Unit Outline

This unit covers assessment of the nutritional status of individuals, groups, communities, and populations using anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, dietary, and ecological methods. In this unit you will examine a variety of approaches to measuring food and nutrition within the Australian context and the application of these measures for improving health. You will evaluate the design and use of diet histories, food records, health surveys, food frequency questionnaires and anthropometric measures in measuring nutritional status of individuals and communities. You will also develop practical skills using various nutritional assessment tools.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Describe the rationale for assessing food intake and nutritional status among Australians
2.	Measure, analyse and interpret food intake and nutritional status at the individual, community and population levels
3.	Compare the benefits and limitations of nutrition assessment methods commonly used in Australia
4.	Use nutritional assessment data to develop strategies for improving the health of Australians

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA208 or CXA108

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Small changes have been made to the assessment tasks.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Diet Report	Week 7	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Anthropometry Assignment	Week 11	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Health Needs Assessment and Intervention Plan	Week 14	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Diet Report

Task Description:

This assessment task will provide you experience in reviewing, planning, and implementing diets using different dietary assessment methods. You will choose a special diet, then plan, and follow it for three days. This task will also help understand the challenges clients may encounter in implementing a new diet for health or other reasons.

Task Length:

2500 words

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Compare your macro and micronutrient intake against recommended intakes appropriate for your age, sex and activity needs.	LO1, LO2
2	Describe the features of the new/special diet along with its potential health benefits and limitations in relation to the condition/s it is reported to prevent or manage.	LO4
3	Present the 3-day meal plan, actual intake as weighed food record and your reflections on implementing the diet.	LO2, LO3, LO4
4	Effectively communicate with clear, logical, and concise scientific writing.	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 2: Anthropometry Assignment

Task Description:

This assessment task focuses on your knowledge and understanding of anthropometry and body composition for planning, observing, measuring, and interpreting indicators of physical growth and body composition.

Task Length:

1500 words plus graphs and certificate of completion for the online course

Due Date:

Week 11

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Accurately plot the size and shape of infants and young children using physical growth charts and anthropometric data.	LO2
2	Measure and record a restricted anthropometric protocol.	LO2
3	Describe the rationale for using various anthropometric and body composition indicators and compare the strengths and weaknesses of techniques.	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Complete an online certificate program on proper anthropometric measurements.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Health Needs Assessment and Intervention Plan

Task Description:

This task focuses on undertaking a needs assessment of a rural community in Tasmania using publicly available health data, and subsequently planning a nutrition program or intervention to help support the health needs of the chosen community.

Task Length:

2000 words, excluding Table of Contents, Tables, Figures, and References

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify nutrition/health/sociodemographic data sources relevant to a rural Tasmanian Local Government Area and present the data in an appropriate format.	LO2
2	Interpret nutrition/health/sociodemographic data to identify and describe health needs of the chosen community. Supplement your argument with scientific evidence showing the relationship between nutritional status and broader health indicators.	LO2, LO3
3	Propose a nutrition program or intervention for your rural community, identify the appropriate nutritional methods to collect data, and key stakeholders to be involved.	LO3, LO4
4	Effectively communicate with clear, logical and concise scientific writing.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks. Failure to submit one or more assessment tasks may result in you being awarded an overall fail grade (AN/NN) for the unit.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials