EDAC107 to EDAC221

EDAC107 Understanding Behaviour                                                                                                     10 cp

Understanding how behaviour develops will assist in promoting functional learning of effective behaviours for individuals. It enhances perception and feedback skills in learning relationships, acknowledging each individual’s behavioural repertoire as an organised system. The unit aims to provide a broad understanding of concepts and strategies in behaviour theory. The primary goal of the unit is to develop an understanding of behaviour which will enable students to make informed decisions about appropriate approaches that they will use in behaviour intervention. The unit also aims to promote the capability in students to provide a rationale for their actions in behaviour intervention, and an understanding of strategies used to support positive alternative behaviour.

EDAC110 Introduction to Habilitation                                                                                                   10 cp

This unit acts as a point of reference throughout the course, providing students with a broad understanding of the experience of disability. Protection of the rights of people with a disability in Australia was recognised when the 1986 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons was appended to the Human Rights Commission Act, 1981. Basic principles, such as the principle of normalisation, the least restrictive alternative and the developmental principle, emerged from the declared rights. These principles underpin the delivery of services and continue to influence community attitudes. The development of personal, professional and legislative responses to assist people with disabilities, both in Australia and overseas will be viewed from this perspective.

EDAC111 Leisure and Lifestyle                                                                                                            10 cp

This unit will build on key theoretical and philosophical concepts of recreation and leisure related to lifestyle, in particular the impact on health and wellness for people with disabilities. Students will critically analyse the factors that influence participation in leisure and how they can facilitate individual and group access to leisure and recreation in the community. Social and environmental factors that influence lifestyle, health and wellness will be investigated and linked to the identification of individual recreational needs and interests. Design, implementation and evaluation of recreation and leisure programs as part of an overall process of working with individuals and organisations to meet leisure and recreation goals will be investigated, as well as seeing how leisure and recreation integrate with other roles for people with disabilities.

EDAC112 Management in Community Settings                                                                                    10 cp

This unit focuses on the management of people; the ‘human resources’ aspect of community services. Managing people involves effective use of communication, decision-making, change, conflict and evaluation skills (Donovan and Jackson, 1991). Professionalism also entails the development and application of self-management skills to carry out organisation, supervision and implementation responsibilities. Hence the unit examines both the management of others and the self, within the context of legislative requirements, community expectations and current human resource practice in Australia.

EDAC117 Social Justice and Legal Issues                                                                                            10 cp

This unit gives students a greater understanding of the philosophy and practice of social justice particularly as it applies to the rights of people with disabilities. It also examines the way in which the human rights movement has led to both social and legislative changes. Responses of service providers, community organisations and individuals working in the area of community education are also examined.

EDAC127 Planning Learning with Individuals                                                                                      10 cp

A major underpinning of contemporary service delivery to people with a disability is a developmental model. This model has the development and maintenance of competencies and skills as a major strategy for assisting individuals to lead a full and valued life as a part of the community. This unit examines the context in which learning and skill development takes place and the specific skills required by professionals to assist people with disabilities learn new skills through planning and development of learning programs.

EDAC128 Education for Professional Reflection and Mentoring                                                           10 cp

This unit orients students to aspects of professional interaction in community settings. The unit will provide opportunities for students to familiarise themselves with observation techniques, formats for collection of data relevant in case work, data analysis, and competencies and ethics in professional practice. Students will participate in mentoring activities with various professionals to further develop reflection skills in their professional practice within human service environments. The unit combines content delivery, on site-visits and individual and group reflections.

EDAC200 Communication and Language Skills                                                                                   10 cp

This unit aims to provide an understanding of the processes involved in using different modes of communication. The use of language and its impact on communication and learning will be explored, with particular reference to people with diverse learning and/or communication needs. An awareness of barriers to communication will be developed through investigation of issues and processes in communication. This awareness, acquired through research and discussion, will assist in developing and implementing communication strategies and systems.

EDAC202 Employment Issues and Practice                                                                                          10 cp

The unit aims firstly, to enable students to recognise that in order for people with disabilities to access the usual range of lifestyle options, including employment, a range of developmental and personal programs is necessary. Secondly, the unit seeks to raise awareness of the potential of individuals, and of the range of supportive/best practices necessary for successful occupational outcomes. The unit encourages critical evaluation of both traditional and more recently conceived employment services. Knowledge of employment options and issues will enable students to advocate with, or on behalf of, people with disabilities and to promote the right to work.

EDAC203 Families, Children and Transitions                                                                                       10 cp

Prerequisites EDFD122 Human Growth and Development

Building on concepts introduced in the unit Human Growth and Development, this unit explores in greater depth the nature of family life including the broad definition of family, with particular reference to families in which there is a member with a disability. Development across the lifespan is a focus particularly on the transitions that adults go through in their lives and the effects of the usual transitions including the ageing process. This unit also extends the skills of students in critically evaluating relevant literature and in reflection.

