Enhancing the Public Health Nutrition Workforce: What Canada can learn from the Australian Experience

Abstract

Workforce development in the field of public health nutrition (PHN) is an important capacity building strategy required to effectively address local, national and globally recognized priority issues such as obesity, fruit and vegetable promotion and breastfeeding. As a strategy and focus of societal effort however, it receives little overt attention relative to its importance. Workforce development needs to look beyond the traditional focus on training and recognize that there are a range of determinants that influence the effectiveness of the workforce in achieving PHN goals. In simple terms, workforce development in PHN should include a combination of strategies that focus on workforce quantity (size and composition), quality (training and continuing professional development) and management. This presentation will draw on research conducted in Australia over the past 5 years that has highlighted the determinants of PHN workforce capacity and identified a framework for workforce development based on this analysis. It will share the lessons from Australia's experience including the challenges that this development presents to dietitians.