Clinical rehabilitation clinical placement requirements

Clinical placements form a part of the postgraduate Clinical Rehabilitation degree. Depending on your enrolment, this may be a requirement for degree completion. For other students, a clinical placement may form an elective topic.

During REHB8030 Clinical Rehabilitation Practice students undertake a clinical placement two full days a week from Week 4-Week 12 of the Semester within an Adelaide rehabilitation setting in addition to weekly topic content. Whilst on placement, students will observe, assess, treat and review rehabilitation plans, and receive valuable feedback from supervising clinicians. Particularly beneficial to those with experience outside the Australian health system who are wanting to reinforce their education within the local Australian context, or those seeking further clinical exposure, this topic will provide a basis for understanding holistic, integrated, team-based care.

The 2-week full-time clinical placement for REHB9041 Advanced Practice in Neurological Physiotherapy/REHB9043 Neurological Occupational Therapy Advanced Practice is undertaken at Flinders Medical Centre in the Rehabilitation and Palliative Care building. It involves direct neurological physiotherapy or occupational therapy clinical sessions with both in/outpatients, masterclass workshops, clinical demonstrations, clinical vivas, and presentations. Some assessments are completed during the placement, with some follow up reflective case studies submitted in the months afterwards.

Clinical rehabilitation pre-placement compliance checklist

Prerequisites for placement

Compliance requirements for placement eligibility

Activity	What you need to do	Form / more information	Submit to
Fitness for placement declaration	Declare your fitness for placement by reading and acknowledging the Fitness for Placement statement on InPlace. Let the University know if you have an access plan.	N/A	InPlace
Student consent for placement	Read and acknowledge the relevant essential conditions around student consent for placement using the applicable form. (Please note: if you are required to undertake multiple placements during your degree, you may be required to read both student consent documents, check with your WIL Support Team if you are unsure.)	Placements undertaken outside Flinders University - Student Consent for Placement Statement (PDF) OR Placements undertaken within Flinders University ONLY - Student Consent for Internal WIL Placement with Flinders University Statement (PDF)	InPlace
Intellectual property for placement	Watch the student IP declaration, then acknowledge your understanding in InPlace. Watch the IP counselling video.	Student Intellectual Property Statement (PDF)	InPlace
Emergency Contact	Confirm your emergency contact details are up to date in the Student Information System.		Student System
Student Declaration for Placement	Read and acknowledge the Student Declaration for Placement. If you agree with it, you will be eligible for placement.	Student Declaration for Placement (PDF)	InPlace
Police Check	You will need to provide a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC).	Police Check detailed information	InPlace

Activity	What you need to do	Form / more information	Submit to
Police Check	You will need to provide a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC).	Police Check detailed information	InPlace
SA Tuberculosis Services screening	Complete the online questionnaire and follow any instructions you receive by email from SA TB services. Upload your questionnaire results to InPlace. IMPORTANT: Some vaccinations can interfere with the blood test that is used to screen for Tuberculosis. For this reason, you should delay any vaccinations until AFTER you have been cleared by SA TB Services, or until you have received your IGRA test results.	Tuberculosis Services clearance information pack (PDF) SA TB Services student questionnaire	InPlace
Immunisation Compliance Certificate	See a GP to complete and document the necessary immunisation requirements on the Immunisation Compliance Certificate.	Immunisation compliance detailed information	InPlace
COVID-19 Vaccination	Ensure you have received a course of COVID-19 vaccinations and maintain your immunity as per SA/Federal Health Government Department directions. Book an appointment	Not applicable	InPlace
SA Health Better Placed Deed Poll	Read, understand and sign the SA Health Better Placed Deed Poll	Better Placed Deed Poll information and form	InPlace
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)	Book and attend a practical training session. Upload evidence of completion.	CPR training compliance information	InPlace
Hand hygiene	Undertake the online National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) module: Hand Hygiene for Clinical Healthcare Workers Online Learning Module Upload the certificate.	NHHI - Complete learning module	InPlace

Detailed compliance information

Police Check (NCCHC)

Students must supply a valid Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) prior to the commencement of their placement.

Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC)

Valid for three years from date of issue

Commonly referred to as a Police Check, a National Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) is a document that lists all criminal convictions recorded against a person in the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) database. For more information visit the ACIC website.

Police Checks (NCCHCs) can be issued by:

State and Territory or
Private brokers that have been accredited by the ACIC

An acceptable Police Check (NCCHC) must meet the following requirements:

The following information is provided to assist you complete an application form for your Police Check:
Reason for Check – University Student Placement
Proposed Place of Work – Health/Aged Care Sector
Location – Adelaide, South Australia

Please note – if you are completing a Police Check for a Northern Territory placement, please follow the instruction provided by Flinders NT or your discipline specific checklist. In the absence of this advice, follow the above instructions to complete the application form.

