- Overview of Inclusive Education
- Inclusive Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Assessment and Feedback
- Curriculum Design
- Diverse Learners
- In the Classroom
- Support Services
Teaching support services at a glance
Importantly, we want you to know which service is appropriate for your needs rather than using up valuable time (yours and others) by contacting or pursuing areas that are not the ‘right fit’.
Teaching and learning in your faculty
Teaching and learning (T&L) in each faculty is overseen by the Associate Dean Teaching and Learning (ADTL), Associate Heads of School T&L, and a Faculty T&L Committee.
A wide range of faculty support services and resources are available to academic teaching staff to help build capacity and assist you to implement inclusive teaching practices.
These include: online teaching guides and resources, digital learning support, administrative assistance, and professional development training and workshops.
This section outlines:
- where you can go to for teaching and learning support in your faculty
- staff development and training opportunities.
Where to start?
Faculty Learning Innovation Teams
Deakin Learning Futures (DLF) have dedicated faculty learning innovation teams that work with course teaching teams to design and enhance Deakin courses. Each learning innovation team includes a curriculum design group, a resource development group and quality assurance support. For further information contact DLF.
Student Central is a good starting point for students who need information and access to a wide range of services at Deakin.
Our librarians are ready to help you with your study, research or teaching. Every faculty is supported by a designated team of librarians.
Resource guides are a great place to start. Our discipline-specific guides highlight key resources and tools for your study or teaching. Our general guides can help improve your research, digital literacy and study skills.
Staff development and training
Training and workshops
Deakin encourages all staff to explore development opportunities and expand their professional skills.
- The Teaching Capability Framework at DTeach provides information about Deakin's professional development programs and other initiatives.
- Ongoing and fixed-term staff can view training opportunities on the Deakin Hub (internal link) Sessional staff should discuss their professional development needs with their manager or teaching team leader and request enrolment in appropriate training workshops.
- Deakin Learning Futures (internal link) offers capacity building workshops on a range of teaching and learning topics. See Deakin’s Teaching & Learning Academy or contact us at tlacademy@deakin.edu.au.
- Staff learning portal (internal link) training at Deakin
Cloud Deakin staff capacity building modules
- Curriculum Development for Unit Chairs.
- Teaching and learning at Deakin (Sessional staff).
Registration via Cloud Deakin Self Registration (internal link)
DTeach is a hub for news, information and resources relating to teaching and learning at Deakin and is maintained by Deakin Learning Futures (DLF).
Other teaching support services at Deakin
For more detailed information about inclusive teaching support offered by other Deakin divisions, scroll down to our other ICCB content on Teaching Support Services at a Glance.
The Diversity and Inclusion website promotes awareness about equity and diversity issues, runs programs to ensure equal access for students and staff, and nurtures the development of an organisational culture that values diversity, enables access and promotes inclusion.
Initiatives run by the Diversity and Inclusion unit span areas such as respectful communities, gender equity, disability inclusion, widening access for under-represented schools and more.
Teaching support
The definition of ‘disability’ is broad. It includes neurodiversity, physical, health, psychological and mental health conditions, learning disabilities and temporary disability/illness.
Deakin’s Disability Resource Centre offers teaching staff with information and support on a range of issues related to working with students with disability, and students with primary carer responsibilities.
Academics can access the full range of (internal link) Disability Resource Centre supports available at DeakinHub.
Access Plans
An (internal link) Access Plan is a document designed to assist faculty staff to support a student with a health condition or disability and clarify arrangements that are needed to minimise educational disadvantage.
The Disability Resource Centre works with students to create an Access Plan, which is used to inform relevant academics of their needs during the trimester. It could include practical information and recommendations such as study adjustments, services and practices that will assist faculty and lecturers to meet these students’ requirements.
What are the Unit Chair’s responsibilities?
- Familiarise yourself with the Access Plan and consider how the adjustments might be implemented.
- Be responsive to student contact and open to exploring adjustments.
- Be aware of the need for confidentiality and the dignity of the student in both discussion and storage of this document.
- Be aware that the University has a legal requirement to provide reasonable adjustments—the University is not required to make adjustments that are unreasonable or compromise the integrity of assessment tasks.
What do you do when you receive an Access Plan?
- Teaching staff need to consider and implement the recommendations in the section of the Access Plan called ‘Adjustments to the Academic Program’.
- These specific recommendations and suggestions have been developed to assist the student to access their study. Some are just good inclusive teaching practices. They will often be things that teaching staff do all the time, but will be particularly relevant to this student. Others are very specific to an individual student’s situation.
What are the student’s responsibilities?
- All students with an Access Plan are advised to make contact with their Unit Chairs either just before, or in the first few weeks of trimester, although not all students will feel comfortable or able to make contact. The DRC encourages students to develop independence and self-advocacy skills as much as possible.
- Follow standard faculty processes, e.g. apply for extensions prior to the due date.
Can you provide adjustments if a student does not have an Access Plan?
- Not all students with a disability will be registered with the DRC. While students with a disability are not required to register with the DRC, inclusive practice may mean that students will require fewer reasonable adjustments or need to register with the DRC to access them.
Who can you contact for more information?
- Contact the Disability Resource Centre on your campus to chat with a Disability Liaison Officer about Access Plans, and if you would like more information on how to support students with a disability.
What is the role of Deakin Learning Futures (DLF)?
(Internal link) Deakin Learning Futures (DLF) teams:
- work directly with faculties to design and build outstanding courses for all campuses, including the Cloud Campus
- collaborate with teaching teams to create premium online learning experiences
- lead and manage the online learning environment (Cloud Campus)
- support teachers to build their own skills and ideas
- lead innovation projects that explore new ideas in learning and teaching.
Teaching support services and resources
DLF offers a range of services to assist teaching staff in course design and delivery.
Learning environments: development, maintenance, and staff/student support for Deakin’s cloud learning environment.
DLF Faculty Pods: dedicated faculty teams that work with course teaching teams in relation to curriculum design, resource development and quality assurance.
DTeach: builds staff capacity in rethinking curriculum design, using educational technologies, and improving teaching practice.
Teaching and learning initiatives: collaborative teaching and learning initiatives with faculty and divisional groups.
CloudDeakin capacity building modules:
- Curriculum Development for Unit Chairs.
- Teaching and learning at Deakin (Sessional staff).
Registration via CloudDeakin anytime: click the ‘More’ button on the top right, then select ‘Self Registration’.
Contact DLF
For more information on how DLF can assist you in your inclusive teaching practice email the Learning Futures division.
What is DTeach?
DTeach is designed as an online ‘go to’ site that assists you to rethink curriculum design and use digital technologies in your teaching practice.
Important areas of DTeach
DTeach Guides: the gateway to answer all your questions about CloudDeakin, from navigating the site to communication, unit management, assessment and video and audio tools.
Curriculum Design: a co-design process that enables the intentional and systematic embedding of our DeakinDesign Principles and Practices.
Learning Environments: bringing people, space and technology together. These advanced and flexibly configurable spaces empower students to excel.
Inclusive Education: Purposeful consideration of our approach to teaching that helps ensure engaging, meaningful, relevant, and accessible experiences for all learners.
T&L Academy (where Deakin T&L staff can build and share practice and learn from others) and the T&L Tools resource, where you can find the right tools for your teaching.
Reflective practice
Reflect and improve on your teaching practice using the student feedback tool eVALUate.
Leading Courses handbook
The (internal link) Leading Courses Guide, which comprises 10 downloadable PDF chapters, answers all your questions about curriculum design and delivery. While it is aimed primarily for course directors, teaching staff may find Chapter 4: Course Delivery and Chapter 5: Assessment and Feedback of interest.
Teaching and learning support
In addition to DTeach, the following resources offer teaching and learning support:
- Teaching and learning support (internal link) is available for Academics in CloudDeakin.
- Additionally, the (internal link) Teaching and Learning Academy provides a range of programs to build your teaching capability and collaborate with others, giving greater visibility and accessibility for teaching and learning staff.
- Teaching Academic Literacies: A Transition Toolkit (internal link). These are a suite of customisable teaching and learning activities available to all teaching staff to assist them in integrating academic literacies into their unit or course. Resources are based on best-practice collaborations between unit teaching staff and Language and Learning Advisers (LLAs) in the embedding of academic literacies within curricula, particularly in the lead up to early written assessments.
IT Help Service Desk
IT Help assists students and staff with basic IT problems.
You can search the IT support knowledge Help Guides to find quick answers to a comprehensive list of questions.
You can also raise a support ticket with the IT Service Desk for further assistance.
Cloud Deakin Guides
You can obtain information and support using the CloudDeakin Guides for students and staff.
Deakin Sync
Deakin Sync for Students provides an overview of Deakin’s personalised student portal. Find out how you can see the ‘student view’ of Deakin Sync.
Software library
You can access the Deakin software library here. Deakin also offers specialised language and accessibility software.
Deakin Library plays an essential role in supporting the University’s learning and teaching activities. We deliver services and programs that can help you improve your inclusive teaching practice in a range of ways.
Digital capabilities and information literacy
Digital capabilities and information and AI literacies are central to our capability development service. Through expert advice and targeted programs and resources, we empower our community to build the capabilities needed to engage critically, creatively, ethically and effectively with information and technology.
Scholarly Services can partner with you to help you:
- weave digital literacy development into your curriculum and assessment practices
- create tailored digital learning experiences, such as workshops, embeddable modules and instructional guides.
Course resources and reading lists
We can support and guide you in the selection and integration of scholarly resources into the curriculum. This includes the use of Talis Aspire for managing reading lists, textbook confirmation processes and considerations related to course design and accreditation.
- Provision and inclusion of prescribed and recommended textbooks in the Library collection (in conjunction with faculty and unit chairs).
- Support to teaching staff to create, integrate and maintain reading lists using Deakin's reading list platform.
- Support and guidance for choosing, embedding and using scholarly resources in teaching material.
- Support for students registered with the Disability Resource Centre (DRC) to access course resources in inclusive, accessible formats.
- Connect teaching academics to Indigenous knowledges and resources relevant to Indigenous-focused content in courses to amplify and centre Indigenous authors, perspectives and voices.
Note: We also promote engagement with Library collections and resources for professional staff to enhance their ongoing learning and professional development.
Open education practice and resources
The Library brings expertise in OER discovery, searching, selection and provision; OER publishing and open licensing; OER-enabling platforms, infrastructure, technologies and tools; and OER-enabled pedagogies.
- Collaboration and advice on open education teaching strategies.
- Detailed consultations to delve into how open education can enhance teaching practices.
- Assistance in discovering suitable open educational resources as alternatives to current textbooks.
- Direction and support in developing new or customising existing open education resources tailored to individual teaching needs.
Experiential and Object-Based Learning
We engage our Deakin community with physical or digital objects within our Library archives, special collections and exhibitions by creating immersive and hands-on learning experiences that enhance learning outcomes.
The Library welcomes collaborations with Deakin academics and students. If you'd like to work with us on an exhibition or event, get in touch with the Library Exhibitions and Public Programs Team.
Inclusive spaces and assistive technology
At Deakin Library, we want everyone in our community to feel safe, welcome and respected. That's why we aim to provide inclusive spaces, services and resources that are accessible to people with diverse needs.
- Book and use a range of assistive technology available at all our campus libraries. For more information visit our webpage People with a disability.
- Our reset rooms provide a private space for students that is specifically designed to promote self-regulation. Reset rooms offer a safe, calm and soothing environment.
Copyright and teaching
We guide teaching academics and learners in the responsible use, creation and sharing of content for learning and teaching purposes through our expertise in copyright and licensing.
- All content generated for teaching purposes must be copyright compliant.
- Visit Copyright in Teaching for detailed information and tips on using, copying and sharing content for teaching purposes.
- Unsure or need an answer straight away? Contact the Copyright team.
Library orientation
We offer a range of services to help new students understand the resources, services and facilities available to them through Deakin Library.
- Online ‘Explore your Library’ sessions that cover navigating our website, searching for resources, borrowing and requesting items and accessing course materials.
- Guided tours of our campus libraries, to explore our study spaces, equipment and collections. We also offer a virtual tour of all four campus libraries on our website.
- Get help with your tech setup with our Student TechAssist service, which offers students in their first few weeks at Deakin a chance to get one-on-one assistance with their technical setup and related queries.
Deakin University is committed to providing an education that supports students to successfully navigate a rapidly changing employment market.
All courses are required to offer Career Education (CE) that improves students’ self-awareness, their understanding of career opportunities and the ability to promote themselves successfully to employers.
The CE in Deakin courses helps students develop personal awareness and an appreciation of the need for continual development. It also develops the skills and attributes for gaining and maintaining employment and for active citizenship. The curriculum is informed by the latest research and industry insights to position students competitively within their field. Deakin students have opportunities to engage with industry and are supported to make informed decisions to help fulfil personal and professional goals.
Career Education resources
Support for the CE element of courses is provided by DeakinTALENT via an online portal with links to online resources, workshops, targeted development programs, feedback on applications and career consultations, as well as connections to employers and communities of professional interest.
All CE resources are created adhering to the guidelines of accessibility and the needs of specific cohorts.
Student life
Student Life is a division of Deakin that provides university-wide student resources, facilities and services.
A range of support services is available, including orientation, study support, career planning, flexible study options, childcare and more.
Specific support is available for high school students, their parents and caregivers, Indigenous students and for International students.
Deakin University Student Association (DUSA)
DUSA is a Deakin’s student association, run for students, by students. They have a range of clubs and sports, help and welfare services, orientation events and more.
Digital study tools
Our Study Support Guides are designed to help students improve their study skills and provide help on the different aspects of study. As part of your inclusive teaching practice, ensure students are made aware of the study support and peer mentoring available to them.
If you identify students who would benefit from improving academic or writing skills, consider referring them to Study Support services and resources as part of giving regular feedback.
Peer support
- Student Writing Mentors and Maths Mentors can assist with writing assignments or maths help.
