Attending a workplace experience or clinical placement is an exciting part of your program. These health-related placements let you experience what it’s like to work as a professional in real-life workplace settings and are an integral part of your learning.
Please expand and review all the Preparing for placement tabs for specific and detailed information about your health-related placement. Further Additional information, including who to contact, is detailed below.
If you are completing a health-related program, you must meet mandatory NSW Health Student Compliance requirements for immunisations and vaccinations, Code of Conduct and National Police Check.
Evidence of you meeting these requirements MUST be provided. UOW will forward your evidence to NSW Health who will verify your compliance status. This must be done prior to you attending a placement within either a NSW Health Facility or a private health facility.
UOW has produced the following one page “checklist” outlining the requirements. Please use this guide to ensure you have uploaded all the required documents.
NSW Health require proof that you are a student at UOW. A copy of your UOW student ID card must be provided as part of your documentation (UOW ID Cards are only available after you have enrolled at UOW). Please provide a PDF copy under 3 MB in size.
All students (both local and international) must provide a valid Australian National Police Certificate (NPC).
The preferred method is to obtain a NPC through the NSW Police or other state based police service check as these are automatically valid for five (5) years. If you are planning to do a health placement within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), it is recommended that you specifically obtain your NPC through either the NSW Police or the Australian Federal Police (and not a listed ACIC accredited body) as ACT Health have slightly different requirements.
If your NPC contains any disclosable outcomes (i.e., a charge or conviction etc.), you must independently apply for a Risk Assessment. The application process is detailed on the HETI Website. The Verification Team will arrange a letter from your placement co-ordinator that must be included in the application.
If you are an international student, you must also provide either:
NOTE: Providing suitable police check documentation can be complex. To assist, HETI have provided some frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) on their website.
You should read and familiarise yourself with the policy document listed on this form and when ready complete the document and submit. Code of Conduct.
The best form of evidence of your immunisation and vaccination status is a copy of your Immunisation History Statement (IHS) from Medicare Australia.
If your immunisation history statement does not capture your full immunisation / vaccination history, you will need to provide additional evidence. Other acceptable forms of evidence could be a childhood immunisation record (e.g., Baby Blue Book (or similar)); a school vaccination card; or other vaccination records. International vaccination cards are acceptable if they are in English and vaccination names, dates and doctors' signature are clearly visible.
Alternately, you can download a copy of the NSW Governments Vaccination Record Card for Health Care Workers and Students and have your GP or health care provider complete it (use the current version from this link as older versions will not be accepted). Ensure your GP/health care provider sign, date, and use a practice stamp for all entries made on the form.
While the Covid-19 vaccination is not mandatory at present, NSW Health strongly recommend that all staff (including students) stay up-to-date with Covid-19 vaccinations as recommended for their age and health status by the Australian Immunisation Handbook. Students are encouraged to provide evidence of past vaccinations if they are available.
For COVID-19 vaccines administered in Australia, the only acceptable evidence of vaccination is either, a Medicare Australia Immunisation History Statement (IHS), a COVID-19 and Influenza IHS or a COVID-19 digital certificate.
For COVID-19 vaccines administered overseas, overseas COVID-19 vaccination records are acceptable evidence if the NSW Health assessor is satisfied that the evidence is from a legitimate source, the vaccine is approved for use or recognised in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), and it was received on or after 1 March 2020. Any vaccination records recorded in a foreign language must be translated to English using a translation service.
Evidence of one adult dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (dTpa) vaccine within the last 10 years. Vaccination MUST contain pertussis, i.e. DO NOT use ADT vaccine as it will not be accepted by NSW Health. Serology is also not acceptable evidence for dTpa.
To meet the full Hepatitis B requirements, you must include evidence of (at least) age-appropriate Hepatitis B vaccine doses (i.e., 3 x infant doses; OR 2 x adolescent doses (11-15yrs); OR 3x adult doses (16+yrs)) PLUS serology (blood test) proving immunity.
The following table defines the acceptable minimum timeframes between infant and adult Hepatitis B doses (as extrapolated from the Australian Immunisation Handbook).
|
Options |
Day Zero/ |
Day 28/ |
Day 56/ |
Day 84/ |
Day 112/ Month 4 |
Day 140/ |
|
Option 1 |
Dose 1 |
Dose 2 |
|
|
Dose 3 |
Serology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Option 2 |
Dose 1 |
|
Dose 2 |
|
Dose 3 |
Serology |
NB: Accelerated Hepatitis B dosage regimes that are shorter than the above timeframes will not be accepted by NSW Health.
A Hepatitis B Vaccination Declaration form is available if you do not have evidence of your vaccinations. Section A of the Hepatitis B Vaccination Declaration form should be completed and signed. NSW Health staff will complete Section B (there is no need to have an independent assessor complete section B).