Students are responsible for the cost of obtaining their Police Check (NCCHC).

Students completing placements in South Australia may choose to apply for a Police Check (NCCHC) directly through their local police, or through a commercial broker. If a Police Check (NCCHC) is required urgently (e.g. sooner than 4 – 5 weeks) then it is advisable to apply online through an accredited broker that offers fast turnaround.

Police Check (NCCHC) providers:

South Australia Police (SAPOL) - We strongly recommend you use the SAPOL Police Check as this the most accepted document.
Third party providers are https://flinders.checked.com.au and www.cvcheck.com.
State clearances are most widely accepted across organisations and interstate, third party provided clearances may not be accepted by host organisations outside of the control of the University.

Please note that Flinders University does not endorse these providers and cannot guarantee their turnaround times.

What happens if there are offences listed on my Police Check?

Students with criminal convictions should to refer to the SA Health Criminal and Relevant History Screening Policy Directive. Students with serious criminal convictions may be precluded from placement. Students with criminal convictions are advised to meet with their course coordinator to discuss their ability to satisfy the requirements of their placement topic.

Will you accept a Teachers Registration Board (TRB) Registration Certificate?

No. The Teachers Registration Board (TRB) undertakes a Police Check (Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check) as part of the registration process, however, no outcomes are listed on the registration certificate. You are required to obtain a separate Police Check (NCCHC).

How can I obtain a replacement Police Check?

Replacement Police Checks (NCCHCs) can sometimes be obtained by contacting the organisation that issued the original certificate. In many cases, students who have lost their Police Check (NCCHC) will need to apply for a new one.

Immunisation and vaccinations

Valid indefinitely.

The Immunisation Compliance Certificate sets out the immunisation requirements for students and identifies acceptable evidence of immunity for each disease. The Immunisation Compliance Certificate must be completed by an immunisation provider, this can include General Practitioners (GPs) or Registered Nurses (RNs).

Students are responsible for:

Understanding the immunisation requirements.
Ensuring the immunisation provider completes the Immunisation Compliance Certificate correctly.
Ensuring the immunisation provider provides the student with evidence of immunity, including vaccination records and blood test results (serology).

Completing the Immunisation Compliance Certificate may require several appointments with an immunisation provider. The schedule of appointments will vary depending upon previous vaccination history and the availability of medical records. A typical appointment schedule may include:

First appointment
- Review vaccination history
- Request blood test to determine immunity
Follow-up appointments
- Administer vaccinations according to schedule
- Blood test to determine immunity post-vaccination (required for Hepatitis B).

Who can complete the Immunisation Compliance Certificate?

The Immunisation Compliance Certificate must be completed by an immunisation provider in Australia. This can include General Practitioners (GPs) and Registered Nurses (RNs). Students are encouraged to utilise the Flinders University Health, Counselling and Disability service.

Can Hepatitis B immunity be confirmed by vaccination record?

No. Immunity to Hepatitis B must be confirmed by blood test. For students undergoing a course of vaccinations, the blood test is to be completed 4-6 weeks after the final (3rd) dose of the vaccine.

I have been vaccinated against Poliomyelitis but do not have a record of this. What can I do?

If a student is confident of their previous vaccination against Poliomyelitis, the Poliomyelitis Statutory Declaration (PDF) can be completed and will be accepted as evidence of immunity. Students that are unsure of their vaccination history should complete a course of vaccinations.

What happens if I can’t be fully vaccinated/immunised?

There are several reasons why a student may not be able to fulfil the immunisation requirements:

Hepatitis B carrier: In cases where serology confirms Hepatitis B infection, students must provide evidence of this. Students that carry the Hepatitis B infection can attend placement but will be limited in the types of care settings in which they can work.
Hepatitis B non-responder: In cases where post-vaccination serology does not confirm immunity to Hepatitis B, a booster dose may be given followed by another blood test. If immunity is still not confirmed, students may provide documentation from their medical practitioner, and will be considered as having met the immunisation requirements.
Medical contraindication: Students with a medical contraindication to vaccination should follow the advice of their doctor. Once the Immunisation Compliance Certificate is completed to the extent possible, and a letter from the doctor is provided, students will be considered as having met the immunisation requirements.

Students who cannot be fully vaccinated/immunised for the above reasons will be required to advise the WIL Support Team as soon as possible to discuss strategies for ensuring the safety of themselves and others while on placement.

