| Effective Term: | 2027/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Advanced Communication Skills for Health Professionals |
| Unit ID: | NHPHS3015 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 061799 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit builds on students’ foundational knowledge and focuses on the advanced communication strategies and frameworks required for effective clinical practice. Students will examine how human behaviour influences health and explore behaviour change techniques, such as motivational interviewing, to support patient care. The unit delves into trauma-informed care and sensitive communication, ensuring students are equipped to engage with patients in a respectful, empathetic, and culturally appropriate manner. Students will also explore the role of health education, skill development, and social prescriptions in empowering patients and connecting them with community resources. Additionally, the unit focuses on professional conversations and feedback mechanisms to deliver comprehensive, patient-centred care. Furthermore, students will engage in interprofessional education, collaborating across healthcare disciplines to design and implement patient-centred care strategies. This approach emphasises the importance of teamwork and the integration of diverse expertise to enhance patient outcomes. |
| 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 Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| Skills: |
| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| Other outcomes: |
| O1. | Analyse how human behaviour and behaviour‑change strategies influence individual health and wellbeing. |
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| O2. | Apply key principles of trauma‑informed and culturally safe communication in clinical scenarios. |
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| O3. | Demonstrate professional communication, including the use of feedback literacy, in supportive, collaborative interactions. |
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| O4. | Conduct comprehensive assessments of an individual’s health literacy and communication needs, and adapt communication strategies accordingly. |
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| O5. | Critically analyse emotional responses in clients and self to inform strategies that support wellbeing. |
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| Unit Content: |
Human Behaviour and Health
Motivational Interviewing
Trauma Informed Care & Sensitive Communication
Professional & Feedback Conversations in Healthcare
Health Education, Skill Development & Social Prescription
Assessing & Addressing Patient Needs in Clinical Contexts
Self-Awareness, Self-Care & Managing Clinical Challenges
Interprofessional Education (IPE) & Collaborative Practice |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities. | | FEDTASK 5
sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | Professional Standards |
| 1. |
1, 2, 4, 5 |
Critical Analysis and Personal Reflection |
Written Assignment |
20-30% |
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| 2. |
2, 3, 4 |
Case-Based Presentation |
Group Oral Presentation |
30-40% |
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| 3. |
1, 3, 4, 5 |
Behavioural Change Conversation |
Oral Viva |
30-40% |
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