Counselling (Behavioural Therapy) placement compliance

Clinical placements are an integral part of the Master of Counselling (Behavioural Health) (MCBH) and Graduate Diploma in Counselling (Behavioural Health) (GDPCBH) courses

Work-based placements are an exciting and demanding opportunity for students to engage and immerse themselves in real work settings that can offer growth, challenges and development. Placements require a minimum of two or three full days a week over the period of enrolment and have a range of requirements that are aligned to best practice approaches to ensure competencies are attained and students acquire knowledge and clinical skills to deliver evidence-informed interventions and therapies. As part of the MCBH there are two placement topics that are designed to ensure a comprehensive understanding is attained to deliver quality care that is personalised and in line with best practice guidelines. All students are required to attend and engage in regular clinical and group supervision throughout each placement.

The Graduate Diploma in Counselling (Behavioural Health) has one clinical practicum that is required to consolidate theory to practice and demonstrate competencies in the delivery of psychological interventions with a focus on guided self-help, telehealth and integrated models of care.

All students must complete and submit all of the mandatory clearance and immunisation screens that are required to undertake placement in South Australia and interstate.

Counselling 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
DHS Working with Children Check	Obtain a clearance from DHS	DHS compliance information	InPlace
International Police Check	Check if you qualify to obtain an IPC	International Police Check (IPC) detailed information	InPlace
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
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

Detailed compliance information

Department of Human Services (DHS) clearances

These clearances are valid for three years from date of issue (unless revoked prior), except Working with Children Check which has an expiry of five years.

There are four types of screening offered by the DHS; Aged-Care Sector, Working With Children Check (WWCC), Vulnerable Person employment, and Disability Services employment. Refer to the pre-placement compliance checklist to determine which screenings you require.

Formerly known as Department of Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) clearances, DHS clearances are state-based clearances used that are used to determine suitability for employment within specific care sectors in South Australia.

Note: Working With Children Checks issued prior to 1 July 2019 are known as Child-Related Employment Screenings.

Obtaining DHS clearances

WIL team will initiate your application with DHS.
Await application email – It may take 5 – 10 business days to receive an email from the DHS Screening Unit. Be advised that the email may be sent to your junk/clutter folder.
Activate and complete application – Once the activation email is received, follow the links to log into the DHS Screening portal and complete the application. Students are responsible for paying the application fee.
Complete ID Verification – There are three options for completing the ID verification:
- Verify online – Recommended for students with Australian ID documents.
- Requesting organisation – Recommended for students that cannot complete online verification. Students selecting this option will need to bring 100 points of ID (eg student ID and passport) to the CMPH college office, FMC level 5 or the CNHS college office in Sturt N101.
- Print and seek verification – Not recommended. Students selecting this option must have their ID verified by a Justice of the Peace and post the application to DHS.

Existing clearances can be renewed up to 6 months prior to expiry. It is recommended that clearances are renewed early to ensure there is no lapse in compliance.

View more information on the DHS website.

What is the difference between DHS clearances and the Police Check?

The Police Check is a printout of all disclosable criminal convictions as recorded by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). DHS clearances involve additional probity checks and continuous monitoring. Both are required.

International Police Check (IPC)

An International Police Check (IPC) is required by students if in the last 10 years they have lived in a country other than Australia, for more than 1 year since turning 18 years of age.

Fit2Work is an accepted provider of an IPC or you may already have an IPC and can upload this as evidence on InPlace.

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.

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.

Police Checks (NCCHCs) can be issued by:

State, Territory or Federal Police
Private brokers that have been accredited by the ACIC – note these are not accepted by some host organisations and are therefore not recommended.

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

the type of check must be for Unsupervised Contact with Vulnerable Groups
the occupation or purpose should indicate University Placement within the Aged/Health care sector.

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

Students can obtain a Police Check (NCCHC) at no cost by lodging their application with the college. This process takes 4 – 5 weeks. For more information contact us.

Students may also choose to apply for a Police Check (NCCHC) directly through their local police.

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

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.

Do I have to be fully compliant with the immunisation requirements to attend placement?

Some students may find that they are unable to complete the immunisation requirements before their first (and sometimes second) placement. In such cases, students can be deemed provisionally compliant and allowed to attend placement if they meet the following criteria:

All other pre-placement requirements are met, AND
At least one vaccine dose has been given (or immunity confirmed by blood test) for all vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs), AND
The student is not overdue for vaccines and/or blood tests

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 are able to 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 meet with their placement education coordinator 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.

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, so please carry the influenza vaccination certificate on your person.

Influenza vaccination certificate

Immunisation Compliance Certificate

Preparing for placement

Curriculum Vitae

Ensure your CV is up-to-date and uploaded to InPlace.
For assistance updating your CV, interview preparation and canvassing employers, you can access CareerHub.

Course handbook and inherent course requirements

Cognitive behaviour therapy course handbook

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)

During placement

Attendance

Arriving at shifts

It is your responsibility to arrive at your venue at least ten minutes before the shift begins