Bachelor of Photography

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:

• 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?

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

This 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. 

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 studio environments, with potentially dangerous equipment, using and understanding non-verbal cues is essential for safe execution of tasks. 

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Consideration is given to the use of nonverbal communication behaviours appropriate to the student’s disability or condition. If the student has a vision or hearing impairment, they 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.

In on-campus learning activities and professional experience placement environments, essential information is communicated in written form. You will require the ability to read, understand and interpret complex written information fundamental for the safe execution of tasks. Specific examples include briefs, technical specifications, or operational instructions. 

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Students may use specialised software to support their literacy for on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during clinical placements may vary between placements and should be discussed with the student 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 settings. Specific examples include return briefs, production specifications, and pitch documents.

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?

Students may use specialised software to support their 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 student 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 industry placement settings. For example, making and recording accurate measurements during studio-based or in the field photo shoots; understanding and applying printing or developing measurements and ratios.  

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

Students may use specialised software to support their 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 with the student prior to commencing placement.

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 sophisticated capacity to distinguish visual nuances of form and colour. 

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 Equitable learning and disability prior to commencing placement. Glasses and other visual aids can be used during on-campus learning activities and professional experience placement.

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?

Coordination of movements of the hands, such as pushing, pressing, turning, pinching, grasping, shaking and manipulating e.g., creating prototypes (cutting, folding, assembling), using digital interfaces with a high degree of accuracy.

Gross motor skills are required for:  

• Safe handling and manipulation of materials, equipment, and devices in studio and field environments 
• Picking up, carrying and placing various components of equipment such as lighting.   

Safe manual handling minimises the risk of injury to yourself and others. 

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, such as adjusting and turning the dials and small buttons on photographic equipment and devices, using 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.

Mental endurance may include:

• completing work to various deadlines across many courses and activities simultaneously
•  maintaining a high level of concentration in order to complete complex assessment tasks and photo activities that may require prolonged use of 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.