Bachelor of Communication (Media)

Verbal expression and comprehension (understanding)

The extent to which a person can use and understand verbal communication.

What do I need to be able to do?

Use, understand and respond to verbal communication during on-campus learning activities and during professional experience placement.

Specifically:

• Verbally communicate with peers or team members to understand and convey project concepts and technical requirements by providing clear instructions and explanations.
• Use, understand and respond to verbal instructions in a studio environment where safety is a primary concern.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (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 on-campus learning activities. 

Professional experience placement tasks in an education setting may require time responsive communication. This should be discussed with your placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement. 

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 on-campus and industry placement activities to build relationships, display understanding, and acknowledge others.

This may include:

• In industry placement environments, tasks which require the use of social communication abilities include identifying and using gestures, verbal turn-taking, and physical proximity when sharing workload and equipment with others.
• In classes or studios, you will be required to respond to peers and supervisors to demonstrate understanding.
• In busy media production environments, with potentially dangerous equipment, using and understanding non-verbal cues is essential for safe execution of tasks.
• A fundamental part of working in media is working with others – this can include studio work where everyone has a specific and linked role, producing media content across platforms, organising showcases and festivals – these experiences are replicated in core classes across the degree.
• In collaborating in a group, you will need to manage multiple sources of information and maintain focus during on-campus and online group work.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (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. This may include:

• On-screen material, reference material and/or handwritten notes
• Reading and comprehending written documents, such as induction processes, supervisors’ instructions, policies and occupational health and safety guidelines
• In on-campus learning activities and professional experience placement environments, essential information is communicated in written form.

You will also require the ability to read, understand and interpret complex written information fundamental for the safe execution of tasks. This may include:

• Briefs, technical specifications, or operational instructions.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

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

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during professional experience placements may vary between placements and should be discussed with the placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

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 content appropriate to both on-campus and professional experience placement setting.

In industry placement environments, tasks which require clear, concise, accurate and time-efficient writing may include:

• Writing reports that include technical information.
• Project record keeping.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

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

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during professional experience placements may vary between placements and should be discussed with the placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

What do I need to be able to do?

Correctly use and apply knowledge of theory, research, and practice gained from on-campus learning and during professional experience placement.

Tasks which require the use of concentration, memory and problem solving may include:

• Tracking progress and completion of lengthy or complex projects
• Completing accurate measurements and assessment of equipment
• Solving media production or work-flow problems that require extended periods of concentration.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (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 in the on-campus learning environment. The use of these strategies during professional experience placements should be discussed with the placement coordinator prior to commencing your professional experience placement.

Mental wellness is a state of wellbeing in which an individual can realise their own abilities or potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life and can work productively and fruitfully.

Behavioural stability refers to an individual’s ability to moderate their own behaviour. Stable mental health promotes optimal and safe engagement in on-campus learning environments. Many people who live with mental health conditions complete their studies successfully.

The following services are available to support students living with mental health conditions at RMIT:

• Equitable Learning Services
• Counselling and Psychological Services

What do I need to be able to do?

Exposure to complex and unpredictable human situations will require students to be mentally robust and demonstrate behavioural stability in order to manage these events competently and professionally.

This may include:

• Managing personal emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with peers, staff and clients in on-campus and professional experience placement settings.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

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

You may be supported to take time off from your studies if you become unwell or have difficulties with behavioural stability until you are ready to recommence.

Vision

Visual acuity refers to the extent to which a person can see or interpret visual information. This may also include colour vision.

What do I need to be able to do?

You need to be able to access and work with visual information required for learning activities and professional experience placements.

This may include:

• Reading and following safety and equipment instructions
• Reading measurements from devices or equipment
• Distinguishing visual aspects of form, colour and tone where relevant to learning outcomes
• Operating visual recording and editing equipment and software.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

The use of assistive technology to enhance vision will be considered. It is recommended that you discuss this with the ELS and placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement. 

Glasses and other visual aids can be used during on-campus simulation and professional experience placement settings.

If you have been deemed legally blind or have a medical condition that may impact your vision, it is recommended that you discuss your condition with Equitable Learning Services. 

Hearing

What do I need to be able to do?

You need to be able to access and work with audio information required for learning activities and professional experience placements.

This may include:

• Working with audio qualities such as pitch, tone and clarity where relevant to learning outcomes
• Operating sound recording and editing equipment and software.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

The use of augmentation such as lip reading and / or assistive technology e.g. ‘power’ amplified stethoscope to enhance hearing will be considered. 

Students who are deaf and use Auslan may be able to negotiate professional experience placement within a specialised setting, where Auslan is the preferred language. 

It is recommended that you discuss adjustments with the ELS and placement coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

 

What do I need to be able to do?

You need gross motor skills to be able to use production equipment.

This may include:

• Safe handling and manipulation of materials, equipment, and devices in class and field environments
• Picking up, carrying and placing various components of equipment such as lighting, sound and camera equipment
• Safe manual handling minimises the risk of injury to yourself and others.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Adjustments will be considered in relation to your individual circumstances and physical capacities. NB: The focus of the tasks is upon upper body abilities. Clients with conditions affecting only their lower body may be able to complete the tasks with adjustments.

Any adjustments considered should not compromise your safety and that of others.

i.e. The ability to undertake precise coordinated movements of the hands.

What do I need to be able to do?

Coordination of movements of the hands, such as pushing, pressing, turning, pinching, grasping, shaking and manipulating.

This may include:

• Adjusting and turning the dials and small buttons on recording equipment and devices
• Using digital interfaces with a high degree of accuracy.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Adjustments will be considered in relation to your individual circumstances and physical capacities. Any adjustments considered should not compromise client safety.

This refers to the ability to undertake a task/s over a pre-determined period of time. This could include physical performance such as standing for a period of time, or cognitive (mental) performance such as concentrating for a particular length of time.

What do I need to be able to do?

Mental endurance may include completing work to various deadlines across many courses and activities simultaneously; and maintaining a high level of concentration to complete complex assessment tasks and media production activities that may require prolonged use of computers and attention to detail.

Physical endurance may include:

• Standing in the studio for long periods of time
• Lifting and carrying equipment over long distances if, for example, on a field trip or working in a remote area.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Adjustments will be considered in relation to your circumstances and physical capacities. You may use strategies such as rest breaks to support your performance for on campus learning contexts. It is recommended that you discuss the use of these strategies during placement with ELS and Placement Coordinator prior to commencing your placement.