Students who refuse to be screened or vaccinated, or who refuse to provide this information to the University, are not considered as having met the immunisation requirements and will be refused a placement on this basis. Vaccination refusal will impact a student’s ability to complete their course; students that refuse vaccination are advised to meet with their course coordinator. Not applicable to Social Work students unless they are going to SA Health Placements.

Do I need to provide evidence of flu vaccination?

Students are required to obtain an annual flu vaccination, and evidence of this may be required by your placement venue. Due to the seasonal availability of the flu vaccine, students are required to be vaccinated with the current calendar year vaccine, when it is available, usually March/April. Upload evidence on InPlace. Evidence of receiving the influenza vaccination can be recorded on the ‘influenza vaccination certificate’ link here or similar certificate utilised by the immunisation provider.

Immunisation Compliance Certificate

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training

Valid for one year from date of issue.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training is completed annually. Students are responsible for organising their training through an external provider.

Acceptable training can include:

courses accredited to the HLTAID009 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation standard OR
Basic Life Support courses completed through SA Health or endorsed by the Australian College of Nursing OR
workplace CPR training that includes a practical component.

Acceptable evidence of training can include:

a certificate of completion issued by the training provider
a letter from an employer stating the date of completion of training
a printout from an employer’s training register showing the date of completion of training.

Course providers may include:

Find additional accredited training providers by searching for HLTAID009 courses near your location.

Preparing for placement

Uniform

Clinical rehabilitation students are required to comply with the following occupational health and safety requirements and safe handling recommendations.

A uniform shirt is available and should be worn while on placement. The topic coordinator will advise regarding the purchase of these shirts.
Wear hair secured above the shoulders; ponytails should not hang below or touch shoulders, hair should be firmly secured with plain bands and clips. Beards should be neatly trimmed or fixed as close as possible to the skin with clips.
Remove bracelets, wristwatches, dangling earrings, necklaces and rings (ONLY exceptions - simple unadorned religious bands eg plain wedding ring or Kara bracelet which must be secured (taped) as high up the arm as possible). Bands/bracelets containing stones are not permitted.
Remove all nail polish (including clear).
Remove acrylic fingernails and nails should be trimmed and clean.
Remove all facial piercings - eyebrow, lip, nose and earrings. A small single stud, one per ear lobe is acceptable.
Wear a freshly laundered uniform, and clean shoes each day.
Shower and attend to personal hygiene before attending placement.
Uniform may be worn while travelling to and from campus/placement, if desired.
The uniform and ID badge MUST NOT be worn in social settings such as hotels, restaurants and cafes.

Dress code for religious requirements

Long-sleeved, cotton navy or black t-shirt may be worn under the Clinical Rehabilitation shirt. However, sleeves must be tight enough so when pushed up to the elbows, the sleeves do not roll down. Students will be required to roll the sleeves up when performing clinical procedures and to maintain asepsis in all areas.
Head wear: plain navy or black head covering/hijab tightly fitted with the face fully visible.

Students who do not adhere to the above policy may be asked to leave placement and their attendance marked as absent.

Clinical badge

Clinical badges can only be obtained once you have a student ID card. How to obtain a student ID card.

Collecting in person from Central Library

Complete the online form to order and pay at: unicard.com.au/flindersplacementbadge. The cost is $4.40 if collecting in person. Payment is not available at the office and is only available via the online form.
Visit the Unicard office level 1 Central library, with student card. Placement cards/badges will be printed while the student waits.
Cards/badges will not be issued if a student card is not presented.

Mailed out

Check your address is current in the student system before trying to order.
Complete the online form to order and pay at: unicard.com.au/flindersplacementbadge. The cost is $10 if mailed out. Payment is not available at the office and is only available via the online form.
Cards/badges will be processed and mailed out via unregistered Australian Post within 2 working days.

On-campus pre-clinical meetings

Pre-clinical tutorials may form part of your topic requirements. Please refer to timetabling information and your topic booklet for details.

SA Health clinical placement requirements for healthcare students

You are required to read and understand the SA Health Clinical Placement Requirements for Healthcare Students (PDF)

Fitness for professional practice

If you have an existing condition or develop an illness or disability that may impede your ‘fitness for professional practice’, you must have the Flinders University Fitness for Professional Practice form (PDF) completed by a medical practitioner.

This form needs to be submitted to the placement education coordinator as soon as possible (for existing conditions, at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester).

During placement

Attendance

Venue orientation

All venues will provide an orientation for students prior to or on the first day of placement. Some venues require that students attend an on-site orientation in person, others provide an online package prior to placement, and some venues will require both.

On your first day of placement you will:

produce your current compulsory pre-placement compliance documents
meet the venue staff
be shown around the venue
be advised of any specific requirements for the venue.

