Communication and interpersonal skills

These skills enable students to interact with others and understand the social norms that provide the foundation for socially responsible behaviour.

• Interpersonal communication: verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening, expressing feelings, giving and receiving feedback.
• Negotiation and refusal: negotiation, conflict management, assertiveness, refusal.
• Empathy building: ability to listen, understanding others’ views, needs and circumstances.
• Cooperation, inclusion and teamwork: appreciating diverse perspectives, expressing respect for others’ contributions and different styles, assessing one’s own abilities, working collaboratively.
• Advocacy: influencing, persuading, networking, leading and motivating.
• Relationship and community building: appropriate expression of thoughts, emotions and opinions, connecting with others, networking, respecting diversity

Decision-making, problem-solving and critical thinking skills

Enhance students’ ability to evaluate future consequences of their present actions and the actions of others. Students should be able to determine alternative solutions and to analyse the influence of their own values and the values of those around them.

• Decision-making and problem-solving: information gathering, evaluating consequences, determining alternative solutions to problems, analysing, goal setting and tracking.
• Critical thinking: analysing influences, perspective taking, identifying relevant and reliable information and services.

Coping, transition and self-management skills

Prepare students to navigate transitions and change. They enable students to see themselves as an agent for making a difference and for achieving a positive outcome in the future.