These inherent requirements apply to the following courses:

  • Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing
  • Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
  • Master of Mental Health Nursing

Part A – Introduction

Australian Catholic University and the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine (SoNMP) strongly supports the right of all people to pursue a mental health nursing course.

Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit, while preserving the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes. The inherent requirements are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete the course that must be met by all students.

Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.

The School is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional practice and other activities to enable students to participate in their course. Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement.

While students are not required to undertake a clinical placement for this degree, they are required to be employed in a mental health nursing role, and this role must continue throughout the period of their study.

To support prospective and current students’ decision making, a series of inherent requirements statements have been developed. These statements specify the essential skills, knowledge and abilities required for a mental health nursing course. Students should use this information to make informed decisions about their chosen course of study. The statements are clustered under 5 domains consisting of domain one – ethical behaviour, domain two – behavioural stability, domain three - communication, domain four - cognition, and domain five – sustainable performance.

The inherent requirements outlined below provide a guide to inform decision making for students and staff.

Part B – How to read the inherent requirements statements

If you are intending to enrol in a mental health nursing course in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine (SoNMP), you should look at these inherent requirements statements and think about whether you may experience challenges in meeting these requirements.

If you think you may experience challenges for any reason including a disability or chronic health condition, you should discuss your concerns with relevant staff, such as the Course Coordinator or Campus Disability Advisor. These staff can work collaboratively with you to determine reasonable adjustments to assist you in meeting the course inherent requirements. In the case where it is determined that inherent requirements cannot be met with reasonable adjustments, University staff can provide guidance regarding other study options.

These inherent requirements should be read in conjunction with other course information.

The inherent requirements are made up of the following five components:

Level 1 - introduction to the inherent requirement

Level 2 - description of how you demonstrate that you meet the inherent requirement

Level 3 - explanation of why this is an inherent requirement of the course

Level 4 - the nature of any adjustments that may be made to allow you to meet the requirement

Level 5 - examples of tasks you must be able to do to show you have met the requirement (in-class and clinical/professional placement). The exemplars provided are not intended to be an exhaustive list.

Part C – Inherent requirement domains

There are 5 domains of inherent requirements for a mental health nursing course. Domains provide a means by which to cluster the course specific inherent requirements statements. You are required to consider which domains apply to your course. Domains may include a set of sub-domains and these are also listed.

Ethical Behaviour

Level

Inherent requirement statement

1

Students need to comply with, and are governed by, quality and professional standards, codes, guidelines and policies where they are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional ethical behaviour in all contexts.

2

Student demonstrates knowledge of and engages in ethical behaviour consistent with all relevant standards.

3

Justification of inherent requirement:

  • Compliance with the codes, guidelines and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage. Practice and conduct under relevant codes ensure the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the individual is not placed at risk (e.g., National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce; A&MBA Code of Conduct for Nurses).

4

Adjustments must not compromise codes of conduct or result in unethical behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

  • Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies in their studies

Behavioural Stability

Level

Inherent requirement statement

1

Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in educational settings.

2

Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in diverse and challenging academic and clinical environment.

3

Justification of inherent requirement:

  • Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Students will be exposed to complex situation and vulnerable personal and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these situations objectively and professionally.

4

Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and clinical settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

  • Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback.
  • Coping with own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with individuals in clinical and academic settings.

Communication

This course requires effective, verbal and written communication skills.

Verbal

Level

Inherent requirement statement

1

Effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide evidence-based mental health practice.

2

Student demonstrates:

  • The ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, and appropriately and in a timely manner
  • The ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
  • Timely clear feedback and reporting.

3

Justification of inherent requirement:

  • Effective interactive communication with peers, tutors and colleagues is a fundamental aspect of demonstrating knowledge, to provide evidence based mental health nursing practice.

4

Adjustments must address effectiveness, clarity and accuracy issues. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

  • Participating in discussions with academic staff
  • Delivering in-service education to colleagues

Written

Level

Inherent requirement statement

1

Effective written communication is a fundamental requirement in providing evidence-based mental health practice

2

Student demonstrates capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.

3

Justification of inherent requirement:

  • 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. 

4

Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in an academic setting. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

  • Constructing a variety of academic assessments that demonstrates the ability to critique existing knowledge, identity issues and challenges in the mental health care setting and initiate projects that can lead to strategic change.

Cognition

This course requires knowledge and cognitive skills, and literacy.

Knowledge and cognitive skills

Level

Inherent requirement statement

1

Consistent and effective knowledge and cognitive skills must be demonstrated for evidence-based mental health practice.

2

Student demonstrates:

  • The capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information
  • The ability to process information relevant to practice
  • The ability to integrate and implement knowledge in practice

3

Justification of inherent requirement:

  • Evidence-based mental health practice requires comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately.

4

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 Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

  • Ability to conceptualize and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.

Literacy (language)

Level

Inherent requirement statement

1

Competent literacy skills are essential to ensure the provision of evidence-based mental health practice.

2

Student demonstrates:

  • The ability to accurately acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages
  • The ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information
  • The capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner

3

Justification of inherent requirement:

  • The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is necessary to ensure effective evidence based mental health practice
  • The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental to providing evidence based mental health practice

4

Adjustments to address literacy issues must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, and apply and communicate accurate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars:

  • Paraphrasing, summarizing and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions.

Sustainable Performance

Level

Inherent requirement statement

1

Post-graduate students require both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual needs over time.

2

Student demonstrates

  • Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time
  • The ability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity unit it is completed appropriately
  • The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of duty.

3

Justification of inherent requirement:

  • Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to function autonomously and collaboratively in an advanced and extended clinical role.

4

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.

5

Exemplars:

  • Participating in sustained academic work
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