What is Dietitians Australia?
Dietitians Australia (formerly the Dietitians Association of Australia) is the national professional body representing registered and accredited dietitians across Australia. It operates under the governance of the Dietitians Australia Board and works closely with international bodies to maintain professional standards.
For skilled migration purposes, Dietitians Australia assesses whether an applicant's overseas dietetics qualifications and professional experience meet Australian accreditation standards. The assessment evaluates the quality and equivalence of tertiary nutrition and dietetics education, practical training, and professional competency.
Dietitians Australia is a signatory to international dietetics accreditation frameworks and coordinates assessments against the Australian Accreditation Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Courses. This ensures that overseas-trained dietitians seeking to work or migrate to Australia have credentials recognised as equivalent to Australian-accredited qualifications.
Which visas require a DAA skills assessment?
A positive skills assessment from Dietitians Australia is required for most skilled migration visas. Dietitians are listed on Australia's Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), making them eligible for several visa pathways.
The DAA skills assessment confirms your dietetic qualifications are equivalent to Australian standards, which is mandatory for all skilled visa applications. Different visas have different points or nomination requirements, but all require a current positive assessment from Dietitians Australia as a prerequisite.
How DAA assessment works
The Dietitians Australia assessment process typically takes 8–12 weeks from application to decision. The assessment evaluates your qualifications, professional experience, and English language proficiency against Australian standards.
- Prepare a detailed curriculum vitae documenting all tertiary education, professional qualifications, and dietetics work experience
- Obtain certified copies of your degree certificates and official transcripts from your original institution
- Complete the Dietitians Australia assessment application form with demographic and professional history information
- Submit all required documents and the completed application to Dietitians Australia via their online portal
- Dietitians Australia reviews your qualifications against Australian Accreditation Standards and may request additional information or clarification
- Receive a formal skills assessment outcome letter confirming whether your qualifications are deemed equivalent or not equivalent to Australian standards
Assessment pathways
Dietitians Australia offers a streamlined assessment process for overseas-trained dietitians. Most applicants follow the Standard Assessment pathway, which evaluates their formal qualifications and professional experience.
Available to dietitians with a recognised tertiary qualification in nutrition and dietetics from an accredited overseas institution. This is the primary pathway and assesses whether your qualifications meet Australian Accreditation Standards. Most applicants use this pathway.
Documents required
Documents required vary by pathway but typically include:
- Certified copy of your tertiary degree certificate (dietetics or nutrition and dietetics qualification)
- Official academic transcript from your awarding institution showing all completed subjects and grades
- Certified proof of identity (passport or national identity document)
- Detailed curriculum vitae with complete employment history in dietetics roles
- Professional registration certificate from your country of origin (if applicable)
- English language test results (IELTS, TOEFL, or OET) if English was not the medium of instruction at university
- Statutory declaration detailing your professional experience since graduation (hours worked, roles held, areas of specialisation)
- Any additional qualifications or postgraduate certificates in nutrition, dietetics, or related fields
All non-English documents must be accompanied by certified English translations. Certified copies must be stamped and signed by an authorised person such as a notary public, lawyer, or official translator.
DAA assessment fees
| Application type | Fee (AUD, approx.) |
|---|---|
| Standard Assessment (Domestic Applicant) | AUD 450 |
| Standard Assessment (International Applicant) | AUD 550 |
| Reassessment / Review (unsuccessful outcome) | AUD 300 |
| Verification Letter (third party verification of assessment) | AUD 80 |
Assessment outcomes
DAA issues one of three outcomes:
A positive assessment from Dietitians Australia confirms that your overseas dietetic qualification is equivalent to Australian accreditation standards and satisfies the professional recognition requirement for skilled migration visas. The assessment letter is valid for up to three years for visa application purposes, depending on the visa subclass.
If your assessment is not successful, you may request a review or reassessment if you have additional qualifications, experience, or documentation. Some applicants pursue additional formal study or professional development in Australia to address gaps identified in the assessment.
Dietitians Australia accepts reassessment applications if you have acquired additional qualifications or professional experience since your initial assessment. The review process follows the same timeline as a standard assessment.
Occupations assessed by DAA
DAA is the nominated assessing authority for the following ANZSCO occupations. Click any occupation to see full visa pathway details.
| ANZSCO | Occupation | List |
|---|---|---|
| 222212 | Dietitian | MLTSSL |