Past, present and future.

The inclusion of the journal of the New Zealand Dietetic Association (NZDA) into Nutrition & Dietetics, the journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), is a significant event in the life of both Associations. The first edition was published in September and follows the inclusion of Tim Green on the Editorial Board. There is now an NZDA member on the DAA Journal and Scientific Publications Advisory Committee and there are two Associate Editors from the NZDA. In this Editorial we present a brief summary of the history of Nutrition & Dietetics, and outline in more detail the developmental history of dietetics in New Zealand and of its journal publication.

The journal of the DAA has seen many changes over the years reflecting the development of the profession and DAA itself. The journal was first published in 1944 and was managed by the Commonwealth Department of Health, Australia. In 1976, the Australian Association of Dietitians was formed, later to became the Dietitians Association of Australia in 1983. The national association celebrates having represented the profession for 30 years in 2006. The Association took on the management of the journal with the first edition published in 1987 as the. Journal of Food and Nutrition: The Journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia. Twelve years later the journal changed its name to the Australian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, to incorporate the core business of the DAA. In 1993 the journal was further developed to present a more contemporary and dynamic look with the trademark picture of food on the cover. In 2004 the editing and publishing of the journal was outsourced to a private company Blackwell Publishing. The ensuing electronically published form enabled the Association to grow by enhancing the exposure of the journal more globally. The first online edition occurred in September 2005. There is also now the facility to submit all articles electronically to improve the responsiveness of the editorial and publishing team and to make it easier for the authors to submit. These changes coincided with the first edition of the journal including the journal of the NZDA.

Dietetics in New Zealand began in the hospitals in the mid- to late 1800s. It was slow to be accepted as a discipline, particularly as it was perceived to encroach on the responsibilities of nursing staff. In 1923, Professor Ann Strong, the Dean of the Home Science Faculty, University of Otago, had the vision to increase the number of qualified dietitians in New Zealand, and encouraged graduates to go overseas for training. In addition, she began advocating for New Zealand-based training. During the late 1920s and 1930s more than 30 home science graduates headed for the USA, Britain and later Australia to study dietetics. The North American connections had a strong influence on the later development of the New Zealand-based curriculum. As well as clinical dietetics, the training encompassed foodservice management that has been, and continues to be, an internationally recognised strength of New Zealand-trained dietitians.

With dietetic training about to begin in New Zealand, there was an urgent need to have a professional organisation that would further the knowledge of nutrition throughout the country, raise the standards of dietary work and provide facilities for those interested to meet and discuss all matters pertaining to nutrition. The inaugural general meeting of the NZDA and conference were held in Wellington in 1943.

In 1946, the NZDA produced its first publication, the New Zealand Dietetic Association Bulletin--a 45-page foolscap, cyclostyled production containing 20 articles dealing with nutritional issues, items of news and NZDA activities. Three further bulletins were produced before the publication encountered its first revamp. In 1951 the name was changed to the Journal of the New Zealand Dietetic Association Incorporated and reduced to an A5 size format.

The concept of an index on the front page was introduced by Flora Davidson (editor 1962-79). Julian Jensen (editor 1980-91) established a Journal Subcommittee and introduced an editorial column to encourage dietitians and other notable contributors to present a point of view. In 1992, the then editor, Pip Duncan, established an Editorial Board with membership drawn from around the country and from a diversity of dietetic practice. Her strength and persuasiveness in public relations saw the introduction of full-colour advertising. Over the last 10 years, the Journal has had two editors and four co-editor teams who have overseen the publication on a largely voluntary basis. New Zealand dietitians are grateful to past editors and members of the Editorial Board for the time and energy that they have given to the Journal.

The journal of the NZDA has been a forum for New Zealand dietitians for more than 50 years. Despite the publication of many excellent papers in recent years, it has struggled to attract a sufficient number of contributions. This is, in part, attributed to insufficient time and funding available to conduct research in New Zealand. Added to this there is increasing pressure on current researchers to publish their findings in more widely read international journals. Currently, the Journal is not listed in the databases of scientific literature. However, the opportunity to rectify this by collaborating with DAA, in a way that both Associations benefit was seen by NZDA members as a way to claim back dietitians1 research, and to be part of a bigger journal without demanding that we fill the pages by ourselves!

NZDA and DAA currently work cooperatively on many food and nutrition issues. Food Standards Australia and New Zealand has been ensuring food safety by setting food standards for both countries for over a decade. The NZDA and DAA have increasingly worked in cooperation in making submissions to Food Standards Australia and New Zealand or endorsing each other's submissions in part or entirety. Australia and New Zealand have also been working together to develop joint Nutrient Reference Values under the auspices of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

The joint Journal is an exciting extension of this current collaboration. With more than 3000 members between the two associations, a combined journal provides a wider readership in which members can showcase their original research and contributions. The NZDA is actively supporting and encouraging its members to contribute to the combined Journal.

Nutrition & Dietetics, the journal of the DAA including the journal of the NZDA, is a landmark event in the history of both Associations. Collaboration will continue to foster good relationships and nurture future possibilities that will enable both Associations to grow-stronger for their members and the communities in which they live.

Sandy Clemett, BSc, DipSc, NZRD

President

New Zealand Dietetic Association

and

Julie Hulcombe, BSc, Dip (Nutr & Diet), MHP, APD 

President

Dietitians Association of Australia

The 'History: New Zealand Dietetic Association (Inc) and Dietetics in New Zealand' by Dion Crooks, 1993 has been used in the writing of this editorial.