Bachelor of Human Services (BHMS) inherent requirements

Please note: The Bachelor of Human Services with the BHMS program code is only offered to continuing students. UniSQ is launching a redeveloped Bachelor of Human Services (BHSP) from Trimester 1, 2025. Students who are interested in applying for this new degree should contact us.

Inherent requirements are the fundamental skills, capabilities, and knowledge that must be demonstrated by students enrolled in the Bachelor of Human Services (and all the Majors in the Program), as relevant to academic, practical and professional settings. Students are required to undertake activities which reflect the Australian Human Services context, read in conjunction with the Community Work Australia Code of Ethics (2023), practice guidelines and policy positions. The statements are clustered under eight domains consisting of ethical behaviour, behavioural stability, legal, communication, cognition, relational skills, reflective skills and sustainable performance.

The University of Southern Queensland is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional placement and other activities to enable students to participate in their course. Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirements. Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.

For further information about inherent requirements, contact the Human Services Program Director or the Discipline Academic Lead for Social Work and Human Services.

Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in this role.
Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and professional placement environment.
Justification of inherent requirement:
1. Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Human Services students will be exposed to complex human situations and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events objectively and professionally.
Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and professional placement settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.
Exemplars:
1. Being reflexive practitioners who can self-reflect and respond appropriately to constructive feedback.
2. Coping with own emotions and behaviour effectively when faced with unfamiliar situations or individuals in a professional environment.

Written

Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental human services student responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.
Student demonstrates capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.
Justification of inherent requirement:
1. Construction of written text-based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional practice standards
2. Accurate written communication, including record keeping, client instructions and case notes is vital to provide consistent and accurate assessments and professional support in the professional placement context
3. Coherent written communication is vital to be effective in meeting the mandates of the profession, including being able to advocate for social justice as pertains to individuals, communities and groups.
Adjustments must allow the student to meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and professional placement settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.
Exemplars:
1. Constructing an essay to academic standards.
2. Constructing a professional reports and notes in a timely manner that meets legal and professional standards.

Verbal

Effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide safe delivery of intervention and support.
English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 4. Applicants are advised to also address the following: Assumed knowledge expectations: English.
Student demonstrates:
1. Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences that contributes to the person or community experiencing cultural safety
2. Ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
3. Ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
4. Timely clear feedback and reporting
Justification of inherent requirement:
1. Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships
2. Communication may be restricted to verbal because of limitations of the individual (e.g. injury, disease or congenital conditions)
3. Speed and interactivity of communication may be critical for individual safety and or assessment
4. Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is necessary to provide safe professional support
Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure appropriate intervention and support can be demonstrated. If students do not meet the English language requirements, they may apply to study a university-approved English language program. On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program. Other adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.
Exemplars:
1. Being able to meet course objectives through the delivery of oral assessments as pertains to course requirements.
2. Responding appropriately in an interview in the professional placement environment.

Non-Verbal

Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to human services and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic and non-judgmental.
Student demonstrates:
1. The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues
2. Consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
3. Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences and ability to contribute to client or community experiencing cultural safety
Justification of inherent requirement:
1. The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships.
2. Displaying consistent and appropriate awareness of behaviours and gestures (e.g., facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries, body movements and gestures) promotes trust in academic and professional relationships.
3. Being sensitive to individual and, or cultural differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships that are essential for effective professional support.
4. The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential for effective observation of client reactions to facilitate assessment and to provide professional support.
Adjustments must enable the recognition, assessment, initiation of or appropriate response to effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.
Exemplars:
1. Recognising and responding appropriately to non-verbal cues in classroom settings during residential schools, workshops and through online interactive learning platforms.
2. Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in the professional placement environments.

Students undertaking human services studies must comply with ethical behaviour that complies with the ACWA Code of Ethics (2023), ACWA Practice Guidelines (2021), and other guidance and policy documents. Students are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts.
Student demonstrates knowledge of and engages in ethical behaviour in practice.
Justification of inherent requirement:
1. Compliance with the ACWA Code of Ethics (2023), guidelines, and policy documents facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and, or the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all.
2. Knowledge of, and compliance with the ACWA Code of Ethics (2023) is a requirement of course accreditation and lays down the expectations of a professional working the in the field.
Adjustments must not compromise the ACWA Code of Ethics (2023), standards, guidance and policy documents or result in unethical behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.
Exemplars:
1. Demonstrating behaviour that is respectful, which encompasses treating peers and academics with respect regardless of differences or diversity, both in academic and placement settings.
2. Demonstrate ability to reflect on ethical issues and dilemmas and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of individual and personal ethical conduct.

Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide professional and competent human services practice.
Student demonstrates:
1. Capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information.
2. Ability to process information relevant to practice.
3. Ability to engage in critical inquiry, integrate and implement knowledge in practice.
4. Capacity to solve ethical problems and think laterally.
Justification of inherent requirement:
1. Safe and effective human services practice is based on knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately
2. A demonstrated defined range of knowledge and cognitive skills is a requirement for course accreditation, professional placements and professional membership with ACWA
Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.
Exemplars:
1. Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge addressing academic assessment items.
2. Appropriately applying knowledge of theory, practice skills, policy and procedures in the professional placement setting.

Human service practice requires self-awareness and a capacity for reflectivity in order to consider the effect of one's own issues, actions, values and behaviours on practice.
Student demonstrates:
1. The ability to accurately reflect on their professional performance.
2. The ability to accept feedback on their professional practice and respond constructively.
Justification of inherent requirement:
1. Participation in supervision is a key teaching strategy in human services education which requires well developed understanding of oneself in order to appropriately engage in this activity.
2. Working with clients while on placement and understanding and responding to them requires well developed understanding of oneself, how oneself might be influencing an interaction and the ability to effectively manage one's reactions to situations that may arise.
Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable minimum level of capacity in this area. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.
Exemplars:
1. Recognising when a practice issue is outside one's scope or expertise or when one's practice may be negatively affected by personal experience and/or reactions.

Human Services practice requires the ability to make and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of individuals, groups and communities.
Student demonstrates:
1. The ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients, academic staff, supervisors and peers.
2. The ability to engage in effective and empathic micro skills.
3. Ability to engage and relate appropriately in individual and group clinical supervision and experiential learning groups.
Justification of inherent requirement:
1. Highly developed relational skills are a cornerstone of effective relationships that permit effective assessment and intervention in professional practice.
Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable level of effective relational skills. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Support Equity Officer.
Exemplars:
1. Building rapport with clients in a timely manner in order to engage them in assessments while on placement.
2. Effectively using relational and interpersonal skills to manage client relationships while on placement.

Human service practice in the professional placement context requires both physical and cognitive performance at a consistent and sustained level.
Student demonstrates:
1. Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time
2. The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of time
Justification of inherent requirement:
1. Sufficient physical and cognitive resilience is an essential requirement needed to perform tasks in an assigned period to provide effective, safe and professional support in the professional placement context
Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.
Exemplars:
1. Participating in tutorials, seminars, workshops, residential schools and online activities.
2. Providing consistent professional placement practice over a negotiated time frame.

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