A non-responder is a person who:
If you have not responded (i.e. are not immune) after receiving your age-appropriate vaccinations, and are not infected with hepatitis B, you should receive further booster doses.
Booster doses can be given ONE MONTH APART; booster doses DO NOT follow the timeframe from the table above which pertains to the age-appropriate doses.
If you are a non-responder, you should begin with one booster dose (e.g. 4th adult dose). After this booster dose wait 28 days and have a hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) serology test. If the resultant level of antibody (anti-HBs) is above 10mIU, upload evidence of the booster dose and full serology results and this will satisfy the requirements of NSW Health. DO NOT have further doses.
If your serology results highlight less than 10mIU NSW Health will require you to have a 2nd booster dose (at least one month after the 1st booster dose) and 3rd booster dose (at least one month after 2nd booster dose) and then repeat the serology 28 days after your final dose. If the results are above 10mIU then upload evidence of the vaccination and full serology results and this will satisfy the requirements of NSW Health. DO NOT have further doses.
If the results are below 10mIU and you have had all three recommended booster doses after your age-appropriate doses, upload evidence of ALL booster doses and ALL serologies which will be sent to NSW Health for assessment and further instruction.
NSW Health will advise appropriate protocols for students who are deemed persistent non-responders.
Full details can be found in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
Students are required to provide evidence of 2 doses of MMR vaccine at least 4 weeks apart or
Students are required to provide evidence of 2 doses of Varicella vaccine at least 4 weeks apart or
The influenza vaccine is seasonal and is only valid for the season it was produced and is required annually. The annual season commences on 1 March each year and finishes on 30 September.
The annual Influenza vaccine must be the Southern Hemisphere seasonal variant that is usually available from 1 March each year.
The UOW Verification Team will inform you when you can provide your evidence.
You should read & familiarise yourself with the policy document listed on this form, then appropriately answer Question 2, which requires either (a.) or (b.) to be acknowledged (depending on your circumstances). Question 2 b. should only be selected when you know that you have a medical contraindication OR are a non-responder; this must be supported by evidence. Do not selected 2 b. if you suspect an issue but have no evidence.
In additional to your personal details, this form has multiple sections. Please complete ALL questions in each section. If you have ever had a positive TB skin test (TST) or a blood test (IGRA or QuantiFERON TB Gold, you must provide a copy of these reports with your form). After review, NSW Health will advise if additional screening is required.
This form is Medical Students only. If you are a Medical Student, you must sign and initial this form as part of your evidence. Serology reports are not required.
If you have a medical exemption or contraindication to any vaccine, you will need to provide specific evidence of your circumstances to NSW Health. Full details of the requirements are listed under the FAQ’s page on the NSW Health website.
Students should acquaint themselves with the NSW Health Policy document Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases as it details the requirements. Further detail and FAQ’s can be found on the Health Education and Training website (HETI).
It is strongly recommended that all students (including future students) start collating immunisation & vaccination evidence as soon as possible. Some vaccination courses can take several months to complete (e.g., a full course of Hepatitis B can take 6 months).
If you have not received all your required vaccinations, discuss options of receiving these ASAP with your GP / health care provider.
It is your responsibility to comply with these requirements and to maintain compliance throughout your course. If you do not, you may be prevented from attending placements.
Once you have met the minimum requirements, please send your compliance evidence via email to the UOW Verification Team uow-verification@uow.edu.au.
Please ensure that you:
Your evidence will be checked by the UOW Verification Team before it is sent to NSW Health to be verified.
If there is a need for you to provide additional or to correct some evidence, you will be sent an email to your UOW mail address requesting the same. It is important that you follow up on these requests as soon as possible.
NOTE: Your evidence package can only be sent to NSW Health for verification once we have received at least the minimum vaccination requirements and ALL required Health documentation and police check information.
You may be asked to produce certain documents prior to attending a facility / placement, even after you have become fully verified by NSW Health. Some private facilities may also request this evidence. You will also need to produce most of these documents to a future employer as your student compliance will not carry over into the workplace.
Further information can be found below or from the FAQ’s - NSW Health Student Compliance and verification (PDF) or directly from the UOW Verification Team uow-verification@uow.edu.au.
It remains mandatory for students placed within NSW Health facilities to be appropriately fitted for P2 or N95 masks or respirators prior to attendance; this also applies to most private facilities.
Masks must be worn whenever a patient under airborne precautions is being treated or if aerosol generating procedures are anticipated. Whilst masks may not be required if you are placed in a lower risk area, you must still be fit tested and ready to don (i.e. put on) a mask should circumstance change. You may be refused entry to your placement facility if you have not been fit tested prior.
What is mask fit testing, and how often should I be tested?
Mask Fit testing determines which mask is right for you. The right mask will appropriately seal around your mouth and nose, preventing you from being exposed to airborne particles within the environment.
