Communication & Feeding Skills in Children I & Professional Practice I (SPCH7111)

Course overview

This course introduces students to the range of communication and feeding/mealtime management difficulties that can present in children under five years of age and facilitates the development of skills in information gathering and assessment. Students’ theoretical knowledge is supplemented by supported practical clinical learning opportunities.

This course involves two modules:

Module 1: Learning series focussing on the assessment of communication and swallowing abilities of young children.

Module 2: Practice education

In Module 1, students will gain an understanding of communication and feeding/mealtime management difficulties that can present in children under five years of age and how these difficulties impact on the child and their significant others. Students will develop skills in planning and applying assessment approaches to investigate the communication and feeding skills and in differential diagnosis of communication and feeding/mealtime difficulties of children within this age range. Online learning and lecture content is supplemented withﾠtutorials, where students learn to apply the different theories of language and speech processing, learning, and cognition to assessment and diagnosis of communication and swallowing difficulties. Through practical activities, students will develop skills in providing person-and family-centred, and culturally responsive care with a diverse range of families. Students will independently engage with online learning resources before the weekly tutorials where they will participate in authentic learning experiences with peers and teaching staff. Tutorials will consiste of independent, small group and large group inquiry-based learning activities.ﾠThis course will build on a knowledge of typical development of communication and feeding skills, as well as basic speech and language analysis skills, which where learned in SPCH7131. Knowledge of such content will be assumed in the teaching of this course. 

Module 2 is aﾠsimulation-based learning and placement program, in which studentsﾠwill gain further practical experience in the management of paediatric and adult communication and swallowing disorders.

Course requirements

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

ANAT7002, SPCH7131

Restrictions

MSpPathSt students only

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

A detailed course outline is provided on the SPCH7111 Blackboard site withinﾠthe 'Learning resources' content area.ﾠ

Aims and outcomes

Module 1 aims to develop students' knowledge and skills in assessment of communication and swallowing abilities in young children. It aims to develop:

• students' understanding of the communication and feeding/mealtime management difficulties that can present in children under five years of age and how these difficulties impact on the child and their significant others;
• students' skills in planning and applying assessment approaches to investigate the communication and feeding skills and in differential diagnosis of communication and feeding/mealtime difficulties of children within this age range.

Module 2 aims to develop students' practical skills in the assessment and management of paediatric and adult communication and swallowing disorders.

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Practice Education Assessment

• Hurdle
• In-person
• Online

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia

Category

Placement, Portfolio, Reflection

Weight

Pass/Fail, MUST PASS

Due date

24/02/2025 - 30/05/2025

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

These tasks will be submitted via Anthology link(s) in assessment folder on Blackboard (learn.uq.edu.au). For all submissions / weeks, there will be a list on Blackboard showing you who you need to submit to.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Understanding Cultural Safety Reflection

• Hurdle

Mode

Written

Category

Reflection

Weight

10% MUST PASS

Due date

21/03/2025 4:00 pm

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

The reflection is to be submitted through TurnItIn via Blackboard. Instructions for submitting your assignment through TurnItIn can be found at
https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/learnuq-blackboard-help/learnuq-assessment/turnitin-assignments/submit-your-turnitin-assignment.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Extensions can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply for an extension request via my.UQ > my.UQ Dashboard > my. Requests  and provide evidence of circumstance, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission date. Further information regarding what constitutes an acceptable reason for an extension is listed on the my.UQ website: Applying for an extension - my.UQ - University of Queensland

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Case Based Assignment

• Hurdle
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

50% MUST PASS

Due date

17/04/2025 4:00 pm

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

The case-based assignment is to be submitted through TurnItIn via Blackboard. Instructions for submitting your assignment through TurnItIn can be found at

https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/learnuq-blackboard-help/learnuq-assessment/turnitin-assignments/submit-your-turnitin-assignment.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Extensions can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply for an extension request via my.UQ > my.UQ Dashboard > my. Requests  and provide evidence of circumstance, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission date. Further information regarding what constitutes an acceptable reason for an extension is listed on the my.UQ website: Applying for an extension - my.UQ - University of Queensland

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

End of Semester Exam

• Identity Verified
• In-person
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

40%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Deferred exams can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply for a deferred exam if there are exceptional or unavoidable circumstances, or as a one-off discretionary request. Deferred exam requests should be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than five calendar days after the date of the original exam. Further details, including how to apply, can be found at - Deferring an exam. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request. 

