| Reason for application | Types of supporting documentation needed |
|---|---|
An onset, or acute flare-up, of a medical or psychological condition, illness, or trauma. | Medical Certificate or Medical/Health Professional Assessment Form completed by a Medical Practitioner or other approved health professional that follows the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Guidelines - this can also include hospital admission and discharge papers, but excludes pharmacist certificates, prescriptions and online instant medical certificate provider. Signed statement on relevant official letterhead from ECU Psychological and Counselling Support outlining impact and period over which the student is unfit for study (current clients only). Carer’s certificate confirming caring responsibilities and statement on official letterhead from relevant registered health provider outlining the time period and impact to studies. The provider should be searchable (using the Look up a practitioner tool at the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) |
| Bereavement | Obituary, death, or funeral notice as advertised on newspaper/internet/funeral home website, statement on official letterhead from funeral home or death certificate* A statutory declaration or other evidence confirming the relationship to the impacted family member, friend or service animal may also be required if the deceased does not share the same family name as the student. Signed statement on relevant official letterhead from ECU Psychological and Counselling Support outlining impact and period over which the student is unfit for study (current clients only). Carer’s certificate confirming caring responsibilities and statement on official letterhead from relevant registered health provider outlining the time period and impact to studies. The provider should be searchable (using the Look up a practitioner tool at the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) Where the matter is Sorry Business, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are invited to submit a statutory declaration outlining circumstances. *it is acknowledged that copies of death certificates may take some time to obtain. Students are encouraged to submit their request with all the appropriate supporting documentation that they have available at the time and discuss with the Unit Coordinator. |
| Recent family or relationship issues | Divorce papers, court documents Medical Certificate or Medical/Health Professional Assessment Form completed by a Medical Practitioner or other approved health professional that follows the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Guidelines - this can also include hospital admission and discharge papers, but excludes pharmacist certificates, prescriptions and online instant medical certificate providers. Signed statement on relevant official letterhead from ECU Psychological and Counselling Support outlining impact and period over which the student is unfit for study (current clients only). Signed letter of support from a professional practitioner who is registered with appropriate professional body (e.g., social worker or lawyer) outlining the period and over which the student is unfit for study. |
| Recent personal hardship, trauma or misadventure | Police reports, insurance claims, employment separation letters or eviction or rental notices. Medical Certificate or Medical/Health Professional Assessment Form completed by a Medical Practitioner or other approved health professional that follows the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Guidelines - this can also include hospital admission and discharge papers, but excludes pharmacist certificates, prescriptions and online instant medical certificate providers. Signed statement on relevant official letterhead from ECU Psychological and Counselling Support outlining impact and period over which the student is unfit for study (current clients only). Signed letter of support from a professional practitioner who is registered with appropriate professional body (e.g., social worker or lawyer) outlining the impact and period over which the student is unfit for study. |
| Unexpected Military deployment, military training, reservists, Police, SES emergency service or jury duty commitments. | Signed statement on organisation’s official letterhead confirming deployment details/emergency services/jury duty dates and overall commitments. |
| Representation at a national or international level (inclusive of those who are participating in the University’s Elite Athlete Program) | Letter from professional sporting or arts association on organisation’s official letterhead confirming representative dates and commitments. |
| Travel employment (FIFO) for students residing in Perth (and its surrounds | Only considered if the student first provided evidence from their employer that the travel cannot be deferred and also attempted to liaise with their Unit Coordinator on seeking alternate dates/times for any assessments to be missed (excluding final exams). Letter from employer on organisation’s official letterhead supporting claims of unavoidable and unexpected travel dates and overall commitments. Exclusions include cumulative absences of more than two weeks in a single teaching period which are likely to significantly impact studies. For self-employed students, sufficient detail, and documentation to adequately explain why work commitments are both unavoidable and unexpected will need to be provided. A statutory declaration on its own will not be sufficient. |
| Compulsory employment-related intrastate, interstate or overseas travel | Letter from employer on organisation’s letterhead confirming travel requirements. |
| Other sudden compelling or compassionate grounds not covered above | Supporting evidence relevant to the request being made will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. |
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Sometimes life throws up some unexpected challenges, you may be eligible for Special Consideration.
Special Consideration
The University may allow Special Consideration in respect of a final Unit grade where, during the relevant Teaching Period, your academic achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances.
Special Consideration may include;
- waiving a late penalty in respect of one or more Assessment Tasks;
- making a reasonable adjustment when determining your final Unit Grade or numerical mark; and/or
- allow you to submit an alternative or replacement Assessment Task by a nominated date (including the use of a viva voce assessment in lieu of a written task) – your mark for the alternative or replacement Assessment Task will replace the original Assessment Task.
Applying for Special Consideration
If you wish to apply for Special Consideration you must write to your Unit Coordinator within 7 calendar days of your final examination date or the deadline for submission of your final Assessment Task in the relevant Unit.
An application may be considered after this time, if you can demonstrate that you have experienced Exceptional Circumstances and that these circumstances have also prevented you from lodging the application within the required time-frame. An application will not be considered in any event if it is lodged after your Unit results have been released.
You should only apply for Special Consideration where you have experienced verifiable, unexpected and/or exceptional personal or medical circumstances beyond your control which:
- have had a substantially detrimental effect on your ability to participate in or study for an Assessment Task; and
- You did not have a reasonable opportunity to prepare for in advance of the relevant Teaching Period.
The following, depending on the context, may constitute Exceptional Circumstances:
- an onset, or acute flare-up, of a medical or psychological condition, illness, or trauma;
- the death of, or an onset or acute flare-up of, a medical or psychological condition, illness, or trauma affecting, a close family member or friend;
- recent separation or divorce from a de facto partner or spouse;
- acute personal hardship or trauma, including being a victim of crime, sudden loss of income or employment resulting in severe disruption to domestic or study arrangements, or motor vehicle incidents preventing attendance;
- military deployment, emergency service or jury duty commitments;
- representation at a national or international level (inclusive of those who are participating in the University’s Elite Athlete Program);
- representation in significant cultural events (other than events such as weddings, birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, christenings, etc.); or
- compulsory employment-related intrastate, interstate or overseas travel.
The following typically will not be considered as constituting Exceptional Circumstances:
- routine employment;
- lack of knowledge of the requirements of academic work;
- difficulties with English language;
- recreational or family travel;
- moving house;
- events such as weddings, birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, christenings, etc.;
- misreading information in relation to an Assessment Task, such as submission or Examination dates;
- normal stress or anxiety associated with examinations or coursework; or
- a matter which is already suitably addressed as part of your Learning and Assessment Plan.
If you are thinking about applying for Special Consideration, the table below provides guidance on the reason for applying and the type of documentary evidence you would need to include in support of your application.
Special Consideration should not be confused with other processes such as assessment extensions, deferral of examinations or the provision of supplementary examinations. Special Consideration is just that, a consideration provided to you based on verifiable evidence of Exceptional Circumstances over which you had no direct control.
Special Consideration may be refused if there is reason to believe that you are seeking to achieve an unfair advantage, having regard to the particular circumstances of your application, your history of Special Consideration applications, and any other relevant circumstances. As such, it is important that you be clear, honest and evidence based when detailing the reason for your request for Special Consideration.
Upon receiving your request for Special Consideration, the Unit Coordinator will assess the application, and make a recommendation to the School Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) who will decide whether;
- Special Consideration is granted; and
- If so, the appropriate form of Special Consideration.
The decision of the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) is final, and will be communicated to you by the relevant Unit Coordinator.