Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop Ayurvedic nutritional recommendations based on the outcomes of an existing Ayurvedic health assessment, and provide relevant advice, support and follow up to clients.
This unit applies to Ayurvedic practitioners working with clients in a lifestyle or preventative context.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Develop nutritional recommendations | 1.1 Evaluate client assessment information and imbalances that may be addressed through nutritional changes or supplementation 1.2 Identify presentations that fall outside scope of own practice and make appropriate referrals 1.3 Determine Ayurvedic nutritional corrections suited to the client’s prakruti, vikruti, agni, ama and trigunnas 1.4 Evaluate the influence of environmental factors on nutritional status 1.5 Integrate cultural and lifestyle factors that affect individual clients 1.6 Integrate Ayurvedic lifestyle corrections with nutritional recommendations |
2. Offer Ayurvedic nutritional recommendations | 2.1 Provide clear information about recommendations, their rationale and underpinning Ayurvedic philosophy and framework to suit the individual client 2.2 Use language and concepts the client understands 2.3 Provide client with resources to support the recommendations, including advice on preparation and cooking of foods 2.4 Discuss and agree on evaluation strategies 2.5 Accurately document recommendations made |
3. Follow up nutritional advice | 3.1 Review progress with the client based on previous advice and client feedback 3.2 Identify and accurately record effects of previous advice 3.3 Evaluate the need for change in advice, ongoing and/or additional nutritional adjustments 3.4 Negotiate changes to the plan with the client to ensure optimal outcomes |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:
performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 200 hours of Ayurvedic lifestyle client consultation work
prepared for and managed at least 25 different lifestyle sessions. Clients must include males and females from different stages of life
provided nutritional advice appropriate to client needs according to the Ayurvedic framework
interacted effectively with clients, providing clear, accurate and supportive information and guidance
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
legal and ethical considerations (national and state/territory) for nutritional advice:
codes of conduct
duty of care
informed consent
mandatory reporting
practitioner/client boundaries
privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
records management
work role boundaries
working within scope of practice including limitations of nutritional advice to be provided
presenting symptoms that require referral to a medical practitioner
work health and safety
role of Ayurvedic nutritional advice in lifestyle and preventative contexts
ama, its causes, signs and symptoms
basic principles of Ayurvedic nutrition:
ahara vidhi vidhan
panchamahabhuta (elemental composition of food)
gunnas (properties of food)
shath rasa, gunnas, virya, vipaka, prabhava
triguna theory and its relationship to diet and nutrition
tridosha theory in relation to diet and nutrition
prapaka, vipaka (digestive processes)
agnis and their role in transformation of nutrients
function of fibre in the body
Ayurvedic food classifications, categories and composition
fruit
vegetables
dairy
animal foods
oils
sweeteners
nuts and seeds
grains
beans and legumes
herbs and spices
best utility of ahara
gruels
virudha ahara
pratinidhi ahara
ahara to suit various prakruti and vikruti
features of herbs and spices used in Ayurvedic lifestyle consultation and their wellbeing benefits, including
ajwain
dadima
dhanyaka
ella
haridra
hingu
ikshu
jeeraka
lasuna
lavana
lavanga
maricha (pungent chilli/peppers)
methika
narikela
nimbuka
palandu
patra
rason
shatapushpa
sunthi/ adraka
til
tulasi
twak
yava
features of other herbs used in Ayurveda, their safe use and their wellbeing benefits, including
amalaki
ajmoda
alukam
amra
ashoka
ashvagola/isabgol
ashwagandha
atasi
bala
bhringaraja
bibhitaka
bilva
champaka
chitraka
draksha
gokshura
guggulu
haritaki
kharjura
karpura
kumari
kutaja
misreya
mudga
mushra
nimba
pippali
punarnava
rajika
chandana
shatavari
shigru
svarnapatri
svetajirakatulasi
ushira
safed musali
pippali
yasthimadhu
yava
Ayurvedic herbal combinations for use in daily life, rasayana, and their safe use:
avaleha lehyam
pravahi
chyawanprash
ghritam
kashayam
choorana
Ayurvedic cooking and food preparation techniques and variations to suit different vikruti and seasons
rasa, guna, virya and vipaka, prabhava
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated clinical environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
client information – health, lifestyle and nutritional record, assessment outcomes
private consultation area
kitchen area and cooking equipment
modelling of industry operating conditions, including provision of services to the general public
clinic supervision by a person who meets the assessor requirements outlined below
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
In addition, assessors must:
have at least 3 years current clinical experience working as an Ayurvedic practitioner providing services to the general public
hold practising membership of an Australian professional body that represents Ayurvedic practitioners
fulfil the continuing professional development requirements of the professional body to which they belong
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency