Preparing for placements

What do you need to do before you can start a clinical placement with ACT Health? This section provides all the information you will need to comply with the mandatory placement requirements, including documentation, elearning, manual handling training, access cards, accommodation and placement contacts.

Placement pre-requisites for allocation

Before students’ names are uploaded on to the InPlace/InPlace Network system (four weeks prior to scheduled start date), Education Providers are responsible for verifying the documentary evidence and confirming in writing that students meet ACT Health requirements for:

  • National Police Check (NPC)
  • Working With Vulnerable People check (WWVP)
  • Immunity check

As the NPC and WWVP checks may take some time to process, students are encouraged to submit these to their education provider well in advance of their first placement and that they are mindful of the expiry dates of the checks to ensure that they remain current.

No later than two weeks before the start of their placement, students are to have completed:

  • Mandatory e-learning
  • National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) Student Health Practitioner Module
  • Student Acknowledgement form
National Police Check (NPC)

A National Police Check is a mandatory requirement for all students on placement within ACT Health.

No student may commence placement at ACT Health prior to a National Police Check and issuing and assessment of a National Police Certificate.

ACT Health will accept a National Police Certificate from the Australian Federal Police, the National Police Checking Service, State Police, and accredited organisations, provided it is dated no more than twelve (12) months prior to the first clinical placement with ACT Health.

Please see the links below to the AFP police check and the ACIC list of accredited organisations.

AFP - https://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/services/criminal-records/national-police-checks

ACIC - https://www.acic.gov.au/

A NPC for health/hospital workers in the ACT provides a complete disclosure certificate, which means all recorded offences are released.

Students are to provide a copy of their National Police Certificate to their Education Provider placement coordinator well in advance of a scheduled ACT Health clinical placement date.

Students with positive police checks are required to complete an ‘Authorisation to Investigate’ form and provide their National Police Certificate with a statement to their education provider. The Education Provider will forward it directly to either the CPO Manager or, for Allied Health students only, to the CPO Allied Health Placement Officer. Clearance for placement will be sought from ACT Health’s People and Culture Branch.  Clearance must be obtained prior to the student being allocated for placement.

ACT Health will determine whether a student or trainee with a criminal record is accepted for any clinical placement in accordance with the CPO NPC review process. Where the placement concerns a student or trainee who is not affiliated with an Education Provider, the student or trainee should submit the required information directly to the CPO.

For International Students and Trainees

International students may be required to undertake a local police check, as well as an Australian National Police Check prior to placement with ACT Health.

Medical – All requests for elective/selective placements within ACT Health facilities are organised through the Australian National University (ANU).

Students must provide an Australian National Criminal History Check to ANU.

Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health – Students must provide an Australian National Criminal History Check to CPO.

Working with vulnerable people check

The Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 (the WWVP Act) commenced on 8 November 2012. It aims to reduce the risk of harm or neglect to vulnerable people in the ACT.

The WWVP Act requires those who work or volunteer with vulnerable people to have a background check and be registered.

The premise of background checking is that the past behaviour of an individual can provide an indication of the possible future behaviour of that individual. Examples or patterns of abusive or inappropriate behaviour can sometimes be evident in information available for assessment, which includes an individual’s criminal record.

The ACT Government considers that the creation of a checking system with appropriate safeguards for people who work with, or who want to work with vulnerable people is consistent with section 28 of the Human Rights Act 2004.

How to apply

Students who hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) do not need to apply for an ACT WWVP card. Interstate students who hold a current WWVP card or equivalent and a clear National Police Check (NPC) are not required to apply for an ACT WWVP card. 

You can apply by completing an online application

Applicants who are unable to access the online application form should contact Access Canberra for further assistance, including alternative lodgement options.

Access Canberra will conduct a thorough risk assessment of your conviction and non-conviction history, and any other information relevant to the background screening process.

Based on the outcome of the risk assessment you may be issued with a registration card with a unique identifying registration number that is valid for up to five years. You must carry the card at all times while engaged in a regulated activity as you may be asked to produce it to verify current registration.

For students that reside interstate, CPO will accept their state's equivalent certification (ie. Working with children certification). 

Immunity checks

ACT Health requires that all students and trainees who undertake placements in Health Directorate facilities are covered by an appropriate level of immunisation against infectious disease before commencement of clinical placement. All students and trainees must comply with the ACT Health’s Occupational, Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.

Immunity checks are to be undertaken at student’s own cost.

Education Providers must collate and verify evidence that each student has received the required occupational assessment, screening, education and immunisation when uploading student details on to InPlace/InPlace Network. This must be done at least one month before students commence their placement.

Trainees who are not attached to an Education Provider will need to submit a documented screening and immunisation history to the CPO. 

Unless specifically stated, the evidence can be either:

  • A record of vaccination provided and signed by an accredited vaccination provider

or

  • Serological confirmation of protection.

Dental, medical and midwifery students will need to show documented evidence of serological testing for the following Blood Borne Viruses in addition to the regular evidence of protection as required of other students:

- For Human Immunodeficiency Virus: HIV Ab/Ag test

- For Hepatitis C Virus – HCV Antibody

All students require the following documented evidence of protection:

ACT Health Student Vaccination Requirements

DiseaseEvidence of vaccinationSerology resultsOther evidence
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis

One adult dose of diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis vaccine (dTPA). 

Not ADT

Serology will not be acceptedNot applicable
Hepatitis BHistory of completed age-appropriate course of Hepatitis B vaccineANDAnti-HBs greater than or equal to 10mIU/mlORDocumented evidence of anti-HBc.
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)2 doses of MMR vaccine at least one month apartORPositive IgG for measles, mumps and rubellaNot applicable
Varicella (chicken pox)2 doses of varicella vaccine at least one month apart (evidence of one dose is sufficient if the person was vaccinated before 14 years of age)ORPositive IgG for varicellaORHistory of chicken pox or physician-diagnosed shingles (varicella IgG preferred is uncertain)
Tuberculosis (TB)Not applicableInterferon-Gamma Release Immunoassay (IGRA) - TB QuantiferonORTuberculin skin test (TST)
Influenza (Flu)Annual influenza vaccination, noting it is preferable for the flu vaccine to be administered between the months of March and June through to September.  This vaccine is recommended but not mandatory.Not applicableNot applicable
COVID-19

Two doses of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine (in accordance with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) minimum intervals)

OR

Previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 as demonstrated by documentation* of detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by a medical pathology laboratory using nucleic acid amplification (also known as PCR test)

OR

Previous infection without immunisation against SARS-CoV-2 as demonstrated by documentation* of detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in the blood by a medical pathology laboratory (Note: this evidence should ONLY be used if either of the above evidence if not available)

* Documentation includes a hard copy or electronic report from a Medical Pathology Laboratory.

A copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate which should be carried while on placement.

Not applicableNot applicable

For further information refer to forms 1,3 and 4 and information sheets 2,3 and 4 in the Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Procedure.

Documented evidence of TB screening will only be deemed acceptable if that screening was performed in an accredited TB screening facility within Australia. The accredited TB screening facility in the ACT is the Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Canberra Hospital.

Vaccination Recommendations for ACT Pathology Personnel-Other Specified Infectious Diseases

VaccinationRecommendations
Bexsero (4CMenB)
Recombinant multicomponent meningococcal B Vaccine
Recommended for personnel who frequently handle cultured material containing Neisseria Meningitidis.
Menveo or Menactra (4vMenCV)
Quadrivalent conjugate meningococcal A, C, W135, Y vaccine
Hepatitis ARecommended for personnel who handle faecal specimens
TB screening
  • The ACT Health Directorate requires all students to undergo TB screening before they start placement.
  • A negative screening test is current if the test was performed within the last 3 years or at least 3 months following a potential exposure or at risk activity (whichever is less).
  • Students who have travelled to high TB endemic countries for periods of 3 months or more are required to have repeat screening.
  • Evidence of TB immunity may be either an:
    • Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) – TB Quantiferon blood test, for which a GP referral is needed or
    • Tuberculin skin test (TST) which has been completed at an Accredited Chest Clinic.

