A case study evaluation of the Nutrition Society of Australia’s Mentoring Program for Registered Nutritionists

Abstract Objective: To explore the development of the Nutrition Society of Australia’s (NSA) mentoring program for Registered Nutritionists and evaluate the experience of the nutrition professionals participating in the mentoring program. Design: Case study evaluation utilising a focus group, individual semi-structured interviews, open-ended survey responses, and document analysis, via an interpretivist lens. Setting: Australia Participants: Three members of the NSA’s inaugural Mentoring Program Committee participated in a focus group. Eleven program mentees and ten mentors from three consecutive cohorts of the NSA Mentoring program for Registered Nutritionists (paired in 2021-2022) agreed to participate. Results: Data were analysed from survey responses, document analysis, in addition to focus group and in-depth interviews with twelve program participants. Mentoring was seen as a pathway beyond tertiary training to negotiate challenges associated with career development; mentors were seen as facilitators of growth through “real world” skill-set acquisition. Successful partnerships were facilitated by program flexibility and the perception of professional compatibility. Participation in the NSA’s mentoring program was perceived to value-add to society membership, strengthening the society and professional practice, promoting networking within the nutrition community and public health field. Conclusions: Mentoring programs may provide access to diverse skillsets required in a non-vocational profession, promoting greater confidence and a stronger professional identity. These skills are essential for fostering a resilient nutrition workforce that can help combat the burden of non-communicable disease.