Qualifications recognised for full membership of NAATD
Master of Disability Studies Education: Deaf Hard of Hearing Specialisation, NextSense/Macquarie University
Master of Learning Intervention (Hearing Impairment Specialty), University of Melbourne
Master of Special and Inclusive Education (Deaf Studies and Deaf Education), University of Newcastle
Master of Disability Studies Education: Deaf Hard of Hearing Specialisation, NextSense/Macquarie University
The Master of Disability Studies Education: Deaf Hard of Hearing Specialisation is offered by NextSense Institute— Australia’s leading centre for research and professional studies in the field of education and service delivery for people with sensory disabilities—in affiliation with the Macquarie School of Education, Faculty of Arts, Macquarie University.
The education specialisations in the Master of Disability Studies link to the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) national accreditation standards, with reference to the National Association of Australian Teacher of the Deaf Elaborations. Graduates from the Master of Disability Studies Education: Deaf Hard of Hearing Specialisation are recognised in all Australia states and territories.
Why should I consider studying this program?
The Master of Disability Studies Education: Deaf Hard of Hearing Specialisation offers qualified teachers the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to adapt content, develop teaching methodology, and apply specialised instructional techniques to meet the needs of individual learners who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. We understand the many responsibilities postgraduate students face, so this program provides flexible patterns of online study with experts in the field.
This course will support your career development and increase your employment opportunities in inclusive education and within the deaf services sector. When you graduate you will qualify as a specialist teacher of students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. You’ll be able to support students to gain the skills they need to achieve their personal goals and enjoy a satisfying career that looks beyond their disability. Completing this specialisation will enable you to register for Full Membership with your state branch of the National Association of Australian Teachers of the Deaf as the course covers all the Graduate Statements in the Teacher of the Deaf Elaborations of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Once registered, you can apply to become a service provider under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Who can apply for this program?
The Master of Disability Studies Education: Deaf Hard of Hearing Specialisation is suited to:
- qualified teachers wishing to obtain a specialist qualification to teach students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- teachers already working in the sensory disability field wishing to upgrade their skills and qualifications
Postgraduate students with disability are welcomed into the Master of Disability Studies Education: Deaf Hard of Hearing Specialisation. We set high standards to ensure all aspects of our program are accessible. We also expect our masters students to embrace accessibility standards in assessment tasks.
What will I learn?
In the Master of Disability Studies Education: Deaf Hard of Hearing Specialisation you will consider:
- the socio-cultural contexts of deaf people’s lives and family environments;
- the role of spoken and signed languages in the identity and social-emotional development of children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing;
- auditory development and audiological practice;
- concepts and principles of language and literacy development and the relationship between the two;
- speech perception and speech production of children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing; and
- assessment as part of an integrated approach to supporting the development and/or remediation of language and literacy abilities in children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing.
Your studies will also include professional experience/practicums. These are designed to ensure you are well prepared with a combination of academic knowledge and specialist teaching skills. Professional experience placements in diverse settings with qualified supervisors ensure that our masters students are provided with opportunities to observe, and guidance to participate purposefully in a school/service; to demonstrate a range of authentic teaching practices which facilitate learning, and strategies to evaluate student learning. Supervisors provide constructive written or verbal feedback so you can reflect on your teaching progress, and act on suggestions to enhance your teaching performance.
Are any scholarships available?
You may be eligible for one of the various postgraduate scholarships available from educational providers and Macquarie University
What opportunities are available when I graduate?
Graduates of the Master of Disability Studies Education: Deaf Hard of Hearing Specialisation become important members of professional teams, applying their expertise in a wide variety of roles such as:
- classroom teachers in specialised programs
- itinerant/support teachers working with children in inclusive educational settings
- consultants working with mainstream teachers to assist them in their inclusion of learners with sensory disabilities
- early intervention specialists working with families and children from the earliest possible stages of their development
- learning support professionals assisting students in higher education
- various other roles supporting people with sensory disabilities to access a range of services
How do I find out more about the Master of Disability Studies?
You are welcome to make contact with NextSense Institute staff to discuss your enrolment opportunities in the Master of Disability Studies Education: Deaf Hard of Hearing Specialisation.
Please email Tanya Kysa, Graduate Studies Coordinator, at student.enquiries@nextsense.org.au for more information.
Master of Learning Intervention (Hearing Impairment Specialty), University of Melbourne
The Master of Learning Intervention (Hearing Impairment Specialty) is a specialty course in deaf education enables you to acquire specialised knowledge in the development, assessment and intervention of communication, spoken and signed languages and literacy. You will gain knowledge of listening development, audiological devices, and the impact of differing environments on learning along with an insight into the social and emotional wellbeing of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is ideal for those interested in working as a Teacher of the Deaf in a mainstream setting or school for the deaf.
Part of the Master of Learning Intervention degree, the hearing impairment specialty course incorporates unique opportunities to learn from experts in deaf education, behaviour, autism, specific learning difficulties and disability. This multifaceted course provides Teachers of the Deaf with a holistic perspective and the ability to cater for all deaf children, including those with additional complex needs.
The hearing impairment (Teacher of the Deaf) specialty within the Master of Learning Intervention course will enable you to:
- Identify strategies and evidence-based interventions for students who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Understand the nature and implications of deafness and how to communicate this to teachers, parents and students
- Understand how to provide the best access to learning across a range of settings through the use of technology, communication modes, including Auslan and evidence-based teaching strategies
- Understand and apply the latest research in inclusive education for students who are deaf and hard of hearing
- Become a leader in inclusive education and collaboration to promote differentiated teaching and learning for all students
- Be qualified as Teachers of the Deaf
The following link will take you to further information on the course
For more information contact the Master of Learning Intervention (Hearing impairment specialty) coordinator Sharon Klieve onsharon.klieve@unimelb.edu.au or phone +61383442164
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Master of Special and Inclusive Education (Deaf Studies and Deaf Education)
University of Newcastle, College of Human and Social Futures, School of Education
The Master of Special and Inclusive Education (Deaf Studies and Deaf Education) specialisation will prepare teachers to support and teach children and young people who are deaf or hard of hearing in early intervention programs, as an itinerant teacher of the deaf, in specialised units/facilities, and in a school for the deaf setting. It will also provide teachers with the foundation required to be mentored as an auditory-verbal therapist/educator.
To qualify as a Teacher of the Deaf, students are required to complete eight courses: three core courses four compulsory courses, and one directed course. Student must also complete a practicum and must have a Certificate II in Auslan or its equivalent before completing the practicum.
Link to program handbook: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/degrees/master-special-inclusive-education/handbook
Core Courses
EDUC6085– Education of Students with Learning Difficulties
EDUC6088 – Teaching Methods and Techniques in Special and Inclusive Education
EDUC6165– Critiquing and designing research in inclusive, special education or disability service settings
Compulsory Courses
EDUC6052 – Introduction to Hearing, Audiology, and Assistive Listening Technology
EDUC6053 – Understanding How Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Learn
EDUC6054 – Speech and Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
EDUC6055 – Language and Literacy of Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Directed Course (only qualified teachers may enrol in this course)
EDUC6056 – Pedagogical Practices for Teachers of Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Please contact the School of Education for more information: SoE-TL@newcastle.edu.au