The Nutrition Society of Australia 2024 Final Program is now available. Please click on the links below to view.
*Final Program times and slots are sublect to change
Pre - Conference Workshops are being held on Tuesday 3rd December at Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney University.
To register please visit your registration and sign up now. Places are limited so sign up now to avoid disappointment.
Morning Workshops
Nourishing Cultures: Indigenous perspectives on nutrition in Australia and the Pacific
Indigenous communities across Australia and the Pacific have developed profound knowledge systems around food, nutrition and the broader environment. These systems are deeply interconnected with cultural traditions, land stewardship, and overall community well-being. However, the introduction of colonial practices and modern food systems has had lasting impacts on the health and nutrition of Indigenous peoples and Indigenous knowledge systems. This has contributed to disparities, for example in relation to food and water? security and inequitable health outcomes.
This workshop will explore Indigenous perspectives on nutrition and community led approaches related to healthy sustainable food and water systems. It will emphasise Indigenous food practices, sovereignty over food systems, and the role of culturally informed nutrition practices? in promoting health and well-being. Through case studies and discussions, participants will learn about Indigenous approaches to food and food systems from across Australia and the Pacific region. The workshop will also highlight current challenges Indigenous communities face in preserving traditional food systems in the face of globalisation, climate change, and policy constraints.
Participants will leave with an understanding of how Indigenous food practices contribute to holistic health and well-being, as well as strategies for incorporating Indigenous knowledge into modern nutritional practices, research, and policy.
Presented by: Keziah Bennett-Brook, Prof Jacqui Webster, Alicia Dunning, Aliyah Palu
Intake24 for all: Envisioning the Future of Australia’s National Dietary Assessment Tool
As an automated 24-hour dietary recall tool designed for self-completion, Intake24 is unique in its open-source nature. Building on development over the past 15 years, this workshop will illustrate the potential of Intake24 for all. Used in the Australian 2023-24 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS), workshop attendees will explore ways to enable equitable and sustainable access to this important tool for all educators and researchers across Australia.
Intake24’s active community continues to innovate to expand and enhance data capture worldwide. The session will include an overview of existing studies using Intake24-Australia and recent innovations in co-designing an interface for use in research and clinical settings (Intake24-Clinical). Participants will engage in co-design activities to envision a future where Intake24 is available for teaching and research across Australia. Topics will include: 1) Increasing equity, diversity and inclusion for all Australians; 2) Using Intake24-Clinical within intervention studies; 3) Data governance and funding model; 4) Data analysis with Intake24; 5) Training for students and researchers.
This priority-setting workshop brings together leaders in nutrition and dietetics to co-design Intake24's current and future capabilities for all. A particular focus will be ensuring perspectives from early—and mid-career researchers and education-focused professionals. Key outcomes will be reported in a peer-reviewed publication to describe a roadmap for optimising the use of Intake24 across Australia. Attendees will be invited to join the inaugural Intake24 Australia Community to guide the use and development of Intake24 as an infrastructure for all.
Presented by: A/Prof Tracy McCaffrey, Annika Molenaar, Prof Karen Charlton, Dr Katherine Kent, Prof Anna Rangan, Prof Margaret Allman-Farinelli, Dr Erin Clarke, Dr Maxine Bonham
Advancing Personalised and Precision Nutrition in Australia
For this workshop, the Special Interest Group (SIG) will have drafted our position statement and be ready for strategic planning of the next phase of SIGs activities. The workshop will be open to current and interested SIG members, and NSA attendees who wish to learn more about advancing precision and personalised nutrition (PPN) in Australia.
Part 1 (60 minutes): The workshop will start with a presentation of the activities of the SIG to date. This section of the workshop will be open to all attendees. We will ask participants via Q&A and breakout sessions to provide feedback on the vision of the position statement, including feasibility, barriers and enablers to using PPN approaches in practise and research.
