Inherent requirements for Bachelor of Health Science (Recreational Therapy)

Introduction

Inherent requirements

The School of Health Sciences is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, clinical practice, and other activities to enable students to participate in their program. Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement.

You are not required to disclose information about a disability or health condition that you are living with. However, if you think your disability, chronic health or mental health condition will impact on your studies, you are encouraged to discuss your concerns with a University Disability Advisor. If you need reasonable adjustments, you are required to register with the Disability Service.

If you think you cannot meet the IRs for any other reason you should discuss with the Disciple Lead Bachelor of Health Sciences.

Western Sydney University and the School of Health Sciences (SoHS) strongly supports the right of all people to pursue a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Recreational Therapy) degree.

Relevant membership as a recreational therapist may be sought from The Australian Recreational Therapy Association (ATRA) upon successful completion of the associated program Further information on accreditation for individual programs can be found in the University Handbook or by contacting the corresponding the Head of Discipline or Program Lead.

How to read the inherent requirement statements

To support prospective and current students’ decision making, a series of inherent requirement statements have been developed. These statements specify the essential skills, knowledge and abilities required for Bachelor of Health Sciences (Recreational Therapy) degrees. Students should use this information to make informed decisions about their chosen course of study. The statements are clustered under eight domains consisting of Ethical Behaviour, Behavioural Stability, Legal, Communication, Cognition, Sensory Abilities, Strength and Mobility, and Sustainable Performance.

If you are intending to enroll in a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Recreational Therapy) degree in the School of Health Sciences, you should look at these inherent requirement statements and think about whether you may experience challenges in meeting these requirements.

If you think you may experience challenges for any reason including a disability or chronic health condition, you should discuss your concerns with the School staff, such as the Head of Discipline or Program Lead.

School Disability Coordinator or a Disability Advisor. These staff can work collaboratively with you to determine reasonable adjustments to assist you to meet the inherent requirements. In the case where it is determined that inherent requirements cannot be met with reasonable adjustments, the University staff can provide guidance regarding other study options.

These inherent requirements should be read in conjunction with the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Recreational Therapy) program information and the Australian Recreational Therapy Association Policies – Australian Recreational Therapy Association [ARTA] , including the Recreational Therapy Code of Ethics.

The inherent requirements are made up of the following five components:

• Level 1 - introduction to the inherent requirement
• Level 2 - description of the inherent requirement
• Level 3 - explanation of why this is an inherent requirement of the program
• Level 4 - the nature of any adjustments that may be made to allow you to meet the requirement
• Level 5 - examples of tasks you must be able to do to show you’ve met the requirement. The exemplars provided are not intended as an exhaustive list.

Inherent requirement domains

There are 8 domains of inherent requirements in Bachelor of Health Sciences (Recreational Therapy) degree. Some domains have a number of sub-domains.

• Ethical behaviour
• Behavioural stability
• Legal
• Communication
• Cognition
• Sensory abilities
• Strength & mobility
• Sustainable performance

Legal Requirements

Recreational therapy is a profession mandated by National Council of Therapeutic Recreation (International) and Australian Recreational Therapy Association to enable the safe delivery of care.

Justification

Knowledge, understanding and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements and standards are necessary pre-requisites to clinical placements, to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.

Compliance with the Australian Law and professional regulatory requirements and standards ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Comply with Australian Law and professional regulatory requirements and standards, which dictates the scope of recreational therapy practice.
• Comply with the policies of clinical facilities e.g. uniform requirements

Adjustments

Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor.

Ethical Behaviour

Recreational therapy is a profession that is governed by codes, guidelines and standards, where Recreational therapists are both accountable and responsible for ensuring safe and professional behaviour in all contexts.

Justification

Compliance with the codes, guidelines and standards 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.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Engage in ethical behaviour in practice.
• Comply with medico-legal requirements relating to informed consent, privacy and confidentiality with client information in academic and clinical settings
• Demonstrate ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour

Adjustments

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 Disability Advisor.

Behavioural Stability

Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in this role.

Justification

Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Recreational therapy students will be exposed to health care and disability contexts in which they will encounter human suffering and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events objectively and professionally.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Be emotionally stable to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical environment, which may at times be challenging and unpredictable.
• Be receptive and respond appropriately to constructive feedback
• Cope with own emotions and behave effectively when dealing with individuals in the clinical setting

Adjustments

Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and clinical settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor.

Communication Skills

Verbal

Effective and efficient verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide safe delivery of care in Australia.

Justification

Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others develops trusting relationships.

Communication may be restricted to verbal because of physical limitations of the individual (e.g. injury, disease or congenital conditions)

Speed and interactivity of communication may be critical for individual safety or treatment.

Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is critical to individual safety, treatment and management.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Be sensitive to individual and/or cultural differences
• Understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
• Provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
• Provide timely clear feedback and reporting
• Participate in tutorial, simulation and clinical discussions
• Establish rapport with clients during recreational therapy management and respond appropriately to requests from clients, supervisors and other health professionals in the clinical setting
• Give clear instructions to clients, carers or team members within the clinical setting

Adjustments

Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety and appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor

Non-Verbal

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

Justification

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 develops trusting relationships.

