Course Title: Professional Practices in Disability 2B

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Professional Practices in Disability 2B

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
HWSS2101	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	150H Health Sciences	Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010
HWSS2101	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013
HWSS2101	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015

Course Coordinator: Dr Phil Doecke

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7864

Course Coordinator Email: phil.doecke@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 220.03.01

Course Coordinator Availability: Please e-mail with several suggested times

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Students will have undertaken or been exempted from the following courses

First year

• Professional Practices in Disability 1A
• Professional Practices in Disability 1B
• Disability Access and Equity
• Lifespan Opportunities for People with a Disability

Second year

• Professional Practices in Disability 2A
• Practicum A 

Course Description

Services for people with a disability should enhance quality of life. When a person lacks social skills or exhibits behaviour of concern this can affect the availability of services and subsequently their quality of life. Graduates should be able to implement and educate others in the use of support strategies to enhance both people’s life skills and everyday opportunities, and consequently their quality of life. This course will provide students with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with and develop competencies in a range of support strategies.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Problem solving and diagnosis
3.1 Ability to apply knowledge to diagnose and solve problems in situations that range from simple and discrete to complex and ill-defined.
3.2 Ability to work independently and with others to identify and resolve problems of mutual concern in constructive and creative ways.

Communication
4.1 Ability to engage in dialogue with a diverse range of individuals and groups/teams including clients, professionals and community groups.
4.2 Ability to communicate in a range of forms (written, electronic, graphic, oral) and to tailor the style and means of communication to the circumstances of the situation and capabilities of the audience.

Strategic thinking and action
5.1 Ability to adopt a strategic view where problems are connected with a larger system (the bigger picture) and where feasible solutions must balance the future goals and aspirations of many stakeholders (the long term view).

Socially aware and Responsible Practice
6.1 Ability to recognise and consider policy and practice and how this impacts on individual and community capacity building.
6.2 Ability to appreciate levels of risk based on a clear understanding of relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.

Integration of personal values with service values
7.1 Ability to maintain tolerance and respect for individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds and with diverse values.
7.2 Ability to clearly articulate and apply an ethical position that guides personal behaviour in all aspects of professional practice.

Facilitation
8.1 Ability to build networks of collaborative partnerships with clients, colleagues, other professionals and the community. 

Upon the completion of the course, students should be able to:

• Be able to review a client’s current programmes and develop appropriate revisions that promote and extend the client’s learning opportunities.
• Be able to explain and implement the basic administrative and operational procedures involved in Active Support and Person Centred Planning.
• Be able to explain and implement the basic administrative and operational procedures involved in Positive Behaviour Support. 
• Be able to explain and implement the basic administrative and operational procedures involved in Person Centred Planning. 

Overview of Learning Activities

Students attend lectures which provide theoretical background and knowledge.  Some of the lecture material will be available via myRMIT Studies.  Material covered in lectures will be complemented by tutorials in which students will practice and develop competencies in the implementation of a range of support strategies. 

Overview of Learning Resources

Students will have access to lecture notes posted to myRMIT Studies. 

Overview of Assessment

Students will be assessed in a variety of ways including completion of tutorial exercises, an essay, and an exam.