Bachelor of Fine Arts

Verbal expression and comprehension (understanding)

This refers to 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. Specific examples include:

• providing and receiving clear verbal instructions and feedback from teaching staff, peers, and colleagues
• on campus: giving and receiving instructions and feedback, engaging in critique and group discussion
• understanding safe and respectful practices in workshop and studio areas.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Additional time allowances for comprehension and expression may be provided within the academic setting. However, the circumstances of professional experience placement tasks often require timely communication and this should be considered 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?

Use, recognise and respond appropriately to non-verbal cues from peers and staff during on-campus learning activities and professional experience placement e.g. interpreting other peoples' non-verbal communication in a variety of arts/culture settings. On campus: respectful social/physical boundaries in a shared studio environment.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Consideration is given to the use of nonverbal communication behaviours appropriate to your disability or condition. If you have a vision or hearing impairment, you may be more reliant upon either auditory or visual communication behaviours.

Reading

This refers to the extent to which a person demonstrates effective reading and comprehension that is appropriate to both on-campus learning and professional experience placement settings.

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, reference material and/or handwritten notes e.g. reading and comprehending written documents, such as induction processes, supervisors’ instructions, policies and occupational health and safety guidelines.

Capacity to read large amounts of complex texts such as art history and theory papers and other academic content. 

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

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 prior to commencing placement.

Writing (Written language)

This refers to the extent to which a person produces coherent written communication that is appropriate to both on-campus learning and professional experience placement settings. 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 e.g. reflective, academic and creative writing in short and long form including documentation of studio work progression.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

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 prior to commencing placement.

Number skills (Numeracy)

This refers to 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 in on-campus learning and placement settings e.g. making and recording accurate measurements for creating and installing artworks when using tools, machinery, artist materials and processes.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

You may use specialised software to support your numeracy 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 prior to commencing placement.

The ability to undertake tasks that encompass cognitive capacities for a period of time in the following areas: concentration, memory, planning and organisation, information processing (speed) and reasoning or problem-solving skills.

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 concentration, memory and problem solving include:

• completing accurate measurements for creating and installing artworks when using tools, machinery, artist materials and processes
• self-directed studio art production that requires extended periods of concentration.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

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 placement should be discussed prior to commencing placement.

Mental wellness is a state of well-being 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.

What do I need to be able to do?

Exposure to complex and unpredictable human situations will require you to be mentally robust and demonstrate behavioural stability in order to manage these events competently and professionally e.g. managing personal emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with peers, staff and clients in on-campus and professional experience placement settings.

Managing your composure and maintaining respectful behaviour is essential for maintaining safe learning environments in shared studio and workshop spaces.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Flexible arrangements for your professional experience placement will be considered. The appropriateness and practicality of these arrangements may vary between placements and agencies and should be discussed with your placement coordinator prior to commencement of the placement. You may also be supported to take time off from your studies if you become unwell or have difficulties with behavioural stability.

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?

Sufficient visual acuity to undertake on-campus learning and professional experience placement tasks, for example:

• be able to work safely in a studio and/or workshop environment or on placement
• be able to satisfactorily create artworks (2D, 3D, sound, video or other).

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

The use of assistive technology to enhance vision will be considered and its use during placement should be discussed with the ELS prior to commencing placement. Glasses and other visual aids can be used during on-campus learning activities and professional experience placement.

Tactile ability refers to the sense of touch, and the extent to which a person can distinguish tactile differences and detect tactile changes.

What do I need to be able to do?

You need to be able to detect hot and cold surfaces when using tools and in workshop learning spaces.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

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

This refers to the use of large muscle groups that coordinate body movements for tasks involving lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting and bending.

What do I need to be able to do?

Safe handling and manipulation of raw materials, equipment, tools and devices in studio and field environments.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

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

This refers to 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 e.g. adjusting and turning the dials and small buttons on tools, machinery and devices, using physical or digital interfaces with a high degree of accuracy.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

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

This refers to the ability to undertake a task/s over a predetermined 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?

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
• participating in art making activities that may require prolonged use of tools, processes, machinery and/or computers.

Mental endurance may include:

• listening to themed academic lectures and participating in analytical discussion and feedback/li>
• completing work to various deadlines across many courses and activities simultaneously;
• maintaining a high level of concentration to complete complex assessment tasks
• participating in art making activities that may require prolonged use of tools, processes, machinery and/or computers and attention to detail.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Adjustments will be considered in relation to your individual circumstances and physical capacities. You may use strategies such as rest breaks to support your performance for on-campus learning activities. The use of these strategies during placement should be discussed prior to commencing placement.