Environment and science

These inherent requirements apply to the following courses: Diploma of Science, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Environmental Science, Bachelor of Science Honours, Master of Environmental Management, Masters of Applied Spatial Science, and Graduate Certificate of Spatial Science.

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 information provided by professional organisations relevant to the discipline.

There are nine domains of inherent requirements for the Environment suite of courses.

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 will be governed by practice standards and codes of ethics.

1. Introduction
   Science and environmental science professionals are responsible for conducting their work in an ethical manner, adhering to relevant codes, guidelines and policies. Students within the discipline are expected to be accountable for adhering to professional behavior in all contexts.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates knowledge of and engages in ethical behaviour in practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Ethical practice facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all.
4. Adjustments 
   Adjustments must not compromise academic standards or codes, or result in unethical behavior. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Demonstrated ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and to take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour
   • Compliance with academic conduct policies.

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 interact effectively and sensitively in academic and work integrated learning settings.  
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in diverse and changing academic and practice settings.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. When undertaking course requirements, science and environmental science students will need to work constructively with peers and academic staff. They will be exposed to demanding situations, for example, when completing intensive field-based units. Behavioural stability will be required to manage challenging and unexpected situations objectively and professionally.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in academic, public and professional placement settings. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback
   • Effectively managing one’s own emotions and behaviour when interacting with individuals or teams in academic settings.

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

1. Introduction
   Effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to enable the successful completion of all academic tasks.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates ability to:
   • Understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
   • Provide and follow clear instructions in the context of a situation
   • Provide timely and clear feedback and reports when requested and understand and act promptly on verbal feedback received
   • Present information clearly to groups
   • Communicate in a way that is sensitive to individual or cultural differences.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Adequate verbal communication with team members is necessary for the safe execution of science and environmental science projects especially when working in field or laboratory situations. Effective communication is necessary for building successful teams and professional relationships. Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others develops the trusting relationships required for successful teams and professional relationships. Timely and effective communication is critical to professional service delivery in science and environmental sciences.
4. Adjustments 
   Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness and clarity issues. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Active and respectful participation in presentations or discussions in laboratory, field and tutorial sessions
   • Responding appropriately to a request for assistance, or other instructions in a practical situation.

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

1. Introduction
   Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental requirement of the environmental science suite of courses and for environmental professionals. 
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • Ability to acquire, understand, apply, and convey information in a written format 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
   Construction of written assessment tasks is necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter at required academic standard and is a fundamental requirement of professions in science and environmental science. Accurate written communication including accurate record keeping is vital to enable the provision of consistent, accurate professional services.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the attainment of the necessary standards of clarity, accuracy, accessibility, and portability to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in a variety of academic and professional settings. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Constructing an essay or report to meet academic standards appropriate for the level of study. 

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 provide safe, appropriate, and professional services in science and environmental science.
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 and implement knowledge and practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Completion of course requirements and safe and effective practice of environmental science and science is based on comprehensive knowledge that is 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:
   • Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge and theoretical concepts in response to academic assessment tasks
   • Appropriate application of knowledge and procedures in practical settings.

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 assessment tasks.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, 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 acquire information and to accurately convey ideas is fundamental to developing appropriate responses to academic assessment tasks. This includes the ability to read, decode, interpret, and comprehend multiple sources of information and synthesise and apply this information to complete a task, solve a problem, or answer a question. 
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 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
   Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for many applications within the science and environmental science disciplines.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student accurately uses and interprets data and incorporates numerical information to solve problems and as a basis for understanding of scientific or environmental issues.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in science and environmental science to facilitate safe, accurate and effective practice.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable demonstration of a capacity to interpret and apply numerical concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner.
5. Exemplars:
   • Performing accurate mathematical calculations
   • Accurate interpretation of numerical data.

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
   Academic study and professional practice in science and environmental studies require 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 and professional performance
   • The ability to accept and respond constructively to feedback about their academic 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:
   • Identifying when a learning activity is outside one's scope or expertise or when one's practice may be negatively affected by personal experience and/or reactions.

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
   Successful study in the environmental and science courses requires the ability to make and maintain 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 diverse range of contexts.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Highly developed relational skills contribute to effective relationships in academic and 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 settings

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

Visual

1. Introduction
   Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective practice in some subject areas in the science and environmental science courses.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to perform the range of skills required in the course.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to be able to view text and images on a computer screen or printed document and complete the required range of tasks and assessments, and to maintain the safety of self and others. Visual observations and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective practice in science and environmental science, especially in field and laboratory settings.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in science or environmental science practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise safety. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Accurately undertaking observational measurements in the field, laboratory or using visual images on a computer screen or in print.

Auditory

1. Introduction
   Auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective practice in some areas of science and environmental science.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates sufficient auditory function to undertake the required range of skills.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient auditory ability is necessary to monitor, assess and manage some science-related tasks. Auditory assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective science practice in some settings.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in science practice. Any strategies to address the effects of hearing impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise safety. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Responding to audio alarms on field or laboratory equipment.

Tactile

1. Introduction
   Sufficient tactile ability is required for competent and safe science and environmental science practice.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates adequate tactile function sufficient to undertake the required range of tasks and assessments.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   For some applications, sufficient tactile ability is necessary to monitor, assess and detect physical properties of objects. Sufficient tactile ability is necessary for the safe and effective operation of laboratory and field equipment.
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 tactile impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise safety.
5. Exemplars:
   • Manipulate equipment to make precise and accurate measurements of physical properties
   • Perform laboratory experiments effectively and safely using chemicals and laboratory equipment.

Gross motor skills: The use of large muscle groups that coordinate body movements for activities such as walking, lifting, pushing, pulling, and maintaining balance.

1. Introduction
   Use of gross motor skills is required in some science practice to complete various tasks.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Ability to complete gross motor tasks to function within scope of practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient gross motor skills are necessary to complete various tasks required in the environmental science and science courses and associated professions. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include carrying, standing, traversing a variety of terrain, and bending. Students must be able to demonstrate these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness and the safety of self and others. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Where applicable, safely carrying and transporting field equipment during data collection phase of projects
   • Manipulating equipment and chemicals in laboratory settings.

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

1. Introduction
   Study in science and environmental science often requires manual dexterity and fine motor skills.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   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 tasks that include grasping, pressing, pushing, turning, or otherwise manipulating various objects. These tasks are required for some applications within the science and environmental science. Fine motor skills enable these tasks to be conducted 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:
   • Undertaking delicate tasks in the laboratory and field, and precise work involving specialty computer programs.

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
   Successful completion of the science and environmental science courses requires consistent and sustained mental and, at times, physical performance.  Some courses and majors require practical work, field placements, or work integrated learning which require may require particularly high levels of physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level over a defined period of time.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Ability to maintain consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner. The ability to perform activities with a level of focus that enables the successful completion of a task. The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout a designated period working on a task.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient physical and mental resilience is an essential requirement needed to perform tasks in an assigned period in an effective and safe way.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a period of time that does not compromise the integrity of the academic assessment. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Performance can be sustained when participating in a variety of learning activities
   • Performing consistently in field, laboratory or professional placement situations within a defined time frame.