The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential for safe and effective observation of client symptoms and reactions to facilitate the assessment and treatment of clients.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues
• Display consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
• Be sensitive to individual and/or cultural differences
• Recognise and respond appropriately to cues in the academic environment
• Recognise and respond appropriately to cues in the clinical setting

Adjustments

Adjustments must enable the recognition, initiation of or appropriate response or/as well as initiation of effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor.

Written

Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental recreational therapy responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.

Justification

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

Accurate written communication, including record-keeping and client notes which meet legal requirements, is vital to provide consistent and safe client care.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.
• Construct an essay to academic standards
• Construct client notes, reports and information sheets in a timely manner that meets legal and professional standards

Adjustments

Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and clinical environments. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor.

Cognition

This program requires knowledge of theory and the skills of cognition, literacy (language) and numeracy skills.

Knowledge and Cognitive Skills

Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and effective Recreational therapy management.

Justification

Safe and effective delivery of recreational therapy is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Locate appropriate and relevant information
• Process information relevant to practice
• Integrate and implement knowledge in practice in a timely manner
• Conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items
• Appropriately apply knowledge of theory, research evidence, policies and procedures in the clinical setting

Adjustments

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 Disability Advisor.

Literacy (Language)

Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective recreational therapy management.

Justification

The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure safe and effective assessment, treatment and delivery of care.

The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for safe and effective delivery of care.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages
• Read and comprehend a range of literature and information
• Understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner
• Convey spoken instructions to a client accurately and effectively in a clinical setting
• Paraphrase, summarise and reference in accordance with appropriate academic conventions
• Produce accurate, concise and clear recreational therapy documentation which meets legal requirements

Adjustments

Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor.

Numeracy

Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential to provide safe and effective Recreational therapy management.

Justification

Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in recreational therapy to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of recreational therapy programs.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Interpret and correctly apply data, measurements and numerical criteria.
• Record accurate measurements in client notes
• Prescribe adaptive equipment that correctly meets client measurement requirements e.g. adapted recreation and sporting equipment

Adjustments

Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor.

Sensory Abilities

This program requires adequate visual, auditory and tactile abilities.

Vision

Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective recreational therapy management.

Justification

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 to others.

Visual observations, examinations and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective recreational therapy practice.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Display sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of skills.
• Observe and detect subtle changes in posture, movement and the ability to perform functional activities during assessment and treatment

Adjustments

Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor.

Auditory

Auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective recreational therapy management.

Justification

Sufficient auditory ability is necessary to monitor, assess and manage an individual’s health needs consistently and accurately.

Auditory assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective recreational therapy practice.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Display sufficient aural function to undertake the required range of skills.
• Detect care requests by calls for help or activation of a call bell
• Engage appropriately to a client's responses during an assessment.

Adjustments

Adjustments must address the need to perform the range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the hearing impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment of safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor.

Tactile

Sufficient tactile ability is required to perform competent and safe recreational therapy management.

Justification

Sufficient tactile ability is necessary to monitor, assess and detect clients' physical characteristics and act on any abnormalities detected to provide appropriate recreational therapy management.

Tactile assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective recreational therapy practice.

Adjustments

Adjustments must have the capacity to make effective assessments of physical characteristics and abnormalities within safe time frames. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor.

Strength and Mobility

This program requires gross motor and fine motor skills.

Gross Motor

Recreational therapy is a profession that involves physical demands and requires gross motor function.

Justification

Sufficient gross motor skills are necessary to perform the required level of care. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting and bending. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Student demonstrates the ability to perform gross motor skills to function within the scope of practice.
• Maintaining own and client's balance, while providing client support, when transferring and mobilising individuals in a safe manner
• Evaluating clients, in a safe and effective manner, who have varying physical capacity, who are positioned on plinths and hospital beds, on mats on the floor, on chairs and when standing

Adjustments

Adjustments must facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor.

Fine Motor

Recreational therapy is a profession that requires manual dexterity and fine motor skills.

Justification

Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to perform the required level of care. 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.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Student demonstrated ability to use fine motor skills to function within the scope of practice.
• Performing assessment techniques, e.g. evaluation of joint movement
• Performing treatment techniques, e.g. demonstrating use of adaptive equipment, demonstrating fine motor tasks during recreational activities

Adjustments

Adjustments must facilitate functional effectiveness, safety to self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor

Sustainable Performance

Recreational therapy practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual needs over time.

Justification

Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective recreational therapy management.

As a student, you must demonstrate that you can:

• Consistently and at a sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner
• The ability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity until it is completed appropriately
• The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of time.
• Participate in tutorials and lectures
• Providing consistent recreational therapy management over a negotiated time frame while on clinical placement

Adjustments

Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a required period. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor