Accessibility and inclusion

A Learning Access Plan (LAP) is a personalised document that lists reasonable adjustments made for a student at Bond University. 

According to the Disability Standards for Education (2005) a Reasonable Adjustment is a measure (or group of measures) implemented by an education provider to assist a student with a disability to apply, enrol and participate in a course or program and utilise the facilities and services of the institution on the same basis as a student without a disability.

LAP's will be endorsed by their faculty before being communicated with the student and their educators. Students should then proactively reach out and discuss their LAP with their educators.  

Bond University is committed to providing personalised support to each student based on their individual needs.

We will always make every effort to accommodate reasonable adjustments; however, the University acknowledges that resources and facilities may sometimes be limited. Students are encouraged to connect with Accessibility and Inclusion as early as possible to plan and organise their adjustments.

Because reasonable adjustments are tailored to each student’s circumstances, support needs, and the inherent requirements of their program, it’s not possible to provide an exhaustive list of available adjustments.

Reasonable Adjustments 

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) provides protection for everyone in Australia against discrimination based on disability. Under this Act, through the Disability Standards for Education 2005, educational institutions are required to provide reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities or health conditions.

Reasonable adjustments are modifications made to learning environments, teaching methods, or assessment formats. These adjustments are designed to help students with disabilities or health conditions participate in education on an equitable basis with other students. The purpose of these adjustments is to ensure that all students have fair access to educational opportunities while still meeting the core requirements of their courses.

Educational institutions must consider the needs of all parties involved when implementing reasonable adjustments. They are permitted to maintain what are called inherent requirements - these are the essential components of a course that cannot be altered without compromising its integrity. If a student cannot meet an inherent requirement even with adjustments, the institution should provide guidance and support to help the student explore alternatives. It's important to understand that institutions are not required to make adjustments that would cause unjustifiable hardship to the organisation, though they must demonstrate why such hardship would occur.

To create a Learning Access Plan (LAP), you’ll need to provide supporting documentation from a qualified health practitioner. This documentation must:

• Include information about your condition or diagnosis
• Describe how your studies may be affected by your condition or circumstances
• Specify whether your condition is permanent, ongoing, or temporary (and if temporary, the expected recovery timeframe)
• Be recorded in a Health Practitioner Report, a letter, or an official report
• Include the practitioner’s provider number and/or stamp, and be dated and signed
• Be written in English (or translated by an accredited translator)

Health Practitioner Report Form

It’s recommended that incoming students with a disability or health condition register with Accessibility and Inclusion before commencing their studies. Learning Access Plans (LAPs) outlining approved reasonable adjustments can be finalised up to the end of Week 2 each semester. After this time, adjustments will be implemented where possible; if they cannot be accommodated within the current semester, they will be applied in the following semester.

Students and their educators will receive a copy of the Learning Access Plan (LAP) once it has been approved by the Faculty. Students are encouraged to contact their educators early in the semester to discuss their LAP and how reasonable adjustments will be applied in each subject. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Accessibility and Inclusion.

Subject educators typically arrange mid-semester exams within each faculty. If you have questions about how your reasonable adjustments apply to these exams, please contact your educator first. If your query isn’t resolved, you can then reach out to the relevant Student Affairs and Service Quality (SASQ) team for your faculty.

End-of-semester exams are organised centrally by the Timetabling and Exams team and usually take place between Weeks 13 and 15. Students with approved reasonable adjustments for examinations will receive an email from the Timetabling and Exams team confirming their specific arrangements.

If you have any questions about your end-of-semester exam arrangements, please contact the team at [email protected]

Students with permanent conditions that do not fluctuate are generally issued an ongoing Learning Access Plan (LAP). Your first LAP may include an expiry date to allow an opportunity for review and check-in. Please take note of this date and contact the Accessibility and Inclusion Advisor if you have any questions or would like to confirm whether your LAP applies for the duration of your degree.

Please contact Accessibility and Inclusion if you require additional support or would like to review or modify your reasonable adjustments.

For assistance with the provision of approved reasonable adjustments or help resolving any related issues, you can also contact your faculty’s Student Affairs and Service Quality (SASQ) team.

Students are encouraged to contact Accessibility and Inclusion if their condition changes and they require additional support or reasonable adjustments. You can book an appointment or email Accessibility and Inclusion to discuss your needs.