Placement requirements
Getting ready for placements
Pre-placement requirements are necessary for health professionals working with government, private practice, and health organisations, ensuring they can safely practice in the workplace. As a student undertaking a placement in these settings, you will be required to complete immunisation and health screening requirements to meet the contractual agreements with the organisation and the university’s pre-placement requirements before you can start their placement. The university calls this compliance - it is compulsory for all students. You will not be able to commence their placement until they are compliant, as such, you should start this process as soon as you are enrolled in your course, as some requirements can take many months to complete.
Things to note
The below compliance information should be used as a guide to help you become compliant to undertake a placement within the Faculty of Health at Charles Darwin University (CDU). In becoming compliant, it is important to know:
- Student contact details (especially their address) need to be correct in ‘My Student Info’. This information is used to allocate a student a placement.
- All pre-placement documents must be current for the entire duration of a student’s placement. If these documents are due to expire while a student is on placement, they must be renewed before the student starts their placement.
- Students need to allow time to complete all of the pre-placement requirements.
- Police, Children, and Vulnerable People clearances may take up to 3 months.
- Immunisations may require multiple doses and can take up to 8 months before the student is considered compliant.
- Students need to provide evidence of their immunisation status. This needs to be completed by a medical practitioner or immunisation provider (where students have this evidence, they can upload directly).
- Students need to keep their vaccination and serology documents safe. The host organisation can ask to view these documents during their placement.
- Students may be required to complete additional organisation-specific placement requirements. These will need to be completed before a student can start their placement.
- These pre-placement requirements are stipulated by the Faculty of Health, CDU.
The approval process
Pre-placement documents need to be verified by the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) team before you can commence their placement. If the appropriate documents/evidence is not provided, the WIL team will mark the compliance as ‘rejected’ and provide details as to why. You will need to upload the correct/additional documents to be verified. If rejected again, you are encouraged to contact the WIL team for assistance. You should not ignore any requests from the WIL team regarding their compliance as it may result in their placement being cancelled. It is a student's responsibility to make Faculty of Health sure they check their CDU email account, as this is how the university communicates with you. Students should allow up to 5 business days for their documents to be verified by the WIL team. Placements are generally confirmed 8 weeks before the placement start date, hence the verification process is based on allocated placement dates.
Pre-placement requirements
Work-integrated learning and placement units have several essential requirements which apply regardless of which course or state you are in. These include:
| Requirement | Details | Expiry |
| Student ID Card | Mandatory for all students. Your Student ID Card must be accessible at all times while on placement. | Annually (must be valid) |
| Student Placement Agreement | Mandatory for all students. The Student Placement Agreement (PDF, 288.91 KB) must be read and fully signed. Please upload all pages to InPlace as one PDF document. | Annually |
| Student Deed Poll | Mandatory for all students. A new Student Deed Poll (PDF, 276.83 KB) must be completed for each placement. The form must be read and fully signed. Please upload all pages to InPlace as one PDF document. | For each placement |
| Fitness to Practice Declaration | Mandatory for all students. Students must ackowledge any areas of concern using the Fitness to Practice Declaration (PDF, 294.02 KB). Please upload all pages of the fully signed declaration to InPlace as one PDF document. | Annually |
| National Police Check | Mandatory for all students. National Police Check should have an accessible link or QR code for verification. Please note that Crime Checks are not supported. | 1 year |
| Working with Children Check/Working with Vulnerable People | Mandatory for all students. Please upload a scan of your current card. You will need a check that is valid for the state/territory in which you are undertaking your placement. | 2-5 years (as per the expiry date on the card) |
Immunisation requirements
As a consequence of working in a medical environment, there are several immunisation requirements which apply regardless of which course or state you are in.