Arriving for placement

It is your responsibility to arrive at your venue at least ten minutes before you’re due to commence the day. This will ensure you arrive in a timely manner and receive an up-to-date handover of your patients.

Missed placement hours

Any hours missed during your placement may be ‘made up’ as you need to attend for the allocated duration. Please arrange this in correspondence with your topic coordinator.

Withdrawing from placement

If you decide to withdraw from your placement either before or soon after it commences you need to email your topic coordinator and your placement team advising that you intend to withdraw from the topic.

View further information about while you're on placement

Problems and concerns

This section provides guidance for finding solutions for issues that may arise during a placement, and suggestions about appropriate people to contact.

Issues sometimes arise on placement that you may not be able to resolve by yourself. Who to contact and potential solutions are covered below. Keep in mind that you are required to maintain professional behaviour and communication at all times, especially with those at the placement venue.

The placement communication framework (available below) provides information about who to contact when you have a question about your placement.

First point of contact

When an issue arises at your placement venue, please contact your placement supervisor, and inform your topic coordinator at the next available opportunity via email or in person.

Your placement supervisor and topic coordinator are there to act as your advocate and to help resolve any matters of concern.

If the matter cannot be resolved with the assistance of your placement supervisor:

Make sure you have all relevant issues documented (for example, keep a full record of dates, times, what happened, any correspondence such as emails, and similar).
Arrange to meet with your topic coordinator to discuss your concerns.

If you have done this and your concerns still haven’t been adequately addressed, make an appointment to speak with your course coordinator.

Where appropriate and as far as is possible, your anonymity will be preserved.

Remember that you have free access to the University Health, Counselling and Disability Services.

Are you experiencing bullying or harassment?

Flinders University is committed to ensuring that students can participate in workplaces that are free from bullying, harassment and discrimination, and where people are respected and diversity is embraced.

The College complies with the Flinders University principles outlined in No bullying at Flinders.

If you feel that you are being, or have been, bullied or harassed at a placement venue, report this immediately to your Placement Educator/facilitator and/or your Topic Coordinator.

Also, seek support and assistance as soon as possible from the University Student Equal Opportunity Adviser, who provides assistance to resolve complaints that arise from harassment or bullying, under the University’s Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF).

Are you having problems meeting the NMBA standards for practice and/or the learning objectives for your Professional Experience Placement?

The knowledge, clinical skills and attitudes required for your development as a competent registered nurse or midwife are specified in each topic's learning outcomes. These learning outcomes are listed in the topic descriptor on the PEP website and are available on topic FLO sites.

During your Professional Experience Placement (PEP) you may find some of the learning objectives more difficult to achieve than others - this is a normal part of learning. You can discuss these issues with your PEP facilitator if you are having difficulty in achieving any of the topic learning outcomes. They will assist you in developing learning strategies to achieve the expected outcomes.

As a nursing student, as well as meeting the learning outcomes for your topic, you are working towards meeting the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Registered Nurse standards for practice (2016). As such it is expected that you understand each of these standards and subclauses.

You are encouraged to discuss how you believe you are meeting the NMBA standards and/or the topic learning outcomes throughout your PEP with your PEP Facilitator. Students who require or are identified to require further support to achieve these may be offered a Professional Learning Plan (PLP) by the Placement Educator (facilitator) or Topic Coordinator. Further information about Professional Learning Plans can be found below.

What is breach of conduct?

A breach of conduct is when situations arise where there are serious deficits in the way a student conducts themselves or behaves while on placement, for example when a student:

behave in an unprofessional manner or
does tasks outside their scope of practice
engages in unsafe professional practice

When a breach of conduct occurs, the student will be referred to the topic coordinator who will review whether they can continue activity within the topic, depending on the severity of the breach.

Patients and the public expect to be in a safe environment within a placement venue. If at any time a student demonstrates unsafe practice during a placement, they will be immediately withdrawn from the placement venue. The placement educator (facilitator) will then notify the topic coordinator and course coordinator, in writing, of the event or activity that required the removal of a student from the venue.

Unsafe professional practice include:

inadequate knowledge for safe practice
inadequate performance of skills, including communication
unprofessional behaviour that places patients at risk of physical harm, unreasonable emotional distress or neglect
unlawful or unethical behaviour.

If the issue/s that caused the removal of a student from placement can be resolved, and the venue agrees, a student may continue their placement. Negotiation for the support of a Professional Learning Plan may also be considered.

The topic coordinator, in consultation with the placement educator (facilitator) and relevant clinical staff, will determine whether a student may be reinstated.

If a student’s behaviour or practice is such that they would fail the topic, then they will not be reinstated.

Further information about while you're on placement

Placement communication framework