HDS227 - Auslan and the Deaf Community: Health and Wellbeing
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Amie O'Shea |
| Cohort rule: | Nil |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | HDS727 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 hour lecture per week, asynchronous (live and recorded) |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Note:Students attend online live weekly language sessions which require use of a web camera, turned on throughout the session. Attendance of 80% is recommended. Please contact the Unit Chair before enrolling if you have any questions about these requirements. As the unit provides beginner level Auslan, for those with no prior knowledge, students with advanced or proficient Auslan are encouraged to contact the Unit Chair before enrolling. Please note, there are limited places in this unit. Applicants are strongly encouraged to enrol as soon as possible. | |
Content
This unit introduces students to Auslan and issues relevant to the Australian Deaf community. Students will engage with contemporary approaches to disability, deafness and critically explore the health and wellbeing outcomes of deaf Australians. Students will learn the theoretical and cultural contexts to understand this unique and contemporary language used by Deaf communities across Australia, reflect on their own communication and problem-solving skills, and design improvements to promote more inclusive practice. In weekly practical sessions students will learn Auslan vocabulary for conversation and communication with a focus on health and wellbeing and relevant environments. Authentic learning and assessment activities will reflect the multidisciplinary and diverse cohort of undergraduate and postgraduate students learning together. The unit features a range of learning activities which support conceptual and language development and provide opportunities for supported learning and feedback.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Identify the requirements for, and implement, culturally appropriate communication and access options for deaf people in health and wellbeing settings. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO2 | Explain and analyse contemporary understandings of disability, deaf history/culture and social determinants of health. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge |
| ULO3 | Demonstrate standardised introductory expressive Auslan with additional disciplinary vocabulary to interact with peers and educators | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO4 | Demonstrate introductory receptive Auslan with additional disciplinary vocabulary to interact with peers and educators | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO5 | Identify and describe an area of health and wellbeing inequity or access barriers for deaf Auslan users and identify resources to inform a culturally appropriate response. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge |
| ULO6 | Participate in synchronous culturally appropriate Auslan language learning | GLO2: Communication |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Written (theory) task | 2000 words | 50% |
|
| Assessment 2: Auslan storytelling video | video of 1-1.5 minutes | 20% |
|
| Assessment 3: Auslan receptive and expressive skills | Demonstrate Auslan skills and cultural knowledge | 30% |
|
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for HDS227 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.