Fit testing (or retesting) must occur at least every 12 months. Retesting should be conducted within that time if there has been a significant change to your facial characteristics or a change to the availability of a previously fitted mask. Testing may involve several different masks, and the correct mask for you may be different to that of your peers. It may also be different to what you were tested for previously.
Who can conduct testing?
UOW is the primary fit testing organisation for UOW students. However, many other organisations, including public and private health facilities as well as WHS organisations, can conduct testing. At UOW, testing is conducted from various campuses and is currently provided free of charge.
If within the last 12 months, you have been fit tested elsewhere (e.g. your work, or on a previous placement), you may not need to be retested straight away. You must share your test results with UOW. We will update your student profile within the NSW Health system to advise NSW Health of your status.
How do I book a mask fitting appointment?
To ensure timely access to mask fitting appointments, priority is given to those students with a pending placement; bookings are therefore by invitation only. Please contact your placement coordination team who will liaise with the UOW Verification Team to coordinate appointment times. You will then be given instruction on how to access the booking system within Sonia.
What else do I need to know about mask fitting?
Before attending a mask fit test appointment, you must meet the following criteria:
*Exceptions can be made if you have facial hair for religious or cultural observance purposes or due to a documented medical condition. Whilst UOW is unable to perform these tests locally, we will liaise with ISLHD to facilitate specialist assessment. Please contact the UOW Verification team for more details.
Commencing students are required have the following documents ready by the scheduled orientation session in January. These Additional Required Checks are expected to remain current for the duration of your enrolment. These documents will also be uploaded in SONIA. Further instructions will follow regarding uploading of these documents, do not email them to the Graduate School of Medicine unless requested.
This is a compulsory requirement for all students, regardless of prior learning or experience. These should be completed at the start of each year during medical school and for the rest of your clinical career.
Examples of relevant courses are:
No exceptions will be made to this requirement for entry regardless of previous work experience or qualifications. The cost of a First Aid course is the student's responsibility.
The modules are delivered by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health care as part of the National Hand Hygiene Initiative. (NHHI)
Phase 1 Instructions:
Note: Please review the documents “Social Media and Medical Students: a guide to online Professionalism for medical students in Graduate School of Medicine” and “Code of Practice – Work Integrated Learning (professional experience)" prior to signing these forms.
For further questions regarding additional required checks contact refer to your Subject Outline upon commencement or GSM curriculum team.
All placement information will be provided to students once they commence their studies.
Inherent requirements for the UOW MD course are guided by the Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand (MDANZ) Inclusive Medical Education guidance note which refers to the following:
Communication skills – verbal, non-verbal and written
Medical students will be expected to communicate effectively and sensitively with a range of different people to establish rapport, involve patients and carers in decision making, and practise in a culturally safe way to deliver high quality, safe care. This applies to listening, speaking, reading, writing, and the capability to use these different modes to elicit information from people, often under pressure and in difficult situations.
Professionalism
Medical students will be expected to demonstrate capabilities consistent with those of a medical professional, including a commitment to making the care of patients their priority, and to practise safely and effectively, treat people with dignity and respect, and be aware of the limits of their own knowledge, skills, and health. They will also be required to comply with the law, regulations and any other university codes or policies.
Insight into their own health and behaviour
Medical students will be expected to demonstrate an ability to recognise when they experience poor health and put in place effective processes to ensure their own health or behaviours do not pose a risk to others.
Cognition, critical thinking and problem solving skills
Medical students will be expected to have an aptitude for problem solving, based on scientific principles to understand and solve the complex medical needs of patients, whilst also considering the context of the patient’s circumstances and the health system they are working in.
Teamwork
Medical students will be expected to work willingly and cohesively as part of a team, taking responsibility for their actions as well as recognising and respecting the skills of other professionals.
Physical and observational capabilities
Medical students will be expected to demonstrate their ability to acquire information, carry out a range of procedures suitable to their level of capability, and understand and carry out their role in assisting during a medical emergency.
Sustainable performance
Medical students will be expected to demonstrate both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period of time that provides safe and effective care without compromise.
Diversity and Inclusion
UOW and the GSM seeks to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for all students, including those with a disability. The School encourages students who anticipate they may need particular support to participate in the medical program to make early contact with the GSM for a discussion regarding the requirements of the course and the potential for reasonable accommodations.
It should be recognised that there may be cases where students will not be able to meet the requirements of the program, even with reasonable accommodations.
If you believe you do not meet the inherent requirements for studying medicine, please contact Dr Darryl McAndrew, Head of Students, via email at head-of-students-gm@uow.edu.au as soon as possible.
The University has in place policies and practices which outline what is expected of you whilst you are on your placement.
If you have any difficulties whilst on your placement, please contact your relevant placement coordinator for assistance.
Please view the policies and practices which apply to students when on placement.