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Clinical placement checks and clearances
Vaccination and immunisation
Requirements
The requirements are outlined under a NSW Ministry of Health policy directive and the Public Health (COVID-19 Vaccination of Health Care Workers) Order 2021 (pdf, 250KB).
You will need to have completed vaccinations before you start your placement and show evidence of protection against the following infectious diseases:
- COVID-19 - see further information below
- dTpa – Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Hepatitis B*
- MMR – Measles, Mumps, Rubella
- Varicella (Chicken Pox)
- TB – Tuberculosis – via risk assessment tool
*Carrying Hepatitis B does not necessarily preclude you from meeting NSW Ministry of Health verification requirements.
If you have not already had the required vaccinations you need to complete this process which can take up to six months. Vaccinations and advice are available through the University Health Service at the Camperdown Campus.
If you are a higher degree by research student, check the requirements below and contact Work Integrated Learning at fmh-hdr.verification@sydney.edu.au as they will manage the submission of your documents to NSW Health.
Tuberculosis (TB) screening
TB testing will be required if you meet any of the following criteria.
- You were born in a high-incidence tuberculosis country.
- You have lived or travelled a cumulative 3 months or more during your lifetime in any of the high-incidence countries.
- You have had contact that could result in transmission of infection with someone known to have TB.
The above criteria also apply to higher degree by research students attending a NSW Health facility.
The University Health Service offers TB screening. Both an IGRA (QUANTAFERON GOLD test) and Mantoux Skin Test are acceptable evidence you have been tested for TB under the Occupational Screening Policy (2018). Depending on your result, you may be required to have a chest x‐ray.
If you're a student visa holder and had a chest x-ray when you applied for your student visa, you will still need to have a TB screening if you meet any of the above criteria. Chest X-rays only show active or infectious tuberculosis. You may have latent or silent tuberculosis which does not show on a chest x‐ray. Latent or silent tuberculosis does not cause any symptoms but can progress to active or infectious tuberculosis.
Attending placements if you need TB screening
If you are in the first year of your degree you can be granted a 6 month temporary compliant status, and can attend placements during this 6‐month period, provided you have:
- completed all other vaccination requirements (including at least one documented dose of hepatitis B vaccine)
- submitted your criminal record check to Student Verification for processing.
You need to complete your hepatitis B vaccination schedule and tuberculosis screening during this six‐month period or your temporary verification will lapse.
You can't attend a placement after this six‐month period until you show evidence you have completed your hepatitis B vaccination schedule and TB screening.
Influenza Vaccination
Annual influenza vaccination is mandatory for all students who are attending a placement between 1 June and 30 September each year. Students must receive the current southern hemisphere influenza vaccine registered for use by the TGA. You should also have your local doctor, vaccination nurse or pharmacist update the information on your NSW Health Adult Vaccination Record or Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Student Placements and COVID-19
Under NSW Health’s updated policy, all students on placement must have evidence of three TGA approved COVID-19 vaccinations, or an exemption, entered into ClinConnect.
Students will be allowed to start placement if they have had two doses of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine and completed all other vaccination requirements and submitted a written undertaking to complete the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for dose three within six weeks of the dose 3 due date. Students will not be allowed to continue their placement if they have not had their third dose within 19 weeks after their second dose.
Students who have been infected with COVID-19 may delay receiving a COVID-19 vaccination for up to four months following infection. Temporary compliance status for up to four months will be granted if the student provides evidence in the form of:
- For dose 1 or 2 of a COVID-19 vaccine - evidence must be on a Medical Contraindication Form
- For dose 3 of a COVID-19 vaccine - evidence can be in the form of a positive PCR test or registration of a positive rapid antigen test (RAT). Four months temporary compliance will be granted from the positive result. If the student wishes to defer dose 3 for a period longer than 4 months, then a Medical Contraindication Form will be required.
If you are allocated to a NSW Health clinical placement, it is important that you need to prioritise any mandatory vaccinations as per the following NSW Health policy:
COVID Contraindication
All students who are unable to receive two doses of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine due to a medical contraindication to all the available TGA approved COVID-19 vaccines, are required to provide evidence of their circumstances.
The Australian Immunisation Register - Immunisation medical exemption form (IM011) is the only approved form in NSW to provide evidence of a medical contraindication to COVID-19 vaccination. Please find out more information on completing the form.
You may visit the NSW Government Health Education and Training website for more information on Student Placements and COVID-19 FAQs.
Blood borne virus declaration (Medicine, Dentistry and Oral Health students)
Commencing students in the disciplines of medicine, dentistry or oral health will need to complete the Attachment 1 blood borne virus declaration form (pdf, 58KB) and have it verified by NSW Health before your first clinical placement. You will need to repeat this process every three years.
Refer to the Information for healthcare students who perform exposure prone procedures (pdf, 97KB).
Last updated: 31 January 2023
