Arts

These inherent requirements apply to the following courses: Master of Arts, Graduate Certificate in Arts, Diploma of Arts, Bachelor of Arts (Honours), and Bachelor of Arts.

Prospective and current students who are concerned about their capacities in relation to inherent requirements are strongly encouraged to contact the CDU Access and Inclusion team to discuss possible adjustments or alternative courses. 

E: inclusion@cdu.edu.au

These inherent requirements should be read in conjunction with other course information and related material such as National Standard of Competency for Architects. 

There are 10 domains of inherent requirements for Master of Arts, Graduate Certificate in Arts, Diploma of Arts, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts.

Each domain has five levels:

1. Introduction
2. Description
3. Justification
4. Adjustments
5. Exemplars

Acting in ways consistent with the recognised values of society and avoiding activities that do harm.
In the context of inherent requirements, students undertaking a course of study may be governed by practice standards and codes of ethics.

1. Introduction
   Students need to understand and act in ways consistent with the recognised values of society.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in, ethical behaviour in practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Compliance with guidelines and policies facilitates competent and safe interactions enabling positive and productive relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage. This approach supports the emotional, physical psychological and physical wellbeing of all.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must support the recognised values of society. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Student demonstrates ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and to take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour
   • Complying with privacy and confidentiality requirements in all aspects of academic and professional settings
   • Demonstrating honesty and integrity regarding academic conduct and professional etiquette. 

The maintenance of conduct that is acceptable and appropriate, according to the recognised norms of society over a given period.

1. Introduction
   Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in a range of academic and professional settings.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates the ability to work constructively and positively in a range of academic and professional environments.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Behavioural stability is required to work constructively in diverse and changing environments that, at times, can be stressful and unpredictable. Being consistent and calm when working with others, individually or as part of a team is required to manage academic and professional relationships.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic, professional practice and work integrated learning placements. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Responding appropriately to constructive feedback
   • Coping with one’s own emotions and behaviours when dealing with individuals in an academic, community and professional setting.

Related to the law. In the context of inherent requirements, this refers to the legal requirements of professional bodies relevant to specific courses of study.

1. Introduction
   Some Arts industries are mandated by specific legislation, rules and codes of conduct to enable the professional delivery of professional services. 
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Students demonstrate knowledge of, and compliance with, relevant laws, professional codes of conduct and regulations, and scope of practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   In order to manage the risk of harm to self and others, as well as achieving learning outcomes, knowledge, understanding and compliance with relevant laws, professional codes of conduct and regulations, is necessary to reduce the risk of harm to self and others. Compliance with professional regulations and relevant laws ensures that students are professional, responsible, and accountable for their practice.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must be consistent with legislation, rules, codes of practice and regulatory requirements.
5. Exemplars:
   • Complying with relevant Work Health and Safety legislation
   • Complying with discrimination, harassment, and bullying legislation
   • Adherence to requirements of informed consent, privacy, and confidentiality.

Verbal communication: Conveying messages, ideas, or feelings through speech.

1. Introduction
   Effective verbal communication, in English, is relevant in many areas of study in the Arts.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Students demonstrates:
   • The ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
   • The ability to provide clear instructions and presentation of ideas to individuals and large groups relevant to the context
   • The ability to communicate effectively with diverse linguistic and cultural groups and individuals in a range of contexts
   • Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others develops trusting relationships. Timely, accurate, clear, and effective delivery of information may be critical to individual safety in some areas of study within the Arts. Effective communication is necessary for building successful teams and professional relationships. Timely, and effective delivery of feedback is critical to academic team tasks. Academic assessment may require verbal presentation of work to peers.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments need to address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity, and accuracy issues to enable participation in academic activities.
5. Exemplars:
   • Communicating effectively, in English, during learning activities
   • Responding appropriately to feedback during presentations
   • Participating in regular feedback sessions.

Non-verbal communication: Communication other than speech that conveys meaning including gestures and facial expressions, body posture, stance, touch, eye movements, eye contact and distance from the person/s with whom you are communicating. Non-verbal cues can provide significant additional information to the person with whom you are communicating.

1. Introduction
   Effective non-verbal communication is relevant to a range of learning activities in the Arts and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, honest and non-judgmental. 
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues and gestures
   • Displays consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
   • Displays sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships. Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic and professional relationships. Being sensitive to individual and/or cultural differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships in academic and professional settings. The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is necessary for the successful execution of some learning activities in both academic and professional contexts.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the recognition, initiation of, or appropriate response to, effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in academic learning activities
   • Recognising and responding appropriately to cues when participating in relevant work integrated learning activities
   • Interacting with information communications technologies (ICT) in a creative, confident, and critical way using a range of software and devices for academic, research and practical applications.

Written communication: Communication by written symbols including electronic means, print or handwriting.

1. Introduction
   Effective written communication, in English, is required to effectively access course content and complete a range of assessment tasks.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances
   • The capacity to use a range of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to complete academic assessment requirements. 
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Responding to written assessment tasks demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the course subject matter. Accurate written communication is vital to completing academic tasks and specifically relevant in courses that are accredited by external registration authorities.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy, accessibility, and portability to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and professional settings. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Convey written information in a variety of formats to a range of audiences
   • Construct written information in a timely manner to comply with academic standards and deadlines
   • Demonstrate confidence with various forms of technology and employ a range of ICT skills to complete written and audio-visual learning and assessment tasks.

The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through one's thoughts, experience, and senses.

Knowledge and cognitive skills: Acquired skills that reflect an individual's ability to think. Cognitive skills include verbal and spatial abilities, concentration, memory, perception, reasoning, planning and organisation, flexible thinking, and problem solving.

1. Introduction
   Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to enable completion of academic assessment tasks.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information
   • The ability to process information relevant to academic requirements or practice 
   • The ability to integrate, reflect on and implement theoretical knowledge, within the learning environment and professional settings.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Capacity to complete course requirements is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded. 
5. Exemplars:
   • The ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge and theoretical concepts in response to academic assessment tasks.

Literacy (language): This relates to the ability to acquire, understand, and apply information in a scholarly manner.

1. Introduction
   Competent literacy skills, in English, are essential to develop and deliver professional, appropriate, and effective responses to academic content and assessment tasks.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate and effective messages.
   • The ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information. 
   • The capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   The ability to read, decode, interpret, comprehend multiple sources of information, and accurately convey ideas is fundamental to ensure the development of appropriate and effective responses to academic content and assessment tasks.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable demonstration of a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply, and communicate accurate information. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Applying knowledge of both theory and practice in the development of appropriate responses to academic content and assessment tasks
   • Paraphrasing, summarising, and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions in written assignments.

Numeracy: This relates to the ability to understand and work with numbers.

1. Introduction
   In some courses within the Arts, competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for safe and effective calculations in the completion of academic assessment tasks. 
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student interprets and correctly applies data, measurements, and numerical criteria in a range of academic and professional contexts.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Competent application of numeracy skills is essential to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of academic and professional services.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable demonstration of a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner.
5. Exemplars:
   • Performing accurate mathematical calculations
   • Demonstrating accurate interpretation of mathematical calculations.

Actively listening to someone express their thoughts, feelings or experiences and showing understanding by consciously responding through skills such as paraphrasing, summarising or mirroring.

1. Introduction
   Participation in some courses within the Arts requires self-awareness and a capacity for reflectivity to consider the effect of one's own perspectives, actions, values and behaviours on all interpersonal interactions.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The ability to accurately reflect on their academic performance and professional practice
   • The ability to accept and respond constructively to feedback about their academic performance and professional practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Studying in learning environments involving teamwork requires a well-developed understanding of oneself, to appropriately engage with others. Working in work integrated learning settings requires a well-developed understanding of oneself and the ability to effectively manage one's reactions to a variety of situations that may arise.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable minimum level of capacity in this area. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Respond appropriately to peers, academic staff, and community members in academic and professional setting, demonstrating empathy towards and actively listening to, what is being communicated
   • Identifying when personal experience and/or reactions are having a negative impact on interpersonal interactions
   • Acting in a respectful manner towards others.

Personal skills required to interact appropriately with others with the aim of building and maintaining healthy, productive relationships. Skills include empathy, trustworthiness, patience, active listening, approachability, and reliability.

1. Introduction
   Personal skills are essential to work effectively, sensitively and to build relationships with a wide range of individuals, groups and communities.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The ability to establish and maintain rapport with peers, academic staff, and work integrated learning supervisors
   • Ability to engage and relate appropriately to others in individual and group tasks
   • The ability to work effectively, sensitively and confidentially with a diverse range of people and in a variety of contexts.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Highly developed relational skills contribute to effective relationships in academic, community and work integrated learning environments. 
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable level of effective relational skills. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Participating in a respectful manner in academic discussions
   • Collaborating, modifying and reflecting on one’s own interactions and behaviour in academic and professional settings.

The way a person recognises external stimuli - through sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch.

Visual

1. Introduction
   In some Arts courses, adequate visual acuity will be required to enable completion of tasks in a range of educational, professional and community settings. 
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of skills.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills and complete tasks and academic assessments. Visual observations, examination and assessment are necessary for safe and effective practice.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise safety. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Performing visual design tasks.

Fine motor skills: The ability to undertake precise coordinated movements of the hands for activities such as writing and manipulating small objects.

1. Introduction
   Some courses within the Arts require manual dexterity and fine motor skill capacity.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates adequate tactile function sufficient to undertake the required range of skills and assessments.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to perform the required tasks. Tasks that involve fine motor skills include being able to grasp, press, push, turn, squeeze and manipulate various objects and individuals. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must facilitate functional effectiveness, safety to self and others and a capacity to complete appropriate tasks.
5. Exemplars:
   • Employ and manipulate range of materials to undertake various practices and assessment tasks.

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

1. Introduction
   Most disciplines within the Arts require both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time
   • The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period
   • The capacity to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus. 
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   To complete academic course requirements, sufficient physical and mental resilience is an essential requirement needed to perform tasks in an assigned period.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period.
5. Exemplars:
   • Participating in and completing a variety of learning activities
   • Providing consistent work integrated learning placement practice over a negotiated time frame.