Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
21/07/2026 11:40 PM AWST
21/07/2026 11:40 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Design and provide nutritional therapies
Design and provide nutritional therapies
Unit of competency
National Code
WRHHS408A
WRHHS408A
State Code
S4535
S4535
TGA Status
Deleted
Deleted
DTWD Status
Deleted
Deleted
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
26/09/2006
Field of Education
069901 - Nutrition And Dietetics
Original Release Date
26/09/2006
Nominal Hours
30
Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide advice on dietary modification and nutritional supplements in conjunction with trichological treatments. The unit of competency will apply to a range of trichological treatments and roles in the workplace.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Apply nutritional therapy.
- 1.1 Appropriate nutritional therapy is determined based on patient assessment, and relevant nutritional supplements are identified.
- 1.2 The relevant principles of nutrition and the potential effects on the condition of the hair and scalp are identified and applied to patient service and advice according to relevant legislation and workplace policies and procedures.
- 1.3 Where indicated by the assessment, patient is referred to other professionals.
- 1.4 A nutritional therapy plan including costs relating to the selected therapy is formulated, recorded and confirmed with patient.
2 Counsel patient and review treatment.
- 2.1 Patient is counselled regarding lifestyle adjustments and the self-administered aspects of the nutritional therapy plan.
- 2.2 Patient questioning and visual examination are used to review nutritional therapy outcomes.
- 2.3 Nutritional therapy is adjusted or varied as an outcome of the review, where indicated.
RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
The following variables may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts. Bold italicised text from the performance criteria is detailed here.
Nutritional therapies are limited to:
tyrosine for auto-immune conditions, including alopecia areata and psoriasis
use of iron supplements
increase of protein intake
use of chromium, zinc and manganese for blood sugar imbalances and the relief of malabsorption.
Patients may include:
women
men
children
new or regular patients with routine or special needs
patients from a range of social, cultural or ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.
Nutritional supplements are limited to:
minerals
vitamins
amino acids.
Patient service and advice may include:
general nutritional advice
specific advice relating to the individual service.
Relevant legislation may include:
federal, state and local health and hygiene
occupational health and safety.
Workplace policies and procedures may include:
health and hygiene
comfort and privacy
timeframes for the completion of the service
quality assurance.
Other professionals may include:
dieticians
medical practitioners
natural therapists.
Nutritional therapy plan may include:
general or specific advice to client
macro-nutrients:
proteins
carbohydrates
fats
dietary fibre
water
advice on weight management
advice on vitamin and mineral supplements.
Lifestyle adjustments may include:
changing diet
ceasing or moderating alcohol consumption
ceasing or moderating tobacco consumption
increasing exercise
reducing exposure to sunlight.
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
The following variables may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts. Bold italicised text from the performance criteria is detailed here.
Nutritional therapies are limited to:
tyrosine for auto-immune conditions, including alopecia areata and psoriasis
use of iron supplements
increase of protein intake
use of chromium, zinc and manganese for blood sugar imbalances and the relief of malabsorption.
Patients may include:
women
men
children
new or regular patients with routine or special needs
patients from a range of social, cultural or ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.
Nutritional supplements are limited to:
minerals
vitamins
amino acids.
Patient service and advice may include:
general nutritional advice
specific advice relating to the individual service.
Relevant legislation may include:
federal, state and local health and hygiene
occupational health and safety.
Workplace policies and procedures may include:
health and hygiene
comfort and privacy
timeframes for the completion of the service
quality assurance.
Other professionals may include:
dieticians
medical practitioners
natural therapists.
Nutritional therapy plan may include:
general or specific advice to client
macro-nutrients:
proteins
carbohydrates
fats
dietary fibre
water
advice on weight management
advice on vitamin and mineral supplements.
Lifestyle adjustments may include:
changing diet
ceasing or moderating alcohol consumption
ceasing or moderating tobacco consumption
increasing exercise
reducing exposure to sunlight.
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence. It is essential for assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, the range statement and the assessment guidelines of the relevant Training Package.
Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit of competency must be able to identify and describe the application and role of nutrients and other food substances in trichological treatments. Knowledge and understanding of nutrition as it relates to trichological treatments must be demonstrated. Knowledge of the relationship between nutrition and the body's systems as they relate to trichological treatments is also required.
Specific evidence requirements
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
knowledge and consistent application of relevant workplace policies and procedures
knowledge and consistent application of the principles of nutrition as applied to a range of trichological treatments
demonstrated ability to design and implement dietary modifications in a manner acceptable to the client/patient
demonstrated ability to advise on nutritional supplements and determine the most appropriate supplementation
evaluating client needs and requirements and advising on nutritional needs, home care and complementary products
referring clients to other professionals where indicated
accurately and legibly recording relevant data.
Context of assessment
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, competency should be consistently demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor and/or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor. The technical expert may include the trichologist and/or a nutrition specialist and may be in a simulated environment.