Part 2 (60 minutes): The workshop will then involve groups brainstorming short (within 1-2 years) and longer (over 5 years) goals for the SIG and the activities that could support them. The whole group will then discuss to reach consensus. Members will form working groups for each goal to progress following the workshop.
Note: Only current and interested SIG members will be invited to participate in this part of the workshop. To join the SIG, please see the NSA website.
The expected outcomes for participants will be:
• Opportunities to provide feedback on the vision of personalised and precision nutrition in Australia
• Improved awareness of the advances in personalised and precision nutrition in Australia
• Assessing barriers and enablers to implementing personalised and precision nutrition approaches in research and practise
• Understanding the purpose and progress of the SIG to date
• Active involvement in goal setting for the SIG
• Opportunities to plan and contribute to SIG activities
• Opportunity for interested members to sign up to the SIG at the workshop
Presented by: Dr Rochelle Davis, Dr Andrew Costanza, Dr Kaitlin Day
Professional identity and shifting career narratives: The role of universities
Australia needs a competent nutrition workforce across a breadth of expertise to develop sovereign capacity, food security, tackle pressures in health care, and impact the nutritional health of the population. The overlap between the nutrition and dietetics professions and respective scopes of practice are outlined by the professional bodies. However, messaging is often interpreted as what nutritionists are not qualified to do rather than focusing on what they can do. The language leaves nutrition graduates concerned about breeching their boundaries even with appropriate training. Universities employ strategies to build awareness of nutrition graduate career development, but between courses, strategies may be inconsistent whereby not all graduates make connections between course learning outcomes and employment prospects. This workshop will identify these challenges and explore strategies currently used across different universities. Discussion topics will include; outlining what nutritionists are qualified to do, the impact of the lack of regulation in using the term ‘nutritionist’ and development of next steps to empower future nutritionists.
This workshop is relevant to those working in tertiary nutrition education and interested in making a positive difference in the lives of graduates. In this knowledge-sharing workshop, participants will develop an understanding of the nutrition employability landscape. Participants can share and learn about effective practices to help develop a nutrition career narrative. Discussion will centre around how educators can support students in understanding their professional identity as credible, university-trained nutritionists. Collaboration within the workshop will guide development of the next steps and best practice strategy tools for participants to use in their nutrition science degrees.
Presented by: Dr Katya Clark, Dr Susan McLeod, Dr Nina Wilson, Dr Anita Stefoska-Needham
Food and Nutrition in Aged Care: Time for Reform
Food, nutrition, & the dining experience are central in the lives of older adults in aged care. The Royal Commission highlighted many issues related to nutritional care. The proposed new Aged Care Act & inclusion of a stand-alone food & nutrition quality indicator will hopefully establish positive actions to improve food, nutrition, & the dining experience for older adults in aged care.
The objective of this workshop is to bring together the views of NSA members & conference attendees on the status of food, nutrition, & the dining experience in aged care, what changes are needed & what we should expect for older adults living in aged care.
Key points to be addressed are:
• What should older adults in aged care expect from providers?
• Which Royal Commission recommendations are pertinent and need to be actioned first?
• Do we need minimal nutritional standards for foods provided?
• Which is more important, food, nutrition, or the dining experience?
• What do we still need to know (research) to ensure adequate nutritional care?
This will involve small group work to address the points above and raise other concerns that will be collated, summarised and presented at appropriate forums.
Proposed outcomes from this workshop are:
1. Letter to the Minister for Aged Care*: Indication of expectation and a road map of suggested improvements in relation to food, nutrition, and the dining experience.
2. Article submitted to the Australasian Journal of Ageing*: summary of the key points from the workshop.
*It is optional if attendees wish to be named on the letter and in the acknowledgements of the article.
Presented by: Dr Sandra Iuliano
Bush Tucker and Wellbeing Workshop
There is a great big supermarket out there if you know where to look!
