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Becoming a Home Economist

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What is a person called who works in the field of Home Economics?
  • Home economist
  • Home economics teacher

What do they do?

People working in the field of home economics educate, take action and advocate to government, industry and the community in order to enhance the wellbeing of individuals and families, especially as it relates to food and nutrition, living environments and textiles.

At one level, the focus of the work is to enable individuals and families to make informed and ethical decisions in order to enhance their everyday living. At another level, the focus of the work is on policies and practices that support individual and family wellbeing.


Home economics professionals work in community health, in industry and as teachers in high schools. Home economics professionals may specialise in, for example, families, food management, nutrition, resource management, consumerism, child care, aged care, textiles. Home economics professionals perform a variety of tasks dependent on the setting and the area of specialisation.

Home economists who specialise in a particular field may be called:
Aged care officer
Community health officer
Consumer advisor/scientist
Counsellor
Demonstrator
Designer
Family advisor/consultant
Food and nutrition advisor/consulant
Food service manager
Food technologist
Health promotion officer
Nutritionist

Courses to become a home economist or home economics teacher

Home economist in industry or community health

The following TAFE colleges in NSW offer courses in Food Studies Level IV: Wyong: Meadowbank; Penrith; Wetherill Park; Baulkham Hills

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology offers an undergraduate degree in consumer science
Tel: 0399252000
http://www.rmit.edu.au/

Home economics teaching

Australian Catholic University, New South Wales
Tel:1300 275 228 ;http://www.acu.edu.au/

Avondale College, New South Wales
Tel:1800 804 324; http://www.avondale.edu.au/

Charles Sturt University, New South Wales
Tel:1800 334 733; http://www.csu.edu.au/

Edith Cowan University, Western Australia
Tel:134 328; http://www.ecu.edu.au/

Newcastle University, New South Wales
Tel: 02 4921 5000; :http://www.newcastle.edu.au

Queensland University of Technology, Queensland
Tel:07 3138 2111; http://www.qut.edu.au/

University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Tel:02 6201 5111; http://www.canberra.edu.au

University of Tasmania, Tasmana
Tel: 03 6226 2999; http://www.utas.edu.au/

Home economists in industry might perform the following tasks:
  • Develop and/or test products within the food, textiles and/or household appliance industries
  • Provide information about and promote products and services such as those related to food and household appliances
  • Prepare educational materials for the community - for example, CD-ROMs, videos, pamphlets, newsletters, teaching kits and other promotional material
  • Present educational materials through, for example, television, and radio, media releases, campaigns and newsletters
  • Research and analyse consumer needs and preferences and provide advice to industry for product/service development and/or improvement


Home economics teachers might perform the following tasks:

Provide opportunities for students to understand and shape perferred solutions to a range of challenges in their personal, family, community and work roles. For example, they may develop and implement learning experiences that enable students to learn how to:

  • Understand and confront the way they influence and are influenced by broad societal factors such as media, advertising, peer pressure, government policies and changing technologies
  • Design, evaluate and make decisions related to textiles and food
  • Utilise design and technology relevant to families and households
  • Balance work responsibilities with personal responsibilities and leisure.
  • Provide opportunities for students to develop vocationally related knowledges and skills such as those related to food technology, hospitality, childcare and the design and textile industries.
  • Negotiate for effective and diverse family and interpersonal relationships
  • Understand and take action to enhance human growth and development
  • Take control of their health and develop health promoting behaviours
  • Choose nutritious foods in a changing market place
  • Prepare nutritious foods and dvelop health promoting food behaviours
  • Make informed, responsible and ethical consumer decision

    Related fields of work

    Child care
    Dietetics
    Events coordinator
    Fashion
    Food styling
    Food technology
    Functions coordinator
    Hospitality
    Public health
    Social work
    Textile design
    Textile technology
Home economists in community health might perform the following tasks:
  • Provide information services for individuals and families on matters such as financial management, family relationships, childcare, food and nutrition, household management, housing and energy
  • Develop nutritionally balanced menus for a range of community settings including childcare centres, aged care centres, school canteens, retirement villages and institutional care
  • Manage food services operations in the community - for example, childcare centres, aged care centres, Meals on Wheels
  • Design and teach independent living skills for disabled and disadvantaged people
  • Develop programs and policies for the design and delivery of health and social services
  • Develop and implement programs to assist newly-arrived migrants perform their personal, family, community and work role
Personal requirements
  • Commitment to inclusivity, social justice and working collaboratively
  • Sensitivity in dealing with a wide range of people and issuesInterpersonal, written and electronic communication skills for a range of audiences
  • Human and resource management skills
  • Aptitude for analysis and problem solving in a range of theoretical and practical situations
  • Aptitude for design and creativity
  • Knowledge of human development and relationships and one or more of: Food and nutrition; clothing and textiles; housing.
    Home economics teachers require knowledge of all areas.

 

   


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| Created: February 2000 | Last modified: April 2008 |
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