Lifespan Development and Communication

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
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Effective Term: 2025/20
Institute / School :Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Unit Title: Lifespan Development and Communication
Unit ID: HEASP5022
Credit Points: 15.00
Prerequisite(s): Nil
Co-requisite(s): Nil
Exclusion(s): (HEASP1022)
ASCED: 061707
Other Change:  
Brief description of the Unit

This unit introduces students to the concept of human development across the lifespan with a focus on communication, feedback and swallowing. Physical, cognitive and psychosocial development is examined in relation to major theorists and stages of the human lifespan, with a focus on the role of speech pathologists in monitoring and supporting communication, feeding and swallowing. Students will explore how to build and maintain a therapeutic alliance with speech pathology clients across life stages within the culturally diverse context of Australia. Students will reflect on enablers and barriers to effective communication within professional and academic contexts and apply communication techniques and strategies essential for effective oral and written communication with a range of audiences.

Grade Scheme: Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)
Work Experience Indicator:
No work experience
Placement Component:
Supplementary Assessment:Yes
Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment
Course Level:
Level of Unit in CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                        
Intermediate                                                
Advanced                                                
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge:
K1.

Describe features of physical, cognitive, socio-emotional development in relation to communication, swallowing and feeding across major developmental periods throughout the human lifespan

K2.

Compare, define and critique major theoretical approaches of human development 

K3.

Analyse enablers and barriers to effective communication and how they impacts our interaction with others; including culturally responsive and family centred practice

Skills:
S1.

Demonstrate skills in analysis of language samples from everyday communication contexts across the lifespan

S2.

Observe, record and analyse physical, cognitive, socio-emotional development in relation to communication, swallowing and feeding development

S3.

Demonstrate and appraise effective oral, written, and technology-based communication skills appropriate for health professionals in both individual and group contexts

Application of knowledge and skills:
A1.

Apply knowledge and skills to analyse and monitor the development of communication, feeding and swallowing in case-based scenarios across life stages

A2.

Reflect on personal and professional communication to promote strategies for ongoing development as a student and a health professional

Unit Content:

Topics may include:

Lifespan Development

·        Theories of human development

·        Biological beginnings

·        Infancy

·        Early childhood,

·        Middle and late childhood

·        Adolescence

·        Early, middle and late adulthood

·        Death and dying

Communication, feeding, and swallowing development

·        Observation and record taking for speech pathology practice

·        Monitoring communication, swallowing and feeding development

·        The role of speech pathologists across the lifespan

·        Diversity in Australia

Therapeutic alliance

·        Models for exploring therapeutic alliance

·        Professional communication strategies and techniques

·        Professional frameworks for culturally responsive practice

·        Self-awareness and impact of our interactions with others

Academic skills

·        Public speaking and presentation skills

·        Critical and reflective thinking

·        Professional communication for a specific audience

·        Academic writing and referencing

·        Academic reading

Professional Standards for Speech Pathologist in Australia (2020), Code of Ethics 2020 (SPA, 2020), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culturally responsive capability framework (SPA, 2023), The Occupational Therapy Board of Australia, OTBA Code of Conduct (2014) Australian Occupational Therapy Competency Standards (2018), National Quality and Safeguarding Framework (NQSF, 2018), National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (2017-2019) and National Aged Care Quality Standards (2019) have informed the syllabus/content of this unit.

Graduate Attributes:
 Learning Outcomes AssessedAssessment TasksAssessment TypeWeighting
1.K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2

Weeks 1-3 online and class content

Online quiz

5-10%

2.K1, K2, K3, S3, A2

Students will construct and reflect on a presentation that explores professional communication in relation to speech pathology practice

Group Oral Presentation

20-40%

3.K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2

Weeks 1-12 online and class content

Written examination

40-60%

Adopted Reference Style:
APA  ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:
 Standard / Competency