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Creativity is one of my key strengths, as identified by MyFuture. (https://myfuture.edu.au). Creativity enables me to excel in tasks requiring originality and innovation. This strength aligns perfectly with my future career goal in childhood nutrition as I can use creativity to incorporate playful presentations and sensory experiences into children's meals, which fosters a positive relationship with healthy eating. It also helps me solve challenges, such as meeting dietary requirements while maintaining engagement and excitement. Creativity allows me to create solutions that not only meet nutritional standards but inspire lifelong healthy eating habits.

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I communicate effectively, allowing me to explain ideas, build positive relationships, and connect with others. This skill is essential when sharing food and nutrition advice, facilitating partnerships, and listening to feedback. Communication is vital in my career, as it enables me to share valuable information and foster collaboration to create solutions that benefit children’s health and well-being.

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Accountability is a strength I possess that seamlessly ties into my career. When developing meal plans for children, I hold myself accountable for meeting nutritional standards while creating engaging meals.

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I can be a perfectionist, as highlighted in the 16 personalities test (https://www.16personalities.com).

While having high standards can drive me to produce quality work, it can also hinder my progress, as I can become overly focused on details. I can spend excessive time refining a meal plan or recipe, which delays its implementation even when it meets nutritional standards. This can create unnecessary stress and hinder my ability to move forward. Additionally, it can make me overly critical of my work, causing self-doubt and dissatisfaction.

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I can be overly sensitive to criticism, especially when receiving feedback on meal plans or recipes. Because I invest so much emotional energy into my work, constructive feedback can feel personal, causing me to doubt my abilities. This sensitivity can make me reluctant to make changes and leads to self-doubt. In a field like childhood nutrition, continuous adaption and feedback is crucial. Being sensitive to criticism can hinder my ability to respond effectively, limit my growth, and cause delays in implementing improvements or adjusting my work.

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One of my greatest interests is cooking, particularly creating nutritious meals that are not only healthy but also delicious, engaging, and interactive. I find joy in cooking for others, experimenting with ingredients, combining flavours, and presenting food in a fun and appealing way that brings joy to others. This interest is closely tied to both my passions and my career goals in childhood nutrition.

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Childhood development, particularly how early experiences shape a child’s overall growth and well-being. Understanding the importance of nutrition during this stage excites me, as it plays a crucial role in supporting cognitive and physical development. I am passionate about how healthy eating habits, can influence a child’s long-term relationship with food. This drives my career goal of creating meal plans that not only meet nutritional needs but also promote positive mealtime experiences and healthy habits in children.

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I highly value community as it fosters strong networks where individuals can share knowledge, experiences, and support, creating a sense of belonging and mutual respect. My career aspiration in childhood nutrition, and community plays a central role in ensuring the well-being and success of children. By building strong relationships with parents and educators, I can gain valuable insights into the specific needs and preferences of children, allowing me to create tailored, nutritious meals that will support their health and development.

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Independence allows me to take ownership of my decisions and actions. It fosters a sense of personal responsibility and the freedom to seek creative solutions. Independence enables me to make informed decisions regarding meal planning, nutrition strategies, and adapting to the unique needs of children. Independence empowers me to continuously learn which ensures I can provide the best possible care and nutrition for children.

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Creativity allows me to approach challenges with fresh ideas and innovative solutions. It helps me design engaging, nutritious, tasty meals that appeal to children. Creativity also allows me to find solutions to dietary restrictions while keeping meals exciting and enjoyable. By using creative strategies, I can better connect with children and inspire positive eating habits.

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Specific:

- Complete a recognised certification in nutrition.

- Build partnerships with 10 childcare centres.

Measurable:

- Collaborate with a total of 10 childcare centres by the fifth year.

- Collect and analyse feedback from 500 parents and educators on meal plans and training sessions.

Achievable:

- Utilise my current experience as a childcare chef, professionally network, and seek ongoing training while staying stay informed on industry trends.

Relevant:

- These goals align perfectly with my aspiration to foster healthy eating habits in children, build strong relationships with childcare centres, and positively influence children’s health outcomes

Time-bound:

- Complete certification within 4 years.

- Establish partnerships with 2 childcare centres annually.

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SMART Goals - How to Make Your Goals Achievable

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Specific:

- Develop and publish a nutritional guide for childcare centres and parents.

- Develop and deliver training workshops for parents and educators, focusing on healthy eating habits and meal strategies for children.

Measurable:

- Publish a nutritional guide within 7 years, with 1,000 copies sold/distributed.

- Collect and analyse feedback from 100 parents and educators on training workshops.

Achievable:

- Dedicate time and resources to developing and publishing a nutritional guide.

- Utilise my existing professional relationships with childcare centres to expand my reach and influence.

Relevant:

- These goals align with my long-term aspiration to improve children’s health and well-being and create lasting change.

Time-bound:

- Publish the nutritional guide by the eighth year.

- Deliver 3 training sessions annually.

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Step 1: Enrol in and complete a certification in nutrition with a focus on childhood nutrition, to strengthen my knowledge and qualifications.