| Requirement | Details | Expiry |
| Influenza | Mandatory for all students. Evidence for the current year's influenza vaccine must be submitted (usually available from March onwards). | Annually |
| COVID-19 | Mandatory for all students. Evidence of COVID-19 vaccinations (minimum 2 doses) | No expiry |
| Hepatitis B | Mandatory for all students. Evidence of 3 doses and a serology report indicating immunity is required. A full primary course must be completed before commencing a booster dose. If you cannot provide evidence of the full course (3 doses), a Statutory Declaration is accepted - it must state that the full course of Hepatitis B vaccinations was completed. The Statutory Declaration needs to be scanned with a serology indicating immunity and uploaded as one document. Accelerated schedules are not accepted. | No expiry Dose 1: 0 months Serology is required 4 weeks after Dose 3. |
| Diptheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (dTpa) | Mandatory for all students. Evidence of a dTpa vaccine (Boostrix) from within the last 10 years is required. Serology reports are not accepted. | 10 years |
| Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) | Mandatory for all students. Evidence of 2 doses of an MMR vaccine or a serology report indicating strong immunity. | No expiry Dose 1: 0 months |
| Varicella (Chickenpox) | Mandatory for all students. Evidence of 2 doses of a Varicella vaccine or a serology report indicating immunity | No expiry |
| TB screening | Mandatory for all students. Subject to State/Territory requirements. If the test returns a Positive result, you must provide a clearance from your GP/Chest clinic stating that you are able to commence your placement. It must have a 6 month expiry date. | No expiry |
| Hepatitis A | Mandatory for NT/WA students. Evidence of 2 doses of a Hepatitis A vaccine or a serology report indicating immunity. | No expiry Dose 1: 0 months |
| MRSA Screening | Mandatory for WA students. MRSA screening from a minimum of 2 swab sites (nose, throat, and skin lesion). This screening should indicated Not Isolated or Not Detected. | No expiry |
Online requirements
| Requirement | Details | Expiry |
| Equal Opportunity Online training | The Equal Opportunity Online training is mandatory for all students. Complete Module 1 'Diversity and Inclusion on Campus' Upload a copy of your certificate. | No expiry |
| First Nations Cultural Safety training | Mandatory for all students. Complete the following:
Upload evidence of completion to InPlace. | No expiry |
| Hand Hygiene Certificate | Mandatory for all students. Complete the 'Hand Hygiene for Clinical Healthcare Workers' module. Upload a copy of your certificate to InPlace. | Annually |
Course specific requirements
| Requirement | Details | Expiry |
| AHPRA Registration | This is mandatory for all Clinical Psychology students. | Annually |
| All about allergens for Hospitals: Kitchen Managers and Supervisors | This certificate is mandatory for all Dietetics students. Complete 'All about allergens for Hospitals: Kitchen Managers and Supervisors' and upload a copy of your certificate. | 3 years |
| Blood Borne Virus Declaration | This declaration is mandatory for all Oral Health students. Upload all pages of this declaration as one pdf document. | Annually |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate | This certificate is mandatory for all Nursing, Midwifery, ESS, Dietetics, and SLT students. The course must have the course code HLTAID009. 100% online courses will not be accepted. Workplace certificates/BLS are accepted with relevant details including your name and a reference to HLTAID009. It is generally your responsibility to find a course provider. | Annually |
| DoFoodSafely certificate | This certificate is mandatory for Dietetics students. Complete the online training and upload a copy of your certificate to InPlace | 3 years |
| First Aid certificate | This certificate is mandatory for all UG Nursing, UG Midwifery, ESS, Dietetics, and SLT students. The course must have the course code HLTAID011. 100% online courses will not be accepted. A letter from your employer with the same details is also acceptable. It is generally your responsibility to find a course provider. | 3 years |
| Fit Test (N95 Face Mask) | A Fit Test is generally required for Nursing and Midwifery students. You will be notified if you are required to submit this documentation. Evidence of a mask fit must include your name, date tested, type/brand of mask. A letter from your employer or GP with the same details is also acceptable. | Annually (unless otherwise directed) |
| Manual Handling Certificate | This certificate is required for Nursing and Midwifery students. Online courses are not acceptable for this certificate. Workplace certificates/BLS are accpetable with relevant details including your name and a reference to Health Care Manual Handling. | Annually |
| Meningococcal Vaccine | This vaccination is required for all Medical Laboratory Science students. You must provide evidence of vaccination or a serology report indicating immunity. | No expiry |
| National disability insurance scheme (NDIS) worker screening clearance | This clearance is generally required for Nursing, Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, SLT, Dietetics, and Physiotherapy. You will be notified if you are required to submit this documentation. You are required to submit this if you are confirmed to be attending an NDIS facility. | 5 years |
Northern Territory (NT) requirements
| Requirement | Details | Expiry |
| NT Department of Health Deed of Undertaking | The NT Department of Health Deed of Undertaking must be completed if you are confirmed to be attending an NT Department of Health facility.
