Food & Fitness

Create the health kick of tomorrow Whether it’s developing top athletes or designing exercise or nutrition programs for patients with chronic illnesses, the career opportunities in food and fitness are epic

From the Queensland Maroons to the Australian Olympic swimming squad, behind every winning team is a group of experts who keep them in top form. Sports scientists help coach athletes to avoid injuries, while dietitians develop nutrition plans for peak performance. With around 14 million Australians participating in sport each year, there are plenty of careers in food and fitness.

Fitness up close Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology have the opportunity to work with accredited professionals in the QUT Exercise Physiology Clinic and work directly with clients. QUT students also complete more than 500 hours of professional placement in settings such as hospitals, local government organisations and with private health providers. Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science students also keep busy with 280 hours of placement with sporting associations, fitness centres, academies of sport, community and professional sport teams, and plenty of others.

Tech that saves your hamstrings

QUT exercise scientist Dr Tony Shield invented a portable device that can measure the strength of athletes’ hamstring muscles. Known as the NordBord Hamstring Testing System, the device uses sensors to predict the likelihood of an injury or track an athlete’s recovery and strength-building progress. The hamstring tester has attracted attention from some of the world’s biggest sporting groups, such as the English Premier League.

Food and fitness myths

Myth #1 White potatoes are unhealthy: Potatoes are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C and fibre. Myth #2 Microwaving food loses nutrients: Microwaves don’t zap nearly as many vitamins and minerals as you think.

Myth #3 It’s better to exercise in the morning: Nup. Exercise does you good, no matter what time of day!

Myth #4 Not sweating? You’re not working hard enough: Untrue. Some people just sweat more. Plus humidity and hydration are factors, too.

Healthy life, healthy learning It’s not just top athletes – healthy living is important to all of us, particularly those who need to manage disease. Nutritionists and food scientists are in high demand, with over 7000 jobs predicted to be up for grabs by 2025. The team at the QUT Health Clinics’ Nutrition and Dietetics service use their food, nutrition and health expertise to help people find practical solutions to their problems. The most exciting part? Consultations are led by final-year students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours), giving them real-world experience, so that they can sharpen their skills and learn on the job before they graduate. – Gemma Conroy

Career goals

The business of sport Former business student Jake Ward has taken his winning approach to a career that’s encompassed the Olympics and the Queensland Reds women's rugby team

How do you help an athlete win Olympic gold without actually going to the Olympics? Become a sports scientist like Jake.

Jake enjoyed his STEM subjects at high school, but when it came to uni, he figured a business degree would lead to a good job and salary. After a few years working in different office roles, Jake realised it wasn’t for him. So, aged 27, Jake headed to QUT and did a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science.

Jake now works at the Queensland Academy of Sport as a strength and conditioning coach. It just goes to show you don’t need to know what you want to do at 18!

He’s currently helping the Queensland Reds women’s rugby union team get in top form for next year’s season using tech and video footage to analyse their training techniques, and is excited for the future of sports science. – Saskia Horgan-Catchpole

Bachelor of Agribusiness, the University of Queensland Intern, 2020 Tokyo Olympics jake ward strength & conditioning coach

Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, QUT

Performance science intern, Queensland Academy of Sport Lead Strength and Conditioning coach, Queensland Reds Super W Women’s rugby team

FOOD AND FITNESS + STUDY

Bachelor of Sport

and Exercise Science

Bachelor of

Nutrition Science

Bachelor of

Nutrition and

Dietetics (Honours)

Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology

Bachelor of

Communication (Professional

Communication)/ Bachelor of

Nutrition Science

FOOD AND FITNESS + JOBS

Clinical exercise physiologist

$75K–$111K

Nutritionist $46K–$108K

Sports scientist

Average $57K

Food scientist

$44K–$94K

Rehabilitation specialist

$84K–$132K*

*Source: salaries according to glassdoor.com.au, payscale.com and talent.com

shaymus malone clinical physiology student From food fan to physiology fitness Health sciences offer so many awesome study pathways. Shaymus Malone chose nutrition science, but is now switching to physiology...

Study is often about the opportunity to explore and find the path you feel you were meant to be on. For Shaymus, this is to be successful and to help as many people as possible. With an initial interest in biology at school, Shaymus recently switched to a Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology at QUT. The Nunukul and Kangalou man also works as a ranger on Moreton Island (Mulgumpin). Studying STEM was a no-brainer. “No matter what part of STEM you study, eventually the information you learn plays a big role in many different career pathways,” he says. “I used to think STEM was all about science. Now I know it’s a lot more diverse.” During his degree, he’s learnt about nutrition, how the body works and how to be a health professional. His advice for other students? “Keep your options open and do something you really enjoy.” – Heather Catchpole

Year 12, Ipswich Grammar School Ranger, Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology, QUT

From patient to practitioner

Savita Sandhu overcame her own personal health challenges to graduate with a degree in nutrition and dietetics

It was Savita’s personal journey with food intolerances and an autoimmune illness that inspired her to pursue a career in health. “I had a wonderful practitioner who took the time to explain to me, at 11 years old, what was happening with my body,” she recalls. Savita started a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) at QUT and was enrolled in a pilot program called Smart Patient (now Health Commons) which “was pivotal in enabling me to come to terms with my health and make a clear road map for the path ahead”. Savita graduated in 2021 and launched her own practice – Savvy Dietetics – while continuing her connection with Health Commons on their trial health app project, Food is Medicine. Savita says work placement opportunities during her degree at QUT helped her to establish her career path: “Placements gave me an opportunity to build professional relationships with inspiring and supportive dietitians.” And now, Savita is doing her dream job, helping patients just like herself. – Gemma Chilton

savita sandhu accredited practicing dietician

Placements gave me an opportunity to build professional relationships with inspiring and supportive dietitians”

Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours), QUT Project Manager, Health Commons

Director, Savvy Dietetics Dietitian, Brisbane Pain Rehabilitation Service

The world of work is changing. You’ll have multiple jobs and careers in your lifetime–some that have yet to be realised. Adding business or law to your STEM degree will help you develop a portfolio of skills and capabilities so you will be flexible, prepared for change, and able to maximise your career opportunities.

‘By combining business and IT, I have the practical understanding of business problems and the technical knowledge to solve them. I can communicate both the business problem and technical solution to every type of audience–bringing stakeholders on board, aligning team members and ultimately getting the solution across the line.’

Geordie Williamson

Bachelor of Business (Marketing)/ Bachelor of Information Technology ‘I chose to study IT halfway through my law degree. I realised I was very interested in technology and innovation and that IT would be an important degree to have going forward. I have loved having a mix of subjects in my degree.’ Rachel Treasure

Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/ Bachelor of Information Technology