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Psychology

Psychology Placements

All students are required to be verified with the ClinConnect system and provide evidence of compliance with screening and vaccination schedules before commencing any psychology placement.

Please see the verification steps and key information below for further information and instructions.

Key Information

The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) provides student compliance services for the University of Wollongong.  ISLHD have created a Student Compliance Web page that details the Forms and Documents required for Student Compliance.  Supplementary information can be found below.

It is recommended that you can start the verification process as soon as possible as it can take up to five months to complete all of the requirements. Do this by taking the following steps.

1. Obtain an Australian National Police Check (NPC). An Australian NPC can be purchased through all State or Territory Police Forces, the Australian Federal Police or a number of Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) accredited bodies. 

Before purchasing your NPC, please consider the following:

  • Most ACIC accredited bodies’ police checks need to be validated within three (3) months of purchase. Failure to do so will mean they are no longer valid and you will need to purchase a new check.
  • If you plan to attend a health placement in the ACT, it is recommended that you obtain your NPC through either NSW Police or Australian Federal Police (and not any of the other ACIC providers listed).
  • A valid NPC must be held for the duration of your placement/s.
  • If you have a charge or a conviction listed on your National Police Certificate, you must also apply for a Clinical Placement Clearance; the application process is detailed on the Student Compliance Web page.

International Students must also provide a National Police Check from their home country or any country they have resided in since turning 18 years of age.  If they cannot provide this police check, they can sign the Overseas Student Statutory Declaration as detailed on the Student Compliance Web page. Please note, this Statutory Declaration can only be completed after arriving in NSW.

2. Complete the NSW Health forms as included on the Student Compliance Web page, these include:

  • Student Undertaking / Declaration
  • Tuberculosis (TB) Assessment Tool
  • Code of Conduct Agreement

3. Download the Vaccination Record Card for Health Care Workers and Students and take it to your GP or NSW Health Staff Clinic for them to complete.

4. Collate evidence of your vaccinations, including any relevant serology reports (blood test results).

Review the tips and links on the Student Compliance website regarding “What evidence do I need?”, “What constitutes evidence?” and other hints on what is required.

Please note: For Hepatitis B vaccinations, the minimum requirement is for students to have documented evidence of receiving at least the first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine.  If you meet all other requirements, and have had your first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine, you will likely be given temporary verification approval by NSW Health.  If this is the case, please send your Vaccination Record Card and any other evidence to the UOW Verification Team for processing. 

If temporary verification status is approved it will last for 6 months and you will be able to commence placement during that time.  You will still need to complete the full series of Hepatitis B vaccinations within that 6 month period to gain full compliance.

5. Scan all of your documents, including a copy of your UOW Student ID Card, into a PDF format. Please ensure that your documents, in total, do not exceed 8MB in size.

6. Take the ‘Ready for Verification’ Quiz on the NSW Health Verification Readiness Moodle site.

7. Using your UOW email address, send all documents to the UOW Verification Team uow-verification@uow.edu.au.

Remember to: 

  • Keep the total size of your email below 8MB
  • Use your UOW email address to send your documentation to the UOW Verification team
  • Include your Full Name, Student Number and your Course Discipline in all correspondence with the UOW Verification Team.
  • Keep all of your original verification documentation in a safe place. You may be asked to produce certain documents prior to commencing placement, even after you have become fully verified by NSW Health, particularly if you are placed in a non-NSW Health facility.  You will also need to produce most of these documents to a future employer.  Your student compliance will not carry over into the work place.  It is your responsibility as a student to keep these documents and produce them when requested. 

Contact the UOW Verification Team uow-verification@uow.edu.au for any questions or further assistance.

NSW Health strongly recommends and prefers that all students attending or planning to attend a placement in NSW Health obtain their COVID-19 vaccination, in consultation with a General Practitioner if required.
 
Students can make a booking for vaccination by visiting the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Checker, which gives them access to a number of COVID-19 vaccination clinics across NSW including GP and NSW Health clinics. When booking their appointment, students need to identify as a ‘health care worker’. All students will need to provide proof of occupation, which can be in the form of a university ID card or an enrolment confirmation letter from the University.

Students will be required to dress according to the dress code at the agency they are placed. Students will have a pre-placement interview with the agency and will determine this at that time.

Not required for Psychology Placements.

The University will attempt to secure placement opportunities in various locations predominately throughout the Illawarra/Shoalhaven as well as Sydney region. However, some placements may be located outside of this area and may result in students having to travel to places that are relatively distant from campus and their residences in order to benefit from a range of placement experiences. The student’s learning needs and placement experience will take priority over the distance of the placement. The student is responsible for all costs associated with undertaking a field placement.

Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH) offer regular Rural and Remote Scholarships.

Other opportunities may also be available via the Australian Psychological Society.

There may be opportunities to undertake a remote or overseas field placement in the final year of study. In these instances, the student must bear the travel, insurance, accommodation and all other costs involved. In order to undertake an overseas placement, the student will have to meet additional guidelines set by the university and Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). The Placement Coordinator can provide further information about the particular criteria for remote and overseas field placements as required.