Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) inherent requirements

The capacity to behave ethically and ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts. Students undertaking studies in psychology must meet the Australian Psychological Accreditation Council foundational competencies (Competency 1.4 Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in psychology).

Justification of inherent requirement:

Students must behave ethically in line with relevant standards, codes, guidelines, and policies to support the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of all.

Knowledge of appropriate values and ethics in psychology is a foundational competency of the external accrediting body, the Australian Psychological Accreditation Council.

Adjustments must ensure the codes, guidelines and standards are not compromised or result in unethical behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.

Examples:

• Demonstrate behaviour that is respectful, this includes being respectful of difference and diversity when interacting with peers and academics during study.
• Demonstrate ability to reflect on ethical issues and dilemmas and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of individual ethical conduct.

The capacity to demonstrate behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in environments which may be challenging and unpredictable.

The student demonstrates:

Behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic environments, which may at times be challenging and unpredictable.

Justification of inherent requirement:

Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Students are required to manage personal emotional responses and adapt behaviour appropriately during times of stress.

Adjustments must support stable, effective, and professional behaviour in the academic setting. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.

Examples:

• Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback.
• Coping with own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with individuals or unfamiliar situations.
• Maintain respectful communication in times of increased stress or workloads.

The capacity to demonstrate competent literacy skills appropriate to the discipline of psychology.

Student demonstrates:

• Ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages.
• Ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information.
• Capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in an appropriate manner for the intended audience.

Justification of inherent requirement:

• The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is necessary to complete academic tasks.
• The ability to read, decode, interpret, and comprehend multiple sources of information is necessary to complete academic tasks.
  Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply, and communicate accurate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.

Examples:

• Critically review literature on psychological topics in academic contexts.
• Paraphrasing, summarising, and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions.

The capacity to demonstrate consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills appropriate to the discipline of psychology.

Student demonstrates:

• Capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information.
• Ability to process information.
• Ability to engage in critical inquiry, integrate and implement knowledge.
• Capacity to solve ethical problems.

Justification of inherent requirement:

• The ability to source, understand, and apply information and retain and understand information about coursework and one’s own learning is required to retain information are required to complete academic tasks.
• A demonstrated defined range of knowledge and cognitive skills are foundational competencies for the Australian Psychological Accreditation Council.

Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.

Examples:

• Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
• Appropriately applying knowledge of theory, and research evidence in a range of applied settings.
• Capacity to learn or change behaviours in response to feedback.

The capacity to demonstrate effective and professional verbal communication, in English, to a standard that allows fluid, clear, timely, and comprehensible two-way discussions. Students will demonstrate sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences and be attentive, empathetic, and judgemental.

Student demonstrates:

• Ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Clear expression with intelligible and appropriate instructions and feedback required for the communication context.

Justification of inherent requirement:

• English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 2. Applicants are advised to also address the following: Assumed knowledge expectations: English.
• Communicating in an effective and respectful manner is required to participate in and create safe learning environments.

Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity, and accuracy issues to ensure appropriate intervention and support can be demonstrated. If students do not meet the English language requirements, they may apply to study a university-approved English language program.

On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program. Other adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.

Examples:

• Understand and respond to verbal communication accurately and appropriately in a time-constrained environment.
• Communicating effectively and accurately with peers, educators, and team members to plan, implement and evaluate approaches to pre-professional and research tasks.

Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to psychology and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, and non-judgmental.

Student demonstrates:

• The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to non-verbal behavioural cues.
• The capacity to use non-verbal behaviours to facilitate positive interpersonal interactions with others.
• Consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours.

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 awareness of behaviours and gestures (e.g., facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries, body movements and gestures) facilitates effective communication.
• Being sensitive to individual and, or cultural differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships that are essential for effective communication.

Adjustments must enable the recognition, assessment, initiation of or appropriate response to effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.

Examples:

• Recognising and responding appropriately to non-verbal cues in classroom situations during on-campus classes and online interactive learning spaces.
• Using appropriate non-verbal communication to facilitate interactions with individuals and groups.

The capacity to demonstrate written communication, in English, in a timely, clear, and professional language appropriate to the audience. 

Student demonstrates:

• Ability to process and construct written communication accurately and in a timely manner
• Ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information.
• Capacity to construct written communication with cohesion, grammar, and spelling appropriate to the academic context.
• Capacity to tailor written communication to the audience.

Justification of inherent requirement:

• Construction of written text-based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter.

Adjustments must allow the student to meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy, and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in the academic setting. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.

Examples:

• Construct written work (e.g., essays), including complex academic perspectives, accurately and effectively.
• Summarise and appropriately reference a range of literature in assignments.

The study of psychology requires self-awareness and a capacity for reflectivity to consider the effect of one's own issues, actions, values, and behaviours.

Student demonstrates:

• The ability to accurately reflect on their performance and accept feedback and respond constructively.

Justification of inherent requirement:

• Participation in reflexivity is a teaching strategy in psychology education which requires well developed understanding of oneself to appropriately engage in this activity.
• Understanding and responding to peers and the learning environment requires well developed understanding of oneself, how oneself might be influencing an interaction and the ability to effectively manage one's reactions to situations that may arise.

Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable minimum level of capacity in this area. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.

Examples:

• Be receptive and respond appropriately to academic feedback.
• Adjust ways of working within teams (e.g., group work) of varied backgrounds and opinions.

Study in psychology requires the ability to make and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of individuals, and groups.

Student demonstrates:

• The ability to establish and maintain rapport with academic staff, supervisors, and peers.
• The ability to engage in effective and empathic micro skills. - Ability to engage and relate appropriately in experiential learning groups.

Justification of inherent requirement:

• Highly developed relational skills are required because of a need to work individually and within teams in diverse and changing environments.

Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable level of effective relational skills. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.

Example:

Effectively using relational and interpersonal skills to manage relationships across diverse contexts.

The capacity to demonstrate physical and cognitive performance at a consistent and sustained level.

Student demonstrates:

• Consistent and sustained level of physical and cognitive 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 of time.

Justification of inherent requirement:

• Sufficient physical and cognitive resilience is an essential requirement needed to perform a range of complex or extended academic tasks in an assigned period of time.

Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Support Equity Officers.

Examples:

• Sustain participation in tutorials, skills demonstrations, online activities, and assignment work to engage with the learning workload for the program.
• Maintain sufficient concentration to focus on a task to completion.