Verbal expression and comprehension (understanding)
What do I need to be able to do?
Understand and respond to verbal communication.
In a field placement setting, this will assist you with listening, understanding and responding to clients to meet their service needs.
Verbally communicate clear instructions and explanations in a time responsive way.
In a field placement setting, verbal communication is the primary source of communication between you, your clients, supervisors and health professionals. It will assist you to provide information, gain and confirm your client’s consent and provide clients the chance to raise issues or concerns.
Clear communication assists with establishing and maintaining rapport with clients and establishing effective relationships with host organisations, community groups and other service providers.
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 a field education setting may require time responsive communication. This should be discussed with your placement 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 in both on-campus and field placement settings to demonstrate understanding, build relationships and establish trust with others.
In a field placement setting, tasks which require your use of social communication abilities include:
- recognising the social communication used by clients and identifying client’s emotional states through their non-verbal cues
- responding to clients 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 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.