Teaching Nutrition to practicing: Educator's leap into a new career

Katie Hopcraft spent two decades teaching high school before deciding it was time for a change. Now she's a certified Clinical Nutritionist with her own practice.

Old skills and a new career

Katie's clients get something special when they walk through her door – a nutritionist who knows how to teach.

“With a background in education, my main aim is to educate people to live their healthiest lives,” she explains. “In consultations, I always make a point of explaining the 'why' to my clients. I think that this is important in helping them to make lasting changes.”

This teaching mindset gives Katie an edge, but it's her Torrens University degree that gives her credibility.

“Completing a Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Nutrition) through Torrens University has been instrumental in establishing my professional credibility," she says. "The comprehensive understanding of nutrition science, pathophysiology and clinical assessment I gained, has equipped me to provide evidence-based care to my clients. I have earned both their trust and confidence.”

She continues, "The degree qualification distinguishes me from non-degree qualified nutritionists and has provided me with the necessary foundations to confidently work with complex cases.”

Speaking in medical terminology and not just nutrition

One of the biggest hurdles for career-changers in healthcare? Learning to talk to doctors.

“The medical knowledge and terminology I gained throughout my studies has been particularly valuable in building relationships with other healthcare providers," Katie explains. "This has given me the confidence to set up meetings with other healthcare providers and share de-identified treatment plans that I have developed to develop referral networks.”

“As a result, I have successfully developed networks with local GPs and other allied health practitioners, who trust in my ability to support their patients effectively.”

Katie Hopcraft's hands-on experience

What made Torrens University stand out for Katie was the hands-on experience.

“The curriculum covered everything from nutrition fundamentals to detailed anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, giving me a thorough understanding of body systems and their interconnections," Katie explains. "Throughout the degree, I learnt critical research skills, including how to evaluate scientific literature to inform evidence-based practice.”

On the practical experience, she adds: "The 360-hour supervised clinical practicum was particularly valuable, allowing me to apply this theoretical knowledge in a real-life clinical setting. Under the guidance of experienced supervisors, I developed essential skills in confidently taking client cases in consultations, case management, treatment planning, and the safe prescription of practitioner-only supplements.”

“The supportive learning environment, of both supervisors and peers, was instrumental in building my confidence to handle complex cases independently.”

Establishing a career as a Certified Practicing Nutritionist

For career-changers, the most frustrating part can be finding yourself with a qualification that employers or clients don't recognise. Katie says that's not an issue with Torrens University.

“Following on from the completion of the degree, holding membership with the Australasian Association and Register of Practicing Nutritionists (AARPN) has been fundamental in establishing my professional career as a Certified Practicing Nutritionist (CPN)," Katie shares. “This recognition has provided me with multiple advantages, including registration eligibility with Provider Digital Access (PRODA) through Allied Health Professions Australia and the ability to offer private health insurance rebates to clients. Being a CPN has helped build my credibility with both clients and healthcare practitioners, including medical professionals and other allied health providers.”

She adds, "Additionally, as an AARPN member, I can prescribe practitioner-only products and benefit from their ongoing advocacy work to establish CPNs as bone-fide primary care practitioners. The AARPN also supports my professional development through high-quality continuing education opportunities to maintain my registration.”

Her advice for students? "I strongly recommend that students who are nearing the completion of their Clinical Nutrition studies join the AARPN to access these valuable benefits.”

For Katie, switching from teaching to nutrition wasn't just about finding a new job – it was about building a whole new identity as a healthcare professional.

“Torrens University gave me everything I needed to make that transition with confidence,” she says. "I'm still teaching, in a way, but now I'm helping people transform their health one consultation at a time.”

She's also developing educational courses and digital resources when she's not seeing clients, bringing her two careers together in ways she never expected.

“If you're thinking about making a similar change, especially if you're coming from another profession, the Clinical Nutrition program at Torrens University is worth serious consideration. They understand that career-changers bring valuable skills – they help you leverage what you already know while teaching you what you need to learn.”