The future of clinical nutrition explained

There’s a growing hunger across our communities for accurate information about the relationship between food and health – and clinical nutritionists have a huge role to play.

Over the past few years, social media has shone a light on the importance of good nutrition for wellbeing. At the same time, clinical nutritionists have been gaining increasing recognition as qualified health professionals who can support clients to achieve their health goals.

Students who complete a Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Nutrition) at Torrens University Australia will be well prepared to work one-on-one with clients and can benefit from being recognised as allied health professionals.

Clinical nutritionists typically complete a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science and are recognised for the specific training they have completed to work with individuals to assess and assist with their nutrition goals.

We spoke to Torrens University Australia nutrition learning facilitator Melinda Overall about what’s changing in the sector and how students can best prepare themselves to help clients in 2025 and beyond.

Emerging trends in clinical nutrition

As the role of clinical nutritionists becomes better understood across society, graduates should prepare themselves for the following trends:

• Personalised service: Nutrition is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ process. There’s an increasing expectation that advice will be tailored to individual needs
• Social media focus: Social media has put a spotlight on the importance of nutrition, but consumers need qualified clinical nutritionists to help them work out what the evidence is and understand health trends
• Need for cost-effective solutions: The financial burden of healthcare is a big issue for Australians. Clinical nutritionists must have a good understanding of products and supplements available so they can offer cost-effective treatments
• Rise of fortified and functional foods: There is a rise in the number of food products on the market that have ‘added’ nutrients, like added B-group vitamins. Clinical nutritionists must be aware of these and help others understand the risks and benefits of these products

What is changing in the clinical nutrition industry in 2025?

The coming year will be a big one for clinical nutrition as the industry gets greater recognition across the healthcare sector.

In 2023, the Australasian Association of Registered Practicing Nutritionists (AARPN) became a member of Allied Health Professions Australia, paving the way for accredited clinical nutritionists to be recognised as allied health professionals.

The role of ‘Clinical Nutritionist’ has also been recognised in the most recent update of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Occupational Standards List, under allied health.

Recognition of nutritionists as allied health professionals carries many benefits for graduates, as we’ll outline below.

But it also means that there will be greater expectations of clinical nutritionists as a profession. Clients will expect advice that caters to their individual needs.

Negotiating social media

We tend to cycle through nutrition trends in Australia, and social media is often what drives the “next big thing”.

It’s important for nutritionists, especially new graduates, to stay abreast of social media trends so that they can talk about them with clients and perhaps say, “Maybe this is not the best thing for you”.

Clinically trained, degree qualified clinical nutritionists work from an evidence base and are able to identify nutrition fads. This will become an increasingly important skill.

Certified Practicing Nutritionists becoming allied health professionals

Graduates of the Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Nutrition) are in a great position to receive accreditation for their studies and be recognised as allied health professionals.

After completing the bachelor’s degree, students are eligible to become a member of Australasian Association of Registered Practicing Nutritionists (AARPN), which will allow them to use the title ‘Certified Practicing Nutritionist’.

Because AARPN is now a member of Allied Health Professions Australia, clinical nutrition graduates can be recognised as allied health professionals.

This recognition acknowledges the unique clinical expertise of graduates and establishes the clinical nutritionists as bona fide primary care nutrition practitioners.

It also gives graduates better recognition as primary care providers and makes it easier for nutritionists to work with other allied health professionals, like physiotherapists.

Clinical nutritionists are already able to join private health funds as a rebate-able provider, but right now only around 12 health funds pay on nutrition. As recognition grows, the number of funds offering this may expand.

We are also more likely to be better recognised by GPs and other doctors. The certification elevates us in the minds of the public.

A lot of movement is currently happening in the clinical nutrition space as organisations like AARPN work hard to get recognition for clinical nutrition in the allied health sector.