Please note – A Tuberculin Skin test cannot be performed within 4 weeks of Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) or Varicella vaccine.  Please attend TB screening prior to MMR vaccination. 

Acknowledgement form

Every individual attending a placement with ACT Health is to complete an Acknowledgement form .

The form is to be completed annually through HRIMS Learning.

Mandatory e-learning

Once your details have been received by the Clinical Placement Office, they will create you an account within HRIMS eLearning.  Please be advised that this may take 2-3 days. You will receive an email with your username and password for HRIMS eLearning.

All students are to complete the e-learning modules listed on their HRIMS eLearning account two weeks before the start of their placement.

The e-learning courses will not work on a tablet or smart phone and you will need to use an up-to-date browser. 

Canberra Health Services ID and access (proximity) card

All students need to go to the Security Office at Canberra Hospital before their first placement, whether this is with CHS or at North Canberra Hospital, so that they can collect an ACT Health ID card.

All students must clearly display ACT Health student identification and introduce themselves as a student at all times during placement.

All students will be allocated ‘TCH General’ access when their placement is processed, so they will also be given an access card with their ID. This is activated remotely only when students are on placement with CHS.

Students can keep the ID and access cards for the duration of their training before returning them to the Security Office.

How to obtain the cards

Things to prepare - You will need to show 3 forms of identification (e.g driver’s licence, student card, Medicare card, credit card, passport etc).

Collection Process:

  • The card will be issued to you by Security Office staff.

 All cards need to be returned to TCH security desk on the last day of placement.

Returning students can keep their cards until the completion of their final placement.

Student Types

Nursing and Midwifery Students

  • Local students: Cards are to be collected at least one week before placement. 
  • Interstate students: Cards are to be collected on the first day of placement.
  • Returning students who have multiple placements can keep their cards until the completion of their final placement. Proximity cards will be re-activated electronically once students have been allocated placements.

Allied Health Students

  • Check with your Clinical Educator, Manager, Supervisor or Team Leader on arrangements prior to placement.

Medical Students

Notes

  • The cards are electronically monitored and will be activated during placement only.
  • Please contact the Security Office if you have lost or need to change your card or if it is not working.
  • For lost cards, students will be required to complete a RISKMAN report with your ward supervisor.

Contact Information

Canberra Hospital:

   Clinical Placement Office

2-6 Bowes Street Phillip ACT 2606

Tel: (02) 5124 5887

Open: 8.30-17.00

   Security Office

 

Building 2, Level 2 (Next to Main Reception)

Tel: (02) 5124 2141

Open: 08:30-16:00
Accommodation information

CHS does not provide student accommodation. Students are required to source their own accommodation with private businesses such as:

Canberra Accommodation Centre (on Northbourne Ave)
Phone: 02 6140 3226
Email: stay@canberra-accomodation.com.au

University of Canberra - Uni Lodge
Phone: 02 6185 1820

Uni Gardens
Phone: 02 6162 4184
Email: info@unigardens.com.au
 

Canberra Health Services, North Canberra Hospital and University of Canberra Hospital Contact Lists

This section is for students who have been allocated placements and need to contact their supervisors/clinical managers.  Please refer to the sections below for your discipline’s contact list for Canberra Health Services (CHS) and North Canberra Hospital (NCH).

The contact details below are not to be used for general placement enquiries or by students who are seeking clinical placements.

For Nursing and Midwifery Students

For Allied Health Students

For Medical Students

Page last updated on: 5 Mar 2024