Master of Public Policy

Verbal expression and comprehension (understanding)

What do I need to be able to do?

Use, understand and respond to verbal communication during on-campus learning activities including industry-partnered learning and WIL activities

Specifically:

• verbally communicate with peers or team members to understand and convey concepts, perspectives and reasoned positions by providing clear explanations.
• respond in a clear, timely, and professional manner to requests and feedback from academic staff as well as industry partners and team members

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 during on-campus/industry-partnered learning activities to build relationships, display understanding, and acknowledge others.

• In industry-partnered learning environments, tasks which require the use of social communication abilities include identifying and using gestures, verbal turn-taking, and appropriate physical proximity when sharing workload and equipment with others.
• In classes, you will respond to peers and guest speakers and academics with open body language, eye contact and facial expressions to demonstrate your understanding. 

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 such as on-screen material, reference material and/or handwritten notes.

In the on-campus learning and industry-partnered learning environments, essential information is communicated in written form. Fundamental tasks which require reading include:

• reading and understanding academic and professional required readings
• reading and understanding professional texts such as policies, policy briefs, procedural instruction and reports.

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.

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

• writing reports and briefs to professional standards that include empirical information and reasoning
• 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.