Step 2: Regularly attend workshops, webinars, and conferences to stay informed about advancements in childhood nutrition.

Step 3: Apply learning by working with two childcare centres annually, helping implement nutrition programs.

Step 4: Create a nutritional guide, build a professional portfolio and launch an online presence.

Step 5: Offer training workshops on childhood nutrition to provide practical strategies for implementing healthy eating.

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Step 1: Research local childcare centres to identify those open to tailored nutritional programs.

Step 2: Create a proposal for each centre, outlining the benefits of a tailored nutritional program.

Step 3: Reach out to centres and schedule meetings to discuss the proposal.

Step 4: Establish an agreement with at least two centres annually.

Step 5: Implement the nutritional program, maintain open communication and adapt to feedback to foster trust and long-term relationships.

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Step 1: Design training program for parents and educators that covers essential topics in relation to nutritional needs for children.

Step 2: Test training program with a group of parents or educators to test the effectiveness and delivery method.

Step 3: Refine the training program based on feedback.

Step 4: Launch the training program and offer three training sessions annually.

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Balancing work with study and family commitments.

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Balancing work with study and family commitments.

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Completing a nutrition certification while managing work and family responsibilities could lead to time constraints and burnout. I can overcome this by creating a detailed weekly schedule, delegating household responsibilities where possible, and utilising flexible learning options.

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Creating resources and attending events could cause financial constraints. I could overcome this by attending low-cost or free events and using free resources such as Canva to create my resources.

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Doubting myself and my expertise can hinder my confidence and progress. By celebrating my small successes and documenting achievements I can build up a sense of accomplishment. I can also focus on the positive impact my work will have on children's health.

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Dong, S., Ge, H., Su, W., et al. (2024). Enhancing psychological well-being in college students: The mediating role of perceived social support and resilience in coping styles. BMC Psychology, 12, 393. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01902-7

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Step 1: Use my expertise in childhood nutrition to research and combine information on current dietary guidelines, food allergies, and age-appropriate meal plans.

Step 2: Draft a comprehensive guide that includes meal planning templates, easy recipes and tips for engaging children in healthy eating habits.

Step 3: Gather feedback on usability with a focus group then refine the guide based on input.

Step 4: Finalise draft and the layout.

Step 5: Distribute the finalised guide.

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I can surround myself with supportive family and friends who can provide encouragement and support during challenging times. For instance, when I feel overwhelmed from juggling work, study, and family responsibilities I can rely on my family for help with household tasks, allowing me to focus on my studies and career development. Research by Dong et al. (2024) indicates that social support plays a crucial role in enhancing coping mechanisms, as individuals with strong support networks are better able to manage stress. This strategy will help me manage feelings of being overwhelmed and burnt out as I balance work, studies, and family responsibilities.

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I can work on adopting a growth mindset, by seeing challenges as opportunities for learning, celebrating small successes, and documenting my achievements, I will feel a sense of accomplishment. This will help reduce the negative thoughts that turn into imposter syndrome and help me feel more competent. For example, after successfully implementing a nutrition program, I will take time to acknowledge the milestone and reflect on the positive impact my work has on children's health. A growth mindset fosters resilience (Zeng et al., 2016). By adopting this mindset, I can build resilience against self-doubt and strengthen my confidence in my expertise.

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Zeng, G., Hou, H., & Peng, K. (2016). Effect of growth mindset on school engagement and psychological well-being of Chinese primary and middle school students: The mediating role of resilience. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1873. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01873

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 Enrol and Complete Bachelor of Food and Nutrition (2024-2028)

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 Enrol and Complete Bachelor of Food and Nutrition (2024-2028)

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Completing a certification in nutrition will provide me with the expertise needed to develop effective meal plans for children, focusing on improving their health and well-being.

December 2024 - Enrol in recognised nutrition certification.

December 2025 - Complete first year level one core subjects.

December 2026 - Complete second year level two core subjects.

December 2027 - Complete third year level three core subject and electives.

January 2028 - Enrol in Nutrition in Childhood.

November 2028 - Complete Nutrition in Childhood course.

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By organising workshops, I can share expertise, build stronger relationships with childcare providers, and attract new partnerships to expand my impact.

March 2029: develop training sessions for parents and educators focusing on common challenges like picky eating and managing food allergies.

June 2029: Begin hosting workshops at childcare centres, gathering feedback to refine the content.

December 2029: Expand the workshop to include new centres.

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Collaborating with childcare centres will allow me to apply my expertise on a practical level and gain insights into their unique needs.

December 2028: Reach out to local childcare centres and introduce my work, offering sample meal plans.

January 2029: Visit local centres to observe exisiting nutritional programs and explore opportunities for collaboration.

December 2029: Form partnerships with at least 2 childcare centres, offering customised support to improve their menus.

February 2030: Establish long term collaborations with 2 childcare centres annually.

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Publishing a guide will provide practical resources for parents and childcare centres, establishing my expertise and fostering early partnerships with childcare providers.

March 2030: Conduct research to identify common challenges in children's nutrition.

September 2030: Create a practical guide addressing these issues.

January 2031: Publish the guide and distribute to childcare centres.