Ensuring Inclusive Program Design
These are some recommendations that seek to ensure equality of opportunity for students when designing a program. Please share your expertise by replying to ‘Share Your Ideas’ on the Toolkit homepage.
When designing your program, it is recommended that content for the Induction Program promotes communicating opportunities for students to pre-empt or anticipate issues that require problem solving. Such opportunities may also benefit from a reminder to students of available support services.
Students with a disability
Students may be uncomfortable about disclosing their disability to academic staff. If students don’t disclose their disability status then a self-selection process occurs. In many cases a faculty student adviser will provide the key point of contact for information.
To create an optimum performance & experiential outcome for a student with a disability who will be engaging in an off campus program, it is critical to plan for the management of expectations between key agents. Encouraging dialogue by working with the student and student adviser as well as relevant support services will help to manage these sophisticated tensions. These often arise from situations when assumptions are made about how a person might function.
Support Services for students are offered by the Disability Liaison Unit (DLU). A DLU staff member will be available for students to discuss appropriate accommodations.
The Disability Liaison Unit (DLU) www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability
The Disability Liaison Unit (DLU) provide services that are dependent on the impact of a disability, which may vary as a result of individual coping strategies, functional impairment and the educational context. A core competency of the DLU is the ability to assess the impact of a disability and identify adjustments that reduce this impact in a manner that is congruent with existing University practice, policy and standards.
In the context of University equity commitments and a legislative requirement under the Disability Discrimination Act to provide reasonable adjustments, the Disability Liaison Unit provides services that facilitate the participation for students with disabilities enrolled at The University of Melbourne.
The DLU provides direct support to students with high support needs which can include the provision of sign language interpreters, materials in an accessible format, note-takers, transcription services and participation assistance in laboratory classes.
DLU Off Campus Booking Form & Access to Extra Curricular Activities
When designing class content for students, it is recommended to consider types of activities that provide tools and supports for students.
For example, ensuring that all visual material delivered during a lecture benefits from a remote captioning system in place.
It is worth looking at the UK site: Strategies for Creating Inclusive Programmes of Study. This site offers strategies for promoting inclusive teaching, learning and assessment within degree level programmes of study.
Also available on the DLU website is:
The University of Melbourne Guidelines for Culturally Inclusive Social Events
Indigenous students can gain support and advice at the Centre for Indigenous Education. The CIE is an excellent place for staff seeking to understand more about cultural briefing issues.
Further information supporting International students can be found at International Student Services.
International students studying in Australia on a student visa who have arranged a work permit can work up to 20 hours each week in paid employment during the Semester.
During vacation students can work unlimited hours. Some industry placements are available only to local students. For many students from other countries there are many codes of appropriate conduct with reference to gender. Students who will be undertaking a role in the local workplace may be doing this for the first time and in an unfamiliar culture. Cultural issues such as communication styles in such contexts may be important areas to address at Induction planning stage.
It is worth noting that many students come from cultures where alcohol is not part of social event-making.