Medical laboratory science

These inherent requirements apply to the following courses: Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Honours, and Master of Medical Laboratory 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 the Australian Institute for Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS).

There are 10 domains of inherent requirements for the Medical Laboratory Science 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 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
   Students demonstrates knowledge of and engages in ethical behaviour in practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Compliance with the recognised values of society facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must support the recognised values of society. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Students demonstrates ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and to take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour
   • Students comply with CDU’s academic and non-academic policies and procedures
   • Students treat any personal information obtained while undertaking their studies as private and confidential
   • Students respect diversity by demonstrating sensitivity to religious, cultural and individual differences
   • Students adhere to the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS) codes, guidelines and 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 settings.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in diverse and changing academic 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, students will need to work constructively with peers and academic staff. Behavioural stability is required to manage these relationships.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in academic settings. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback
   • Effectively managing own emotions and behaviour when interacting with individuals or teams in academic settings
   • Interacting positively and effectively with students, health professionals and community members while undertaking course related activities
   • Responding effectively with own emotions in difficult and challenging situations.

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
   Medical Laboratory Scientists are mandated by specific legislation, rules, and codes of conduct to enable the professional delivery of professional services.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with relevant laws, professional rules, 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 legislative and regulatory requirements are necessary prerequisites for laboratory settings. Compliance with these 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:
   • Responding to the requirements for registration with the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists
   • Complying with relevant codes of practice relating to Medical Laboratory Scientists
   • Understand and complying with legislative and regulatory requirements necessary to undertake placements
   • Adherence to professional requirements concerning use of social media.

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 Medical Laboratory Science.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences
   • The ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
   • The ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
   • The ability to give and receive timely clear verbal reports and feedback
   • The ability to deliver clear presentations to groups.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others develops trusting relationships. Adequate communication with team members is necessary for the completion of academic team assignments. 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 must address effectiveness, timeliness and clarity issues. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Participating in presentations or discussions during learning activities
   • Responding appropriately to feedback during presentations
   • Participating in regular feedback sessions
   • Using language that is appropriate to the context of the individual or group.

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 fundamental to the successful participation in group activities in academic and professional contexts and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, and non-judgemental.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues
   • Consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
   • 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, eye contact, 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 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
   • Using appropriate non-verbal cues and being mindful of interpersonal space.

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

1. Introduction
   Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental requirement of Medical Laboratory Science. Students must be able to acquire, understand, apply, and convey information in a written format. The capacity to use a range of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is essential to complete academic assessment requirements. 
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 provide relevant professional services.
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:
   • Constructing assessments to academic standards in English
   • Constructing legible work in a timely manner, that meets professional standards
   • Analysing, manipulating, and displaying scientific information
   • Completing a variety of written assessment tasks using ICT.

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 appropriate and professional services.
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:
   • Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge and theoretical concepts in response to academic assessment tasks
   • Apply knowledge and skills in a practical setting
   • Perform duties within a set timeframe.

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 ensure the development of appropriate responses to academic assessment tasks. The ability to read, decode, interpret, and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental to ensure the development of appropriate and effective responses to academic 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 an appropriate responses to academic assessment tasks
   • Paraphrasing, summarising, and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions in written assignments
   • Completing documentation that is accurate, clear, and concise
   • Accurately interpreting information relating to patients.

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

1. Introduction
   Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for safe and effective calculations in delivery of services in Medical Laboratory Science.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student interprets and correctly applies data, measurements, and numerical criteria.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in Medical Laboratory Science to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of 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 to problem solve in practical settings
   • Accurately recording 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
   Medical Laboratory Scientists 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 professional performance
   • The ability to accept and respond constructively to feedback about their 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:
   • Reflecting critically on topics discussed during academic studies
   • Ability to identify when one’s performance may be negatively affected by personal experiences or reactions, and be able to learn from these experiences
   • Reflection and learning from successful situations and identifying opportunities for improvement
   • Reflecting on situations that may be difficult and sensitive.

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
   Medical Laboratory Science courses require the ability to make and maintain strong 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
   • Maintaining positive working relationships when under stressful circumstances
   • Maintaining confidentiality at all times.

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

Visual

1. Introduction
   Adequate visual acuity is required to accurately perform duties within a laboratory.
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, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe care of self and others. Visual observations, examination and assessment are fundamental to 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:
   • Accurately undertaking observational measurements in a laboratory
   • Students can visually distinguish colour to interpret results or investigations
   • Students can safely operate laboratory equipment.

Auditory

1. Introduction
   Auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective practice in the laboratory.
2. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient auditory ability is necessary to monitor and work in a laboratory
3. Adjustments
   Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in a laboratory. Any strategies to address the effects of the hearing loss must be effective, consistent and not compromise safety. 
4. Exemplars:
   • Able to sufficiently hear and interpret verbal communication from students, academics, supervisors during activities related to the course.

Tactile

1. Introduction
   Sufficient tactile ability is required to work competently and safely in a laboratory.
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 tactile ability is necessary to accurately use laboratory equipment. Tactile assessments and observations are fundamental for safe and effective laboratory practice.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the capacity to perform and make effective assessments of laboratory tasks within safe time frames.
5. Exemplars:
   • Student can safely operate 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
   Utilisation of appropriate gross motor skills is required in a laboratory to complete various tasks.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates the 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 laboratory tasks. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, 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, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide safe services.
5. Exemplars:
   • Safely undertaking activities related to academic studies which rely on gross motor skills
   • Safely retrieving and using stock and equipment
   • Moving with ease around equipment while performing 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
   Medical Laboratory Science is a profession that requires manual dexterity and fine motor skills.
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:
   • Manipulating delicate, breakable equipment with ease and care
   • Manipulating syringes and needles with precision and care to avoid harm to self or others.

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
   Professional practice in the laboratory placement requires 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.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient physical and mental resilience is an essential requirement needed to perform tasks in an assigned period to provide effective, safe and professional support in the work integrated learning or professional context.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period.
5. Exemplars:
   • Participating in a variety of learning activities related to the course with adequate, sustained levels of physical energy and concentration
   • Providing consistent practical laboratory skills and fully engaging in all learning, practical, and placements activities.