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Final marks falling between whole percentages will be rounded to the nearest whole percentage. Tie-breaking will be conducted using the round half up method whereby half-way values are always rounded up, meaning, for example, that 89.5% and above will be rounded to 90% and 89.49% and below will be rounded down to 89%.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This course contains ‘must pass’ assessment items, as follows: Practice Education Assessment; Understanding Cultural Safety Reflection; and Case Based Assignment. You must pass these items to pass this course overall. Even if your final percentage mark is 55% or higher, the individual ‘must pass’ assessment items must have been passed to pass the course.ﾠ

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

Resubmission/Resit of assessment items

The School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences supports the concept of resubmission or resitting of failed assessment items in specific and defined circumstances. In this course, the Understanding Cultural Safety Reflection and the Case-Based Assignment are eligible for consideration of a resubmission option if the assessment item was submitted on time.ﾠAfter resubmission, the maximum result is a pass mark for that assessment component. Students who are granted a resubmission for anassessment item and do not submit by the scheduled date will not be granted an extension.

Additionally, the mid-placement written reflection and end-placement curation can be resubmitted to Practice Educators unlimited times until the student has completed these to a satisfactory standard.

Resit/Resubmission/Supplementary of assessment for Module 2 (Clinical Examination)

Students who are scheduled additional clinical placement opportunities or a supplementary assessment should note that this could occur at any time, including during semester breaks, and students are expected to be available.ﾠ

Submitting assessment in Turnitin

When assessment is submitted throughﾠTurnitinﾠyou will receive a confirmation page displaying “Submission Complete!” and can then proceed to download your digital receiptﾠfrom yourﾠAssignment inbox.ﾠIt is suggested that you save a copy of the receipt for your personal records. Instructions on how to submit assignments throughﾠ Turnitin are available at:https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/learnuq-blackboard?help/learnuq-assessment/turnitin-assignments. Please review this information so you understand how to successfully submit your assessment items.ﾠ

Use of Generative AI in Assessments

Assessment tasks in this course evaluate students' abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Use of Generative AI in Student Placements

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot) are increasingly used in society. In terms of clinical placements, students are not permitted to use AI unless explicitly indicated by the provider that this use is permitted, and the parameters of use are clear. If these are not explicit, students are expected to consult with their practice educators before implementation to determine the acceptability of generative AI use and ensure that any potential risks associated with the intended use are addressed. AI is not a replacement of, or substitute for, professional reasoning or clinical skills. Human oversight is essential in its use, and to employ generative AI effectively and responsibly, students must understand how AI works, including its functions, data storage methods, and its impact on adherence to professional codes of conduct.

If used on placement, students are responsible for any outputs generated by AI, such as clinical notes and reports, and will be held accountable for the actions of any AI that is used in clinical practice. This responsibility includes ensuring adherence to the relevant profession's code of conduct and ethical standards. Transparency about generative AI use is essential in placement environments. Students must follow the relevant policies and procedures of their placement provider. Students are reminded that they need to demonstrate their ability to meet the inherent requirements of the relevant profession, operate within its scope of practice, and ensure that client/patient privacy and confidentiality are maintained at all times. Under no circumstances should identifiable clinical information be uploaded to open or external AI platforms, as it is unethical and irresponsible.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Other relevant resources will be provided on the SPCH7111 Blackboard site, within the Learning Resources section and the SPCH7111 UQ Extend site.

Additional resources for the clinical placement are avaliable on the Speech Pathology Student Practice Education Community Blackboard site.

Students are encouraged to use the SPCH7111 Ed Discussion Board linked through the Blackboard site. This forum will be checked at least once a weekﾠby the Course Coordinator and students are encouraged to respond to each others' queries. All student questions regarding assessment will be addressed in class or on the relevant discussion board.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:

• Working with Children Policy
• Fitness to Practise Policy
• Vaccinations and Immunisation Procedure
• Work Integrated Learning and Work Experience Policy

School guidelines

Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course:

• Resources for Current Students

Course guidelines

Absence from the Placement:

For a single day absence from placement a medical certificate is required to be submitted along with the SHRS Absentee form to SASU. Instructions for students are on the Practice Education Organisation Blackboard site • Students are to contact their Practice Educator to discuss client care and tasks that may be required before the next placement session. 

