From the BLNZ Intern: Exploring opportunities

University of Otago student, Brittany Boyce, is currently completing a six-month internship with the Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

She shares a little about herself and the two projects she is working on.

When I discovered the nutrition internship with Beef and Lamb New Zealand, I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to work for such an innovative, unique, New Zealand-based organisation with a great team environment.

I have completed my studies from undergraduate (Bachelor of Science was in Human Nutrition) to Masters (Applied Science in Advanced Nutrition Practice) at the University of Otago and this year I have returned to Auckland to complete my six-month internship at Beef and Lamb New Zealand Inc. I am their first University of Otago Intern, and my role is to undertake two research projects.

One research project is supporting teenage girls to make informed choices on dietary iron and raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of low iron. I will review the new and emerging evidence surrounding this topic and facilitate focus groups and quizzes at high school’s to gather insights into teenage girls’ sources of nutritional information, iron knowledge, influencers and preferred online platforms. The finding will inform an educational resource or platform relevant for Kiwi teenage girls. If any teachers, or those who work with teenage girls (aged 11-18 years) are interested in their students being a part of the ‘Teenage Girls Iron Project’ please contact me, brittany@beeflambnz.co.nz for further information.

The second project is a collaborative project with the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation supporting community-living, older adults to make informed energy and protein-rich dietary choices. We will conduct both a survey and focus group with researchers, Registered Nutritionist’s and Registered Dietitians to ascertain a general understanding of older adults knowledge, eating behaviour’s and influencing factors surrounding their consumption of high energy and high protein foods. From here we will create an educational and practical resource. If you work with older adults, or research this age group and wish to part of the survey or focus group (based in Auckland), please feel free to get in touch with me on the email above.

To date, I have enjoyed my time at Beef and Lamb NZ, as it has allowed me to apply the theory and skills gained from my degree, and transition this knowledge into practical and professional work.