee, a Monash Nutrition student and two pioneering dietitians.

  

Interviewees describe the valuable skills and attributes dietitians possess, such as advocacy and role-modeling, that are essential to achieve food system transformation. 

• Learn about the progress that’s been made by Dietitians Australia to help our workforce embrace this broader duty of care for our planet. Liza asked her interviewees what motivates them to embrace this duty of care for planetary health. 

Interviewees shared a range of motivating factors ranging from their desire to grow and share food with loved ones and a need to protect our natural resources so future generations can live a full, healthy life. 

• Understand that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and somewhat paralysed by the challenges we face as a global population. However, the ripple effect of even small actions can make a difference, and we must start somewhere before the window of opportunity to take action closes. Liza asked her interviewees what advice they have for Dietitians who are wanting to embrace this broader duty of care. 

Interviewees suggested a range of helpful resources such as the Sustainability Toolkit by the International Confederation of Dietetic Associations and joining groups of like-minded individuals to learn more (eg. Dietitians Australia’s Food and Environment Interest Group and the Climate and Health Alliance).

By Dr Liza Barbour

Liza is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food at Monash University. Liza teaches Public Health Nutrition and Food Sustainability Systems for nutrition and dietetics students. Together with her colleague Julia McCartan, Liza designed one of Australia's first undergraduate units on food sustainability systems for nutrition and dietetics students, which she continues to coordinate. 

Liza would like to acknowledge Dietitians Australia for showing leadership and commitment to progress this emerging area of practice, all members of DA’s Food and Environment Interest Group’s Leadership Committee who are championing planetary health practice and her interviewees: 

● Dr Rosemary Stanton 

● Professor Mark Lawrence 

● Dr Julia McCartan (Lecturer, Monash Nutrition)

● Lauren Collinson (Student, Monash Nutrition)

● Sara Forbes

● Sandy Murray 

● Kathy Faulkner (PhD Candidate, Monash Nutrition) 

● Grace Zadow

● Nicole Senior 

● Alison Kempe 

● Nathan Cook (PhD Candidate, Monash Nutrition)

At Monash Nutrition, we are committed to planetary health in our research, education and community engagement activities. 

Interested in studying with us?

We offer the Bachelor of Nutrition Science, Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) - Nutrition Discipline, Master of Nutrition and Dietetics and PhD opportunities.