Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (Honours)

Verbal expression and comprehension (understanding)

What do I need to be able to do?

Understand and respond to verbal communication.
This will assist you when participating in tutorial discussions and practicing your professional communication during on-campus learning activities.

Verbally communicate clear instructions and explanations in a time responsive way.
In planning placement settings, verbal communication is the primary source of communication between you, stakeholders, peers, supervisors and other professionals and will assist you when participating in meetings, discussions and collaborative projects.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Additional time allowances for comprehension and expression may be available to you for on-campus learning activities. 

Planning placement tasks may require time responsive communication. This should be discussed with your professional experience placement coordinator prior to commencement.

Social communication

Social Communication refers to the capacity to understand and use appropriate non-verbal communication such as: eye contact, gestures, facial expression, speaking volume, tone of voice, proximity and verbal turn-taking. 

What do I need to be able to do?

Recognise, interpret, use and respond to non-verbal communication appropriately to build relationships, establish trust and assess stakeholder needs.

In on-campus and planning placement settings, tasks which require your use of social communication abilities include:

• recognising and responding appropriately to non-verbal cues from peers and staff such as verbal turn taking in tutorials 
• interpreting your peers, clients and staff non-verbal communication and responding with appropriate social communication skills such as body language, tone of voice, eye contact and facial expressions  to display understanding

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.  

Consideration will be given to the use of non-verbal communication appropriate to your disability or condition for example, if you have a vision or hearing impairment, you may rely more on using either auditory or visual means of social communication. 

Reading

What do I need to be able to do?

Read and understand a range of written material in differing forms from a variety of sources such as: on screen material, screen-based and image-based texts.

In on-campus and planning placement settings, essential information is communicated in written form. Tasks which require your use of reading include: 

• reading and understanding  a range of on-campus written material from a variety of sources
• reading and comprehending supervisors instructions and written documents i.e., induction processes, planning reports, policies and legislation

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during an planning placement may vary between settings should be discussed with the professional experience placement coordinator prior to commencement.

Writing (Written Language)

N.B. This refers not to the physical act of writing but rather to the written content.

What do I need to be able to do?

Produce coherent written communication appropriate to both on-campus learning and planning placement tasks.

In on-campus and planning placement settings, tasks which require writing include:  

• completing written assessment tasks, such as essays and reports, demonstrating  your understanding of course content
• administrative note-taking, preparation of reports or briefs, database entry and email communications 

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during planning placement s may vary between settings and should be discussed with the professional experience placement coordinator prior to commencement.

Correctly use and apply knowledge of theory, research, and practice gained from the on-campus learning setting during your planning placement.

What do I need to be able to do?

In planning placement settings, tasks which require the use cognitive abilities include:

• consolidating on-campus learning and applying this knowledge during your planning placement
• focusing, interacting, solving problems and providing feedback to peers and supervisors in a time appropriate manner

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use assistive technology and strategies such as rest breaks to support your memory, planning and organisation in the on-campus learning environment. The use of these strategies during planning placement should be discussed with the professional experience placement coordinator prior to commencement.