- Student Helping Students Hub runs peer mentoring programs that offer academic, practical and social support.
The international student support team provides advice, support and encouragement to international students on study and enrolment-related matters, compliance, visas and personal support.
English language development
- Book an appointment with a Language and Learning Adviser
- DUELI Independent learning centre has useful links to help students practice and improve English.
- A free series of self-paced CloudDeakin modules is available, designed to assist students with English as an additional language develop academic English.
Social engagement
International students often find settling into their new university environment culturally isolating. Deakin University Student Association has a range of clubs and societies that are available that could ease their transition into Deakin life.
International student stories
Have you ever wondered what life is like as an international student at Deakin?
Read international student stories and get to know some of their experiences.
Deakin’s health and wellbeing site gives a comprehensive guide to the range of services to support staff and students to improve their health and wellbeing, including medical care, counselling, the Disability Resource Centre, LGBTQIA+ services, spiritual care, the DeakinWELLBEING app and more.
Medical Centres
Deakin Medical Centres provide immunisation, travel health advice, psychology and social work services, physiotherapy, wellness coaching and more.
Mental health support at Deakin
In Australia each year, one in five Australians aged 16–85 experience a mental illness. Relationships, participation at work and/or school and day to day functioning can all be impacted. Mental health support available for at Deakin University. Download Hints for working with staff and students (DOCX 17KB) with mental illness for quick guidelines.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training
This program teaches participants how to use an action plan to assess risk and provide support in the first instance in situations where either staff or students may be experiencing a mental health crisis. The course is conducted by staff from the Safer Community and Counselling Service. To register via Deakin People, click the Training tile and select ‘DSL01 – Mental Health First Aid Training’
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Deakin’s Employee Assistance Program offers all staff (including casuals) a voluntary, short-term, cost-free, confidential, professional counselling and referral service where staff are experiencing work-related and personal problems that are adversely affecting their work performance.
Deakin LGBTQIA+ Community
The LGBTIQ+ Community is an alliance of people of diverse sexes, genders and sexualities all working together to create a positive University environment.
LGBTQIA+ resources
Deakin University recognises the importance of having a richly diverse student and staff community and the need to actively and positively support this diversity.
LGBTIQ resources provides a list of resources to support students.
Gender affirmation at Deakin provides information and resources supporting gender affirmation for Deakin staff and students.
Smoking
Deakin is 'smoke-free'. You can make an appointment at Deakin Medical Centre for free and confidential quit counselling, resources and support. See Smoking Information for more detail.
Alcohol
Alcohol and other drugs offers support to develop and/or maintain a responsible attitude to alcohol.
Deakin is committed to providing a safe and secure teaching and learning environment. Security Services, Diversity and Inclusion in Practice, and Student Life provide a range of services and programs that strive to ensure and support the safety, security and wellbeing of staff and students. This page describes key services and contacts of which both you and your students should be aware.
What to do in an emergency
If there is immediate or imminent danger on campus call Police or Emergency on 000 or Deakin Security on 1800 062 579. What to do in an emergency lists contacts and resources for all emergency situations and support.
SafeZone
SafeZone is a free app for Deakin University students and staff that connects directly to security services 24/7.
The app can:
- send your name and location directly to security
- ask for first aid or assistance
- request a security guard to escort you somewhere on campus
- receive important notifications from Deakin security.
Security escort service: Deakin Security Services provides a free 24/7 service to escort you on campus and can be booked by contacting Security by phone or by using the Help button on the SafeZone app.
Safer Community
Safer Community is a Deakin-wide service which aims to keep all campuses safe for both students and staff. Safer Community staff respond to all reports of behaviour which are concerning, inappropriate or threatening, including sexual harm and family violence. They offer support to all parties involved. If you are worried about someone or something just doesn’t feel quite right, please contact Safer Community for support, advice or information including instructions on what to do if you are a bystander.
Where a student discloses sexual assault, staff are required to refer the matter to Deakin Safer Community for further assistance and advice. Students’ autonomy and privacy is respected. Further information and resources are available on the Safer Community site.
Consent Matters online training
Deakin students are now being automatically enrolled in the Consent Matters online training module to learn to how seek sexual consent, recognise what consent looks like and identify situations where it can’t be given. All staff are encouraged to explore the Consent Matters online training module to familiarise themselves with what we are asking of students.
The module uses a series of engaging and interactive exercises, images and short videos to explain sexual consent, bystander intervention in cases of sexual harassment and assault, and possible ways of stepping in if others need help.
Staff can view the Consent Matters module by:
- visiting CloudDeakin home page
- clicking 'More' (top right-hand side of your screen), then 'Self-registration'.
See also Health and wellbeing for more information about support at Deakin.