- Inherent requirements key terms
- Inherent requirements for Accounting
- Inherent requirements for Bachelor of Applied Leadership and Critical Thinking
- Inherent requirements for Master of Art Therapy
- Inherent requirements for Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Sonography
- Inherent requirements for Building Design and Construction Management
- Inherent requirements for Bachelor of Construction Technology
- Inherent requirements for Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health (Karitane)
- Inherent requirements for Bachelor of Community Welfare
- Inherent requirements for Psychotherapy and Counselling
- Inherent requirements for Bachelor of Criminal and Community Justice
- Inherent requirements for Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
- Inherent requirements for Master of Digital Humanities
- Inherent requirements for Education and Teaching
- Inherent requirements for Engineering courses
- Inherent requirements for Epidemiology
- Inherent requirements for Paramedicine
- Inherent requirements for Interpreting and Translation
- Inherent requirements for Languages
- Inherent requirements for Law
- Inherent requirements for Mathematics
- Inherent requirements for Medicine
- Inherent requirements for Midwifery
- Inherent requirements for Nursing (preregistration) courses
- Inherent requirements for Nursing and Midwifery (postgraduate)
- Inherent requirements for Occupational Therapy
- Inherent requirements for Physiotherapy
- Inherent requirements for Podiatric Medicine
- Inherent requirements for Master of Professional Psychology
- Inherent requirements for Master of Clinical Psychology
- Inherent requirements for Bachelor of Social Work
- Inherent requirements for TESOL
- Inherent requirements for Chinese Medicine Health Care Disciplines
- Inherent requirements for Master of Public Health and Master of Health Science
- Inherent requirements for Speech Pathology
Inherent requirements for Speech Pathology
Introduction
Western Sydney University and the School of Health Sciences (SHS) strongly supports the right of all people to pursue a Speech Pathology degree.
Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit, while preserving the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes. The inherent requirements are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete the course that must be met by all students.
Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.
The School is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional practice and other activities to enable students to participate in their course. Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement.
Throughout their chosen course of study, students will be exposed to situations which include mixed gender, religious and culturally diverse environments. Further information regarding specific activities within individual courses can be found in the University handbook or by contacting the corresponding Director of Academic Program.
Provisional certified practising membership may be sought from Speech Pathology Australia following completion of the speech pathology course. Information can be found here Speech Pathology Australia
Further information on accreditation for individual courses can be found in the University Handbook or by contacting the corresponding Director of Academic Program.
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 the B. Speech Pathology and B. Speech Pathology (Honours) 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. Students completing the B. Speech Pathology will have an opportunity to select alternate units in year 4 of the program and are advised to seek information regarding any additional inherent requirements for these units before enrolment.
The inherent requirements outlined below provide a guide to inform decision making for students and staff.
How to read the inherent requirement statements
If you are intending to enrol in a speech pathology degree in the School of Health Sciences (SHS), 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 impacts from a disability or chronic health condition, you should discuss your concerns with the SHS staff, such as the Director of Academic Program, Academic Course Advisor, 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 your chosen course of study’s information and publications by the Speech Pathology Association of Australia, including documents that relate to professional standards, competency and ethical practice, the Competency-based Occupational Standards for Speech Pathologists, COMPASS® Competency Assessment in Speech Pathology, National Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics. Speech Pathology Australia
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 course
- 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 7 domains of inherent requirements in the speech pathology degree. Some domains have a number of sub-domains.
- Ethical behaviour
- Legal
- Communication
- Cognition
- Sensory abilities
- Strength & mobility
- Sustainable performance
Inherent requirement statements
Ethical behaviour
Inherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Speech pathology is a profession that is governed by professional standards and a code of ethics and a national code of conduct for allied health professionals in which speech pathologists are both accountable and responsible for ensuring safe and professional behaviour in all contexts. |
2 | Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in, ethical behaviour in practice. |
3 | Justification of Inherent Requirement: 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. |
4 | 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 a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Legal
Inherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Speech pathology is a profession mandated by legislation and professional standards to enable the safe delivery of care. |
2 | Student demonstrates knowledge of and compliance with Australian Law and professional regulatory requirements and standards, which dictate the scope of speech pathology practice. |
3 | Justification of inherent requirement:
|
4 | Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Communication
This course requires effective, verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills.
VerbalInherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Effective and professional verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide competent delivery of care. |
2 | Student demonstrates:
|
3 | Justification of inherent requirement:
|
4 | Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety and appropriate care. Adjustments must enable effective verbal communication in individual, small and large groups (consistent with speech pathology practice). Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Inherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to speech pathology practice and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, appropriate, and professional. |
2 | Student demonstrates:
|
3 | Justification of inherent requirement:
|
4 | Adjustments must enable the recognition and initiation of effective non-verbal communication and avoidance of inappropriate non-verbal behaviours. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Inherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental responsibility in speech pathology with professional and legal ramifications. |
2 | Student demonstrates:
appropriate to the academic or clinical context
|
3 | Justification of inherent requirement:
|
4 | Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information occurs in both academic and clinical environments and that competent literacy support may be provided to speech pathology clients. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Cognition
This course requires knowledge of theory and the skills of cognition, literacy (language) and numeracy.
Knowledge and cognitive skillsInherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and effective speech pathology management. |
2 | Student demonstrates:
|
3 | Justification of inherent requirement:
|
4 | 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 a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Inherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective speech pathology practice. |
2 | Student demonstrates:
|
3 | Justification of inherent requirement:
|
4 | Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Numeracy
Inherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential to provide safe and effective speech pathology management. |
2 | Student demonstrates the ability to interpret and correctly apply data, measurements and numerical criteria. |
3 | Justification of inherent requirement: Competent application of numeracy skills is essential to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of speech pathology services |
4 | 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 a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Sensory abilities
This course requires adequate visual, auditory and tactile abilities.
VisualInherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective speech pathology management. |
2 | Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of speech pathology skills. |
3 | Justification of inherent requirement:
|
4 | 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 a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Inherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Adequate auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective speech pathology practice |
2 | Student demonstrates sufficient auditory function to undertake the required range of skills. |
3 | Justification of inherent requirement:
|
4 | Adjustments must address the need to perform the range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of hearing impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Tactile
Inherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Sufficient tactile ability is required to perform competent and safe speech pathology management |
2 | Student demonstrates sufficient tactile function to undertake the required range of skills and assessments. |
3 | Justification of inherent requirement:
|
4 | 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 a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Strength and Mobility
This course requires gross motor and fine motor skills.
Gross Motor
Inherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Speech pathology is a profession that involves some physical demands and adequate gross motor function. |
2 | Student demonstrates the ability to perform gross motor skills to function within the scope of practice. |
3 | Justification of inherent requirement:
|
4 | 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 a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Fine Motor
Inherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Speech pathology is a profession that requires manual dexterity and fine motor skills. |
2 | Student demonstrates the ability to use fine motor skills to function within the scope of practice. |
3 | Justification of inherent requirement:
|
4 | 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 a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
Sustainable performance
Inherent requirements statements | |
---|---|
1 | Speech pathology practice requires physical and cognitive performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual needs over time |
2 | Student demonstrates:
|
3 | Justification of inherent requirement: Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective speech pathology management |
4 | Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a required period. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Disability Advisor. |
5 | Exemplars:
|
*Developed from: Johnson, A., Allan, T., Phillips, K., Azzopardi, T., Dickson, C., Goldsmith, M & Hengstberger- Sims, C. (2011). Inherent Requirements of Nursing Education (IRONE), Western Sydney University School of Nursing & Midwifery and Student Equity & Disability Services.
The Inherent Requirements content by the University of Western Sydney is subject to a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International licence. The details of the relevant licence conditions are available on the Creative Commons website (opens in a new window).
© University of Western Sydney
The Inherent Requirements content on this page may be used subject to the Creative Commons terms, by including the following attribution:
Inherent Requirements http://www.westernsydney.edu.au/ir
© University of Western Sydney is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International licence.
Mobile options: