From online learning during COVID-19 to working in Australian hospitals—this is how IMU’s Dietetics 2+2 pathway shaped a global healthcare career.

This is the journey of an IMU Dietetics student who progressed through the 2+2 pathway to become a clinical dietitian in Australia. From adapting to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic to transitioning into a new cultural and healthcare environment, the experience highlights how strong academic foundations and international exposure support career success in dietetics.

• IMU’s Dietetics 2+2 pathway enables international transfer to Australia
• Strong academic foundation supports smooth transition to overseas study
• Practical experience and networking are key to career success
• Graduates can pursue careers as clinical dietitians in hospital settings

My journey in the Dietetics with Nutrition began at IMU University, where I completed the first two years of the 2+2 credit transfer pathway before continuing my studies in University of Newcastle, Australia. Looking back, the experience was both rewarding and unique, especially as part of my studies took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first two years at IMU were somewhat unconventional for me. I completed my first year face-to-face on campus, but my second year was conducted entirely online due to COVID-19.

Despite this disruption, the programme provided a very strong academic foundation. One aspect I particularly appreciated was the opportunity to attend shared lectures with students from other health science courses. This interdisciplinary learning environment allowed us to exchange ideas and perspectives, which helped broaden my understanding of nutrition and dietetics within the wider healthcare context.

Studying dietetics at IMU also gave me an interesting point of comparison when I later continued my studies in Australia.

While dietetics involves many transferable scientific and clinical skills, food culture plays a significant role in how nutrition is practised and understood in different countries. Having the opportunity to experience and learn from both systems allowed me to appreciate how cultural context influences dietary patterns, food choices, and nutrition advice.

Beyond academics, I am especially grateful for the friendships I built during my time at IMU, particularly during my foundation years.

Many of us were navigating the same uncertainties and challenges of being in a credit transfer programme, and those friendships became an important support system. Sharing both the highs and lows of the journey with people who truly understood the experience made a big difference.

The transition to Australia was both exciting and challenging. Because I had spent nearly two years studying online under lockdown conditions, moving to a completely new country afterwards required significant adjustment.

Adapting to a new culture, new support systems, and different daily routines took time, and I had to rebuild my routines while finding my footing in an unfamiliar environment.

Academically, the transition itself was relatively smooth thanks to the strong preparation I received at IMU. However, adjusting from online learning back to face-to-face classes required some time.

The programme in Australia was very supportive in helping international students adapt. Various orientation programmes introduced us to aspects of Australian culture, including food habits, slang, and local eating behaviours. These initiatives helped ease the cultural transition and allowed us to feel more comfortable both academically and socially.

During my time in Australia, I also became very aware of how competitive the dietetics field can be. This motivated me to actively seek out part-time work, volunteering opportunities, and extracurricular activities that could help strengthen my experience and professional skills.

These experiences not only helped build my CV but also allowed me to develop practical skills, expand my professional network, and gain greater insight into the different career pathways within dietetics.

Today, I work as a clinical dietitian with Queensland Health in a hospital setting, focusing on general medicine, surgical, orthopaedic, and rehabilitation wards.

In my role, I work closely with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to provide medical nutrition therapy for patients with a wide range of conditions.

My responsibilities include assessing patients’ nutritional needs, developing evidence-based nutrition care plans, and supporting individuals in improving their health and recovery through nutrition.

In addition to my hospital role, I also work as a contractor dietitian in the aged care sector, where I support older adults by providing nutritional assessments and recommendations to help maintain their health and quality of life.

Reflecting on my journey, the IMU Dietetics with Nutrition 2+2 pathway provided not only a strong academic foundation but also an invaluable international learning experience.

The programme played an important role in shaping my professional development and ultimately supported my path towards becoming a practising clinical dietitian.

I also want to acknowledge that none of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my family, and above all, God’s guidance throughout this journey. Through every hard day, challenge, and moment of uncertainty, I knew that whenever I needed it most, I could always call my family and count on their encouragement, reassurance, and constant reminders to trust in God’s plan for me. My faith gave me strength during the difficult moments, and their belief in me gave me the courage to keep going. I can only hope that through everything I have achieved, I have made them proud.

Written by Esther Fuah Jin- Lynn (潘靖琳)