EDAC209 Positive Behaviour Approaches                                                                                            10 cp

Prerequisites EDAC107 Understanding Behaviour

This unit aims to expand knowledge and further develop skills following from the unit, Understanding Behaviour. There will be an emphasis on developing an advanced understanding of behaviour within the context of the educative and communicative functions of behaviour. Students will develop critical analysis skills in the assessment, implementation and review of behaviour programs. They will develop an awareness of and ability to implement positive approaches to behaviour change, as well as direct behaviour intervention strategies. They will also have the opportunity to apply skills learnt in practical settings.

EDAC213 Strategic Management of Resources                                                                                    10 cp

Prerequisites EDAC112 Management in Community Settings

Management can be seen in terms of the organisation and implementation of effective resources, technology and operations to achieve desired goals. However it is also important for managers to be aware of the interface between the external environment and the organisation, particularly the relationship between policies, planning and social and political change. This unit aims to develop knowledge and skills that will enable graduates to participate in the management of human and financial resources in community services. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between effective resources management and desirable service outcomes for all stakeholders.

EDAC214 Professional Communication and Guidance                                                                         10 cp

Prerequisites EDFD122 Human Growth and Development

This unit builds on knowledge of communication theory and practice developed in the Human Relationship Skills unit. Students will use those skills and further develop skills which may be applied in basic guidance situations with particular reference to the field of disability. The unit’s main emphasis is on counselling individuals with a focus of working on problems and the problematic skills that sustain them, in the context of good counselling relationships.

EDAC216 Facilitating and Evaluating Learning in Community Settings                                               10 cp

Prerequisites EDAC127 Planning Learning with Individuals

This unit emphasises the practical applications of learning and programming theory in a disability context. Facilitating and evaluating learning is a continuous process of planning and is often considered to be the key to successful community inclusive support. When teaching programs are developed and implemented effectively they can support development of an individual’s needs and desires across all life’s domains. There is a focus in this unit on instructional technology, holistic and meaningful assessment, data collection methods and review and monitoring of individual education programs. Students will develop the ability to effectively develop, implement and evaluate individual education programs, which are tailored to the individual.

EDAC218 Supporting Social Relationships                                                                                           10 cp

Prerequisites EDFD122 Human Growth and Development

The unit will provide students with knowledge of theories of socialisation and psychological perspectives that account for the acquisition of social skills and formation of social and sexual identity. This will enable students to identify the components needed for the development of friendships, relationships and sexuality. Reflection by the student on their development of human relations skills and the individual’s human relationships journey will need to be encouraged in the delivery of the unit. In addition, reflection on values and attitudes towards people with disability meeting their individual capacity to have fulfilling relationships is included in the unit design. Challenges for service delivery in promoting human relationships skills are addressed in terms of policy, best work practice and referrals/resources. Issues for people with a disability developing their human relationships and sexuality, including issues of vulnerability with the need for self-determination, are covered with an emphasis on solutions and strategies.

EDAC219 Advocacy, Power and Empowerment                                                                                   10 cp

Prerequisites EDAC110 Introduction to Habilitation

This unit will assist students to understand the role and importance of advocacy in the lives of people with disabilities. Various forms of advocacy will be identified and critiqued, and students will actively research the utility of different sorts of advocacy. Concepts of power and empowerment will be examined, and their relevance to people with disabilities and their supporters will be addressed. A major focus of this unit is on assisting students to gain a practical understanding of advocacy and empowerment for and by people with disabilities.

EDAC220 Social Justice, Legal and Policy Issues                                                                                10 cp

Prerequisites EDAC110 Introduction to Habilitation and EDAC301 Attitudes and Inclusion

This unit will give students an understanding of the philosophy and practice of social justice, particularly applied to the rights of people with disabilities. It will also examine the way in which the human rights movement has led to both social and legislative change. There will be an examination of the disability movement as a social movement in the context of contemporary social and political change. The influence of human rights on disability policy and service delivery will also be explored.

EDAC221 Education for Field Based Investigations                                                                              10 cp

Prerequisites EDAC128 Education for Professional Reflection and Mentoring

This unit explores quantitative and qualitative approaches used in field-based investigations/research in the area of habilitation. The unit will examine the role of the professional in projects/research and develop understanding of the relevance of research. It also examines ways in which professionals can participate and collaborate in the process. Students will be involved in a project or investigation that is negotiated with their placement agency. This will enable students and mentors to work collaboratively during the field-based placement on a project/investigation that utilises quantitative and/or qualitative methods to reinforce mutual benefit to the organisation, student and consumers.