Pre-requisites: In line with SHRS Program Rules, students are required to meet and maintain a valid Senior First Aid (including CPR) certificate and fulfil any other obligations defined by legislation or organisational requirements (e.g., Blue Card, Yellow Card, OHS and criminal history clearance) over the duration of their programs. Students are also required to provide proof of immunity status, which may include evidence of susceptibility, immunization or serology, prior to course commencement. Certain placement organisations require students to undertake in-house orientation activities prior to the placement (e.g., SHRS training modules, Queensland Health Orientation Package, etc.) and students are also bound to complete these. Students who have not satisfied the above requirements prior to the beginning of clinical placements will not be permitted to undertake any scheduled clinical placements within the associated course. Failure to complete clinical placements in their entirety may result in failure of the associated course.

Allocation of Clinical Placements and Placement Locations: Course Co-ordinators and/or Clinical Education Liaison Managers (CELMs) will allocate students to clinical placements. In some courses, students will be requested to provide information concerning their preferred clinic type and location. In other courses, no such student input will be able to be accommodated. However, all allocations for placements will be made with due consideration given to equity of opportunity and students’ prior clinical learning experiences to ensure all students will meet the relevant society membership and/or registration requirements associated with clinical practice in Australia. Students may be routinely placed at clinics within Brisbane and the greater Brisbane area, including the Sunshine Coast to the north, the Gold Coast/Tweed Heads to the south, Redlands City to the east, and Toowoomba to the west. For clinical experiences longer than one day’s duration (‘block placements’), students must be prepared to travel anywhere within Queensland (including rural/remote locations) and may be required to travel interstate. International placements will not be routinely arranged for students, but may be offered as opportunities arise and as relevant to each student’s individual circumstances. Any such opportunity must be negotiated through the CELMs and will be subject to appropriate legal arrangements and supervision requirements. Note: All students being considered for an international placement must display an acceptable prior level of performance in the program and the Course Co-ordinator and/or CELM must approve the timing of the placement. In addition, should an official travel warning be issued by the Australian Government relevant to a potential international clinic site, such a placement will not be permitted or will be cancelled if already planned.

Funding of Clinical Placements: Students will self-fund all personal expenses for all clinical placements. This includes, but is not limited to, travel, accommodation, meals, visas, and costs of living). The University will not reimburse any student for any such expenses. Students are strongly encouraged to make the necessary financial, carer, and part-time work arrangements at the earliest opportunity in order to self-fund their placements. On occasion, the CELMs may become aware of scholarships, grants, subsidies, and accommodation options available to support students on clinical placements. Information on how to obtain this support will be made available to students through the relevant CELMs.

Preferential Placements and Changing of Allocated Placements: Only the Course Co-ordinator and/or CELM can provide a student with a preferred clinical placement or change a student’s clinical placement. Only three conditions will be considered as valid reasons for preferentially placing a student or changing a student’s placement:

1. Medical. In these cases, the student is required to provide a valid medical certificate. Contact the Course Co-ordinator and/or CELM for details.

2. Carer responsibilities (such as for young children or chronically ill family members). In these cases, the student must advise the CELM in writing.

3. Special circumstances to be considered on a case-by-case basis (e.g., elite athletes, cultural issues). 

The presence of medical, carer, or special reasons does not guarantee the student will be given a preferential or changed clinical placement. If deemed appropriate, every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate the student’s individual needs.

For students seeking special consideration, the Course Co-ordinator and/or CELM can request the student seek assistance from the relevant representative in the SHRS Student and Academic Support Unit (SASU) and/or from UQ Student Services, Student Health on Campus. The University offers many types of assistance including assigning the student a Disability Advisor.

The presence of conditions other than those listed above – such as the student’s residential address relative to the clinical placement address, or whether the student works part-time/full-time outside of his or her university commitments – will not be accepted as reasons for providing preferential clinical placements or changing a clinical placement.

Fitness to Practise: Students should also refer to UQ Fitness to Practise policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.30.14-fitness-practise), which reaffirms the University’s commitment to early intervention (where possible) whilst also providing a framework within which the University will manage Fitness to Practise concerns. It is important to note that fitness to practise at UQ encompasses a broad range of factors including:

Conduct:              Conduct outside the bounds considered acceptable or worthy of the membership of the profession

Performance:      Performance that is not consistent with the profession’s established standards at a student’s respective stage of their program

Compliance:         Disregard for, or are unable to meet, the rules, regulations or standards for practising as a member of the profession or for undertaking practical placement with a placement provider

Health:                A disability or health condition that impairs their capacity to practise as required by the profession

It is important to note that if your performance, behaviour or condition poses a serious concern for the welfare of others, or is unreasonably disruptive to the community in which they are learning, or results in an inability to meet the requirements of a program, the University may require that your studies be interrupted or, in cases where remediation is impracticable, discontinued.