60,000 years plus, we have been here, our food and plant knowledge is still available today if you know where to look, and it could be as simple as your local supermarket, produce store or native nursery. For Aboriginal people, many of the slogans used today apply equally well to our approach to food, such as, food is our medicine and medicine is our food. We might have many uses for the same plant. It could provide nutritious food, and at the same time be one used to treat common ailments or more serious complaints.
Join our workshop to explore Australian native edibles through tasting and smelling herbs, spices, fruits, nuts, and legumes. Discover the nutritional benefits of bush tucker foods and how to easily incorporate them into your everyday meals. Learn about Aboriginal agricultural practices, guided by the six seasons, and how native plants provided both food and medicine. Sample a variety of bush tucker ingredients, from fruits and seeds to herbs and leaves, and enjoy savory and sweet dishes made with native ingredients.
You will gain an understanding into Aboriginal traditions, particularly how native plants have been used for food, medicine, and sustainable living for thousands of years. Learn how to identify a variety of Australian native food such as herbs, spices, fruits, nuts and legumes and understanding their nutritional benefits. Develop an appreciation for Aboriginal agricultural practices, including how the land is managed according to the six seasons and how food resources are shared sustainably. Hands on experience by tasting, smelling, and touching bush tucker ingredients, enhancing participants engagement with bush tucker.
Participants will leave with a totally different appreciation of our traditional foods.
Presented by: Aunty Dale Tilbrook, Ms Cindy Prior
Afternoon Workshops
“It’s not what you know but who you know” - networking for career success
Join us for an engaging masterclass featuring speakers from diverse careers and stages, who will share their career journeys and the pivotal role networking played in their success. They’ll offer essential tips and tricks for effective networking, including important ‘do’s and don’ts,’ as well as strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome. The session will also include a practical component where participants will develop and practice their elevator pitches and help them network effectively throughout the remainder of the conference.
Presented by: Dr Alison Hill, NSA Student Mentoring Chair
Strategies to implement equity, diversity, and inclusion in promoting healthy diet and nutrition to extend health span and life span
Many countries face the social and economic impacts of population aging, particularly in Western countries where migrant populations are rapidly growing. Diet and nutrition are crucial in preventing and managing age-related conditions, but many dietary recommendations, like the Mediterranean diet, are only culturally relevant for some populations. Migrants bring unique food cultures yet face limited food access and a lack of culturally appropriate dietary advice in community, hospital, or care settings, making it harder to maintain their cultural practices, good nutrition, and health.
This workshop invites participants from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds to explore how healthy diets tied to their heritage can be integrated into broader communities while maintaining cultural identity, sustainability, and well-being. Aligned with "Food for All" at the NSA 2024, the workshop aims to develop a conceptual paper on incorporating equity, diversity, and inclusion policies in culturally relevant diets in community settings, healthcare, and policymaking.
The workshop will be interactive through brainstorming, discussion, internet search, reflections, and co-design of the study.
Learning outcomes:
1. Equip attendees with culturally appropriate dietary options for healthier aging and improved lifespan.
2. Enhance practitioners' ability to provide diet advice in community, clinical, or care settings.
3. Promote nutrition research to address dietary needs for healthy ageing among those from diverse backgrounds.
4. Position Australia as a leader in advocating and supporting culturally relevant diets at the community, health system, and policy levels to align with the EDI principles.
Presented by: Dr Zhaoli Dai-Keller
Development of a National Data Capability for Nutrition Science in Australia
In 2019, the National Committee for Nutrition, Australian Academy of Science published “Nourishing Australia,” a decadal plan for nutrition science, with implementation now underway. The plan proposed a National Nutrition Data Capability as essential for advancing nutrition science in Australia. This infrastructure would allow the capture and analysis of food, diet, and health data to inform national policies and interventions that will improve nutrition-related health for all Australians. The development of such infrastructure would utilise and champion open science principles within the nutrition science community.
