Healthy eating a focus for visiting dietetic students

A research project undertaken on Phillip Island is the focus for two students at Gippsland Region Public Health Unit (GRPHU) on placement from Deakin University.

Megan Dodds and Aoife McHugh are both studying their Masters of Dietetics and are using their placement opportunity to identify opportunities to improve healthy eating and drinking options at venues throughout the region.

The focus for Megan and Aoife during their time with the GRPHU will be to upscale healthy food and drink choices when eating out, informed by a pilot project previously undertaken with eateries on Phillip Island.

“The aim of this project is to support the nutritional wellbeing of the community by increasing the number of healthy options available and support customers to identify the most nutritious options when eating out,” Ms Dodds said.

With an interest in nutrition and healthcare, both were delighted to have the opportunity to understand the role of local public health units (LPHUs) in disease prevention.

With the role of the GRPHU now extending far beyond COVID-19 outbreak management, Operations Director, Annelies Titulaer, said LPHUs throughout Victoria were also now supporting positive change in disease prevention and population health.

“The GRPHU works with local partners and stakeholders across the region to keep our communities healthy, safe and well,” Ms Titulaer explained.

“We use local knowledge, community-based relationships and direct engagement to inform locally tailored and developed interventions to improve population health outcomes.”

Ms McHugh decided to pursue nutritional science after completing her Bachelor degrees in both nursing and veterinary science.

“I realised I am passionate about providing others with evidence-based nutrition advice and would like to work to decrease the burden of diet-related disease,” she said.

“The GRPHU staff are passionate, extremely knowledgeable and welcoming. We look forward to supporting the nutritional wellbeing of the Gippsland community during our placements.”