| No Expiry |
| Territory Families Deed of Undertaking | Only required if confirmed to attend Territory Families (TFHC) facility. You will be notified if this is required. | Annually |
| Territory Families Placement Application | Only required if confirmed to attend Territory Families (TFHC) facility. | Annually |
| St John Ambulance Agreement | Mandatory for NT Paramedicine students. Complete and upload to InPlace (including name, date, and signature). | Annually |
South Australia (SA) requirements
| Requirement | Details | Expiry |
| SA Deed Poll | Read the Clinical Placement Requirements for Healthcare Students handbook and complete the SA Health Student Deed Poll. | No expiry |
| DHS Clearance | SA Department of Human Services - Screening unit. Apply for/renew your DHS Clearance and upload a photo of your card to InPlace. | No expiry |
| Sunrise EMR training | Sunrise EMR Training is mandatory for SA students. Upload a screenshot of the completed training - it must include your name, your grade, and date/time of completion. You will need a score of at least 80% or higher. | Annually |
Western Australia (WA) requirements
| Requirement | Details | Expiry |
| Criminal Record Screening Clearance Card | A Criminal Record Screening Clearance Card is required for all WA Health services. Upload a photo of your card to InPlace | 3 years |
Queensland (QLD) requirements
| Requirement | Details | Expiry |
| QLD Health Deed Poll | A copy of the QLD Health Deed Poll must be completed for each placement in a QLD Government Health Facility. Read and upload a signed copy to InPlace (must be witnessed). The first page must be filled in the CDU's name and ABN details. Upload all pages as one document to InPlace | For each placement |
| QLD Health Student Orientation Checklist | A copy of this checklist must be completed for each placement in a QLD Government Health Facility. Read 'Preparing for your Clinical Placement' and complete the Student Orientation Checklist (including ilearn training), and sign and date. Upload all pages as a single PDF document. | For each placement |
| Fit Test (N95 Face Mask) | A valid Fit Test must be submitted for each placement in a QLD Government Health Facility. You will be notified if this is required. Evidence of a mask fit must include your name, date tested, and type/brand of mask. | For each placement |
New South Wales (NSW) requirements
| Requirement | Details | Expiry |
| BBV Student Declaration Form | A copy of the BBV Student Declaration Form must be completed for each placement in a NSW Department of Health facility. This is only required if your discipline has exposure-prone procedures (Medicine, Midwifery, Paramedicine, Oral Therapy) and you are confirmed to attend a NSW Department of Health facility. | For each placement |
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) requirements
| Requirement | Details | Expiry |
| ACT Health Form | The ACT Health Form (PDF, 322.26 KB) is only required if you are confirmed to be attending a Canberra Health Services facility. | No expiry |
Need assistance?
If you need assistance with WIL/Placement enquires, please contact the WIL team 08 8998 4205, or email us at foh_compliance@cdu.edu.au or foh_placements@cdu.edu.au.
When contacting the WIL team via email, please use your CDU student email account and include your student number and state and placement query in the subject line. This will decrease the amount of time it will take to receive a response.