If you're studying a health-related degree, a core part of your course will be a placement in a health facility. Before you start, you need to complete some checks and clearances.
To attend a placement in a NSW Ministry of Health facility, you need to be verified by NSW Health. This means meeting the mandatory immunisation and police check requirements, which protect you, other students, staff and patients.
If you are a current NSW Ministry of Health employee, you still need to get verified as a student by the NSW Ministry of Health before your placement.
We'll let you know during enrolment what checks and clearances are required for your course. Depending on your placement and faculty or school requirements, you may also need to get a Working With Children Check.
Student Verification will be in contact when it is time to start the verification process. Check the table to find out which documents apply to you.
| Who this applies to | Documents required |
|---|---|
| All students |
|
| International students without permanent residency (including New Zealand) | NSW Health Statutory Declaration |
| Students with MMR serology on their vaccination report card | Rubella serology report |
| If Hepatitis B records are unavailable | Appendix 9 Hepatitis B statutory declaration |
| Medicine, dentistry and oral health students | Blood borne virus declaration |
The vaccination and immunisation requirements are outlined under a NSW Ministry of Health policy directive.
Before your placement, you need evidence you're protected against:
Completing any vaccinations you still need can take up to six months. You can get vaccinations and advice through the University Health Service on Camperdown Campus.
You need TB screening if you meet any of the following criteria:
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. A chest X-ray only detects active TB, not latent or silent TB, which does not cause any symptoms but can become active or infectious later.
If you are in the first year of your degree you can be granted a six-month temporary compliant status, and can attend placements during this six‐month period, provided you have:
You need to complete your hepatitis B vaccination schedule and TB 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.
If you're attending a placement between 1 June and 30 September, you need an influenza vaccination every year. You must have the current southern hemisphere influenza vaccine registered for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Ask your doctor, vaccination nurse or pharmacist to update your NSW Health Adult Vaccination Record or Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Effective 16 May 2024, NSW Health no longer requires students to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
All students and healthcare workers are, however, strongly recommended to stay up to date with COVID-19 immunisation, as recommended for their age and health status by Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
If you're a commencing medicine, dentistry or oral health student, complete the Attachment 1 blood borne virus declaration form (pdf, 58KB) and have NSW Health verify it before your first clinical placement. You need to repeat this every three years.
Refer to the Information for healthcare students who perform exposure prone procedures (pdf, 97KB).
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You need a national police check (also known as a police certificate, police clearance certificate, criminal history check or criminal record check) before you can attend a placement in a NSW Ministry of Health facility. Many other placements also require this check. Your check needs to be clear, and it's valid for five years from the date of issue.
The name on your national police check must match the name on your University student identification card. If the names don't match, NSW Health won't accept the check. If your name changes during your degree, you will need to get and submit a new check.
Apply online for a national police check through one of the accredited bodies listed on the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) website.
If you're an international student or have lived overseas since you turned 18, you also need to provide a completed NSW Health statutory declaration. This needs to be signed by an authorised witness, such as a Justice of the Peace.
A criminal history won't always stop you from attending your placement. You'll need to apply for a risk assessment through NSW Health's Employment Screening and Review Unit. You can find out how in the 'Australian National Police Check' section on the Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) website.
Depending on the nature of your criminal history, you may be provided with a Clinical Placement Authority Card or a Conditional Letter and will be allowed to complete your clinical placement.
If you are completing a clinical placement, you need to respect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals at all times. This means you can’t comment or share information about your placement or anyone involved in your placement.
You need to be familiar with the content of the NSW Health Privacy Management Plan and comply with:
If you do not comply with rules governing ethical practice, you may be removed from your placement and could receive a fail grade.
If you have gained full or temporary compliance, you will be able to attend your placement.
If you have been assessed as unable to either temporarily or permanently meet one or more of these mandatory requirements, contact Student Verification.
Available 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday
