Requirements of Successful Applicants

• Checklist

Conditions of Acceptance

In accepting an elective, you will be required to abide by the guidelines of the University of Wollongong, the Hospital to which you are appointed to and your allocated supervisor.

Accommodation

Students are responsible for all travel and living costs. No remuneration will be given for their elective. Students are responsible for their own accommodation. Students can look at the following website for further information on local accommodation.

The Accommodation Services @ UOW site may be helpful in finding suitable accommodation.

Attendance

You are required to be in regular attendance and must provide a Doctors certificate if absent 2 days or more.

Australian National Police Certificate

The applicant must obtain a Australian National Police Certificate and produce it at the beginning of their placement. If you do not provide a certificate you will not be allowed to commence your placement. Further information can be found at: Instruction to Students - Notice to students enrolling in courses that require clinical placements in NSW Public Health Facilities

Overseas student must also provide an original criminal record statement produced by the appropriate authority within their own country). This statement must be in ENGLISH and show that the applicant has no criminal record in relation to the following classes of serious offence.

Apply early for this in your own country.

Certified Copy

To have documentation certified you need to take your original transcripts / documents and a copy of each transcript to an authorised person in your community.

Authorised persons include Justices of the Peace, Notary Publics, lawyers / solicitors, Magistrates offices and (in some countries only - Police Officers and School Teachers or University professors).

They need to sign on your copies that they are true and correct, print their name and position and if possible affix an official stamp.

Dress

Maintenance of your appearance is essential as you will be interacting with the public and patients daily.

• Identification cards and name badges must be worn at all times
• Males should wear a collared shirt, no t-shirts
• Females should be modestly dressed with no low cut tops, bare midriffs or short skirts
• No Jeans
• Shoes – toes should be covered
• Theatre scrubs must not be worn around the hospital
• White coats are not worn

Immunisation

Students must to be immunised against the following infections: rubella, measles, mumps, hepatitis B (HBV) and tuberculosis (TB). It is also advisable that students are aware of their immune status to chickenpox (varicella). You must comply with the NSW Health Department Policy Document PD2011_005 – Occupational Assessment, Screening & Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases. You will be required to provide documentation to the hospital to show you are immunised. Ensure you have all necessary documentation.

Insurance

The University of Wollongong’s Graduate School of Medicine does not provide medical Malpractice insurance for non University of Wollongong medical students.

You will need to provide written proof from your University that you are covered by insurance for public and professional liability, medical malpractice and personal accident insurance, during your elective placement in Australia.

If your university’s medical insurance does not cover your malpractice and indemnity needs you will need to obtain cover before commencing the placement. More information can be found at the following websites:

• Avant
• MIPS

Personal health insurance should be arranged before coming to Australia. You will need to provide proof of personal health insurance, this could be included within your travel insurance or you may be covered by your home university.

The Australian Government has reciprocal healthcare agreements with the governments of Finland, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Malta, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the UK. This entitles you to limited subsidised health services for immediate necessary treatment while visiting Australia. It does not cover any healthcare cost you may incur en route to or from Australia. So you should take this into consideration. Students are responsible for all travel and living costs. No remuneration will be given for their elective.

NSW Health Code of Conduct

Compliance with this directive in mandatory for NSW Health. You will be required to sign a form once you have read the Code at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2005/PD2005_626.html.

Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA)

Australia’s national registration and accreditation scheme began on 1 July 2010. The scheme is governed by nationally consistent legislation, the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (the national law) as in force in each State and Territory. The role of the Boards under the national law is to protect the public.

The National law requires the Medical Board of Australia to register as a student any person for whom the University of Wollongong arranges clinical training, and that they are not enrolled in an approved program of study.

Your initial details are forwarded to the Board by the placement facilitator and require no action by the student. Please read the attached link for your responsibilities. The Board will be notified by the University on completion of your clinical placement.

Please refer to the Fact Sheet and FAQs for 2011 on the website below:
http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Student-Registrations.aspx

Privacy Issues

Privacy rights in Australia are regulated by law. In the state of New South Wales privacy is covered by the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIP Act) and the Privacy of Personal Information Protection Act 1988 (PPIPA). The NSW Health Privacy Manual provides operational guidance for health service staff to the legislative obligations imposed by the HRIP Act. The document outlines procedures to support compliance with the Act in any activity that involves personal health information. You will be required to sign a ‘Privacy Undertaking’ form agreeing to comply with privacy law and all NSW Health policies at orientation.

Transport

From Sydney International airport you can make your own way to Wollongong via train. At the end of the International Terminal Arrivals hall there is an escalator that goes down to a train station platform. You should make enquiries at the information desk to find out the platform number and time of the train to Wolli Creek Station. At Wolli Creek Station you will have to change. You need the South Coast line to WOLLONGONG STATION not North Wollongong. Refer to: http://www.cityrail.info/

Once in Wollongong a Free bus service operates between the University, Hospital and city centre.

Visas

We can not advise you on your visa requirements as it differs around the world. All students visiting Australia for electives require a visa. We recommend that all overseas applicants should contact their nearest Australian Diplomatic Mission with respect to visa requirements preferably BEFORE you complete your application. The location of your nearest Australian Mission can be found on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website. We suggest you apply for your visa promptly as it can take time.

Visitor information

The Illawarra is a beautiful area and we hope you also take this opportunity to find that out. Please take time to visit the beaches, towns and attractions and see what the region has to offer.

For more information on the region check out the following websites:
http://www.southcoastleisuretimes.com.au/illawarra/welcome.html
http://www.tourismwollongong.com.au