Associate Degree in Health Sciences

Verbal expression and comprehension (understanding)

What do I need to be able to do?

Understand and respond to verbal communication.
This will assist you when participating in tutorial discussions and practicing your professional communication during practical classes.

Verbally communicate clear instructions and explanations in a time responsive way.

In a health setting, verbal communication is the primary source of communication between you, supervisors, community groups and other service providers. Clear communication also assists with completing laboratory tasks safely.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Service (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Additional time allowances for comprehension and expression may be available to you for your program learning activities.

Laboratory activities may require time responsive communication. This should be discussed with your course coordinator prior to commencement.

Social communication

Social Communication refers to the capacity to understand and use appropriate non-verbal communication such as: eye contact, gestures, facial expression, speaking volume, tone of voice, proximity and verbal turn-taking.

What do I need to be able to do?

Recognise, interpret, use and respond to non-verbal communication appropriately during program learning activities to build relationships, display understanding and complete laboratory tasks.

In health settings, tasks which require your use of social communication abilities include:

• identifying and using gestures, verbal turn-taking and proximity when sharing workload and equipment with fellow students
• responding to clients and co-workers by using your own social communication skills such as open body language, eye contact and facial expressions to display understanding and empathy.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Service (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.  

Consideration will be given to the use of non-verbal communication appropriate to your disability or condition for example, if you have a vision or hearing impairment, you may rely more on using either auditory or visual means of social communication.

Reading

What do I need to be able to do?

Read and understand a range of written material in differing forms from a variety of sources such as: on screen material, academic reference material and /or handwritten notes.

In a health setting, essential information is communicated in written form.  Tasks which require your use of reading include: 

• reading and understanding instructions in safety data sheets and protocols
• reading and comprehending research literature, reports, food and nutrition labels and laboratory records
  

The ability to read, understand and interpret written information is fundamental to working in a laboratory environment in a safe manner.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Service (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for teaching laboratory and on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software may vary and should be discussed with the course coordinator prior to commencement.

Writing (Written Language)

N.B. This refers not to the physical act of writing but rather to the written content.

What do I need to be able to do?

Produce coherent written communication appropriate to your program learning activities.

In a health setting, tasks which require clear, concise, accurate and time-efficient writing include: 

• recording laboratory results in a logbook
• writing learning reflections and reports.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Service (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for your program learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software may vary and should be discussed with the course coordinator prior to commencement.

Number Skills (Numeracy)

Numeracy is the ability to understand and work with numbers. Basic numeracy skills consist of comprehending fundamental mathematics like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

What do I need to be able to do?

Interpret and correctly apply numerical data, measurements and formulae in a time-efficient manner when completing on-campus learning activities and laboratory tasks.

Program learning tasks which require your use of number skills include:

• performing calculations for nutrient and energy estimation
• health statistics and epidemiology
• effects of exercise on cardiovascular and respiration systems
• interpreting nutrition information on labels.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Service (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for your program learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software may vary and should be discussed with the course coordinator prior to commencement. 

What do I need to be able to do?

• Correctly use and apply knowledge of theory and research gained from on-campus learning to practice in health settings.
• In a health setting, tasks which require these cognitive skills include:
• conceptualising and using knowledge of academic material
• planning and organising multiple, sequential tasks so they can be completed safely and in a timely way. 

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Service (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use assistive technology and strategies such as rest breaks to support your memory, planning and organisation for learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software may vary and should be discussed with the course coordinator prior to commencement.