Competency should be demonstrated in a simulated workplace environment in a range of situations that may include client interruptions and involvement in other related activities normally expected in the workplace. For further guidance on the use of an appropriate simulated environment, refer to the Assessment Guidelines in this Training Package.
Specific resources for assessment
Competency for this unit should be assessed through access to:
an appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment
relevant documentation, such as:
workplace policy and procedures manuals
occupational health and safety legislation and regulations
relevant learning materials
a qualified workplace assessor or assessment team.
Relationship to other units
This unit is a co-requisite for a range of trichology units. It requires an assessment outcome that includes evidence of the application of knowledge of nutrition to the performance of trichological treatments.
Prerequisite units:
none.
Co-requisite units:
WRHHS405A Apply the principles of nutrition
WRHHS407A Perform hair loss diagnosis
WRHHS409A Design and apply hair loss therapies.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested.
Observation of the learner performing a range of tasks in a simulated work environment, over sufficient time to demonstrate his/her handling of a range of contingencies. Tasks may include:
identifying client characteristics and developing a nutritional therapy plan according to an assessment of client needs
providing nutritional therapy
providing complementary advice according to client needs.
Written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of the relationship between nutrition and healthy hair and scalp.
Case studies and scenarios.
Third-party reports from experienced trichologists in the workplace.
Completion of self-paced learning materials, including personal reflection and feedback from the trainer, coach or supervisor.
Evidence required for demonstration of consistent performance
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, evidence should be gathered through a range of methods to indicate consistent performance.
It can be gathered from assessment of the unit of competency alone, through an integrated assessment activity or through a combination of both.
Evidence should be gathered as part of the learning process.
Assessing employability skills
Employability skills are integral to effective performance in the workplace and are broadly consistent across industry sectors. How these skills are applied varies between occupations and qualifications due to the different work functions and contexts.
Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically in the context of the job role and with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification.
The evidence guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence. It is essential for assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, the range statement and the assessment guidelines of the relevant Training Package.
Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit of competency must be able to identify and describe the application and role of nutrients and other food substances in trichological treatments. Knowledge and understanding of nutrition as it relates to trichological treatments must be demonstrated. Knowledge of the relationship between nutrition and the body's systems as they relate to trichological treatments is also required.
Specific evidence requirements
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
knowledge and consistent application of relevant workplace policies and procedures
knowledge and consistent application of the principles of nutrition as applied to a range of trichological treatments
demonstrated ability to design and implement dietary modifications in a manner acceptable to the client/patient
demonstrated ability to advise on nutritional supplements and determine the most appropriate supplementation
evaluating client needs and requirements and advising on nutritional needs, home care and complementary products
referring clients to other professionals where indicated
accurately and legibly recording relevant data.
Context of assessment
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, competency should be consistently demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor and/or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor. The technical expert may include the trichologist and/or a nutrition specialist and may be in a simulated environment.
Competency should be demonstrated in a simulated workplace environment in a range of situations that may include client interruptions and involvement in other related activities normally expected in the workplace. For further guidance on the use of an appropriate simulated environment, refer to the Assessment Guidelines in this Training Package.
Specific resources for assessment
Competency for this unit should be assessed through access to:
an appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment
relevant documentation, such as:
workplace policy and procedures manuals
occupational health and safety legislation and regulations
relevant learning materials
a qualified workplace assessor or assessment team.
Relationship to other units
This unit is a co-requisite for a range of trichology units. It requires an assessment outcome that includes evidence of the application of knowledge of nutrition to the performance of trichological treatments.
Prerequisite units:
none.
Co-requisite units:
WRHHS405A Apply the principles of nutrition
WRHHS407A Perform hair loss diagnosis
WRHHS409A Design and apply hair loss therapies.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested.
Observation of the learner performing a range of tasks in a simulated work environment, over sufficient time to demonstrate his/her handling of a range of contingencies. Tasks may include:
identifying client characteristics and developing a nutritional therapy plan according to an assessment of client needs
providing nutritional therapy
providing complementary advice according to client needs.
Written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of the relationship between nutrition and healthy hair and scalp.
Case studies and scenarios.
Third-party reports from experienced trichologists in the workplace.
Completion of self-paced learning materials, including personal reflection and feedback from the trainer, coach or supervisor.
Evidence required for demonstration of consistent performance
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, evidence should be gathered through a range of methods to indicate consistent performance.
It can be gathered from assessment of the unit of competency alone, through an integrated assessment activity or through a combination of both.
Evidence should be gathered as part of the learning process.
Assessing employability skills
Employability skills are integral to effective performance in the workplace and are broadly consistent across industry sectors. How these skills are applied varies between occupations and qualifications due to the different work functions and contexts.
Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically in the context of the job role and with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification.
No information