This workshop will educate NSA members about the National Nutrition Data Capability and build their capacity for open science practices including findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data principles, and potential future use of the infrastructure. We will use small group activities to explore perceived barriers and benefits of the infrastructure, and case studies related to the FAIR data principles. Resources and examples will be provided on how to ethically plan, collect, and store research data for future data sharing and analysis.
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
• Discuss the importance of the National Nutrition Data Capability for promoting open science practices and establishing a ‘trusted voice’ for nutrition science
• Contribute to the discussion of the design of a National Data Capability for nutrition
• Explore best practices for producing, communicating and re-using research data, including:
- Interpretation of the FAIR data principles, and assess the ‘FAIR’ness of their own datasets.
- Ethically appropriate strategies for planning their own research studies and collecting and storing data that can be used in data sharing platforms.
- Resources related to data sharing and re-use.
Presented by: Dr Amy Dordevic, Dr Rebecca Leech, Dr Kaitlin Day
The future of Nutrition Policy in Australia.
It has been over 30 years since Australia last had a National Nutrition Policy. Since 1992, the way Australians access, prepare and consume food has shifted significantly, as have nutrition related health outcomes.
This workshop will bring attendees up to speed on the history of nutrition policy in Australia and consider the future direction of Nutrition Policy in Australia.
The workshop will bring together nutrition scientists, researchers and academics to tease out complex problems in the food and nutrition sector in Australia. Attendees will engage with problem analysis and policy mapping to determine challenges and influencing factors, using a whole of systems approach. The workshop will feed into consultation with the Department of Health and Aged Care, whilst using polling exercises and small group activities to facilitate networking, learning and development.
Expected outcomes for participants:
• To contribute to the future direction of nutrition policy in Australia, aligned with Government and Ministerial priorities.
• Upskilling on the current national policy environment.
• To provide working examples, stepping through complex policy problems in food and nutrition within the current policy environment.
• Networking with colleagues through small group activities.
Presented by: Dr Karen Krist, Ms Meg Ryan
Building Capacity for Advocacy in Nutrition: A Workshop for Nutrition Scientists and Public Health Nutritionists
As highlighted by Truby et al., 2024, (https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12876) there is a need for nutrition professionals "to be part of the conversation around policy and able to respond rapidly to consultation, and to be viewed as a valued partner in government decision-making where food and nutrition science is on the agenda".
This workshop responds to this need. We aim to equip nutrition scientists and public health nutritionists with essential advocacy skills to engage in policy discussions and respond to consultations effectively. Participants will explore practical strategies for advocacy aligned with the Australian Academy of Sciences’ Decadal Plan for Nutrition, focusing on the social determinants of nutrition. The session will be interactive through small group discussions and case study analysis, enabling participants to develop advocacy messages and strategies relevant to current policy issues or their own research agenda.
Participants will gain practical skills in policy advocacy, including formulating policy positions, communicating effectively with policymakers, and rapid response strategies for consultations. They will leave with a toolkit for advocacy and a network of peers to collaborate on future advocacy initiatives.
Presented by: Dr Katherine Kent, Prof Danielle Gallegos
Postprandial metabolism - Special Interest Group
This workshop aims to highlight the importance of considering postprandial measurements in i) nutrition science research projects, ii) the importance of considering biological time in study design and iii) postprandial changes in physiology. It also aims to promote collaborative research opportunities between members.
Workshop attendees will be immersed in a small group activity to generate a research grant idea that incorporates their collective research expertise. Each group will then pitch their idea to the audience.
Participants will learn about the importance of investigating metabolism in both the fasting and postprandial states. The workshop and group discussions are designed to promote collaborative opportunities and the sharing of research ideas relating to postprandial metabolism. Participants will get an exciting opportunity to meet and discuss ideas for future research grant applications with other nutrition professionals and nutrition scientists who are working in discrete but related research areas. Participants will also be given the opportunity to be involved as a member of the postprandial metabolism SIG and help form the future of this SIG.
Presented by: Dr Anthony James, Prof Maxine Bonham, Dr Rochelle Davis, Dr Jessica Greiger