The oral exam is the final exam you need to pass to get your DSR.
You must pass the multiple-choice question (MCQ) exam before you can apply to sit the oral exam.
Learn about the whole DSR process.
On this page
What to expect in the oral exam
The oral exam is online via Zoom.
There are 3 separate stages to the exam. Each stage will have a separate task and scenario involving a client role-play situation.
You can bring resources
We'll give you all the case information you'll need for your client role-play. You can bring resources into your exam.
For Task 2, you can ask to screen share to demonstrate your ability to communicate your advice.
We'll record your exam
To help us assess your exam fairly, we'll record your session. Dietitians Australia's regulatory unit and members of the Australian Dietetic Council are the only people who have access to your recording.
Your exam is confidential
You aren't allowed to tell other people what case information or role-play scenario was in your exam. Before you sit your exam, we ask you to sign a declaration saying you won't share the case information.
Oral exam format
The oral exam is a 120-minute counselling interview, online via Zoom.
The exam is made up of 3 stages. Each stage will have a standardised oral task role-playing a clinical scenario with an actor.
You will receive scenario information and instructions 30-minutes before the exam. There will be 3 separate scenarios. Scenarios may not be done in order. Each stage will be in a different breakout room. There will be a separate examiner and actor for each task.
There will be a short break in between each stage.
You will be assessed on;
- nutrition assessment
- education and counselling
- interprofessional practice
Oral exam scope
The oral exam assesses your ability to practise dietetics in Australia.
The oral exam is designed to assess your communication skills in:
- nutrition assessment
- education and counselling
- interprofessional practice
Performance criteria are developed from the National Competency Standards.
This means we expect you have the same dietetic knowledge and understanding as an entry-level dietitian.
The 3 tasks allow a candidate to demonstrate their ability to:
- structure an interview or conversation
- understand the problem from the client’s point of view and respond with empathy to cues given by the client
- decide how to gather relevant information
- explain relevant diet-disease relationships
- identify and prioritise the client’s health problems
- negotiate nutritional management goals with the client
- give relevant, practical dietary advice that is accurate, correct, complete and easily understood by the client
- recommend an appropriate evaluation and follow-up plan
- engage in conflict resolution, negotiation and advocacy for patient care with other stakeholders
- communicate in a professional person-centred manner in a virtual setting
Assessing your exam
Each examiner will complete an assessment form for each task against predetermined criteria. To pass the oral exam the candidate must demonstrate competency in all 3 tasks.
Task 1 – Performance in data gathering for nutrition assessment
Task 2 – Performance in education and counselling
Task 3 – Performance in interprofessional practice
You won't get any feedback on the day of the exam. If you don't pass your oral exam, you'll get a copy of your Oral Exam Assessment Summary.
| Task | Assessment Focus | Task Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Information gathering for Nutrition assessment and diagnosis – 20 minutes | Your task is to interview the client (actor) and gather appropriate information in order to understand the client’s priority nutritional issues and make a nutritional diagnosis. You do not need to provide interventions with the patient during this task. Role-plays a telehealth consult. |
| 2 | Education and counselling – 30 minutes | Your task is to provide education and counselling with the client under the assumption that they will have access to see you again in a month’s time. Assessment information is provided including nutritional diagnosis. Role-plays a telehealth consult. |
| 3 | Interprofessional practice – 10 minutes | Your task is to identify and engage in a professional conversation with another health professional or stakeholder that attempts to resolve/advocate/clarify an issue relevant to a client’s nutritional problem. Role-plays a telephone conversation. |
Preparing for your oral exam
Before your exam, you should study to refresh your dietetic knowledge and learn how dietitians practise in Australia.
To help you study, we've created a list of DSR exam preparation resources.
Important dates
Our exam dates depend on demand. To find out dates for the next oral exams, visit our exam dates and details page.
Top tips for your oral exam
- Revise your dietetic knowledge.
- Read the case information carefully.
- Pretend you're in a real client counselling session.
We have many study resources to help you prepare for your exam.
The DSR process
Read our DSR process to learn about:
- DSR assessments
- applying for your MCQ exam
- applying for your oral exam
- getting your exam results
- special consideration for exam results
- appealing your DSR outcomes
- next steps after you get your DSR
Read more about our DSR process.
Get in touch
If you have questions about your oral exam, contact us at dsr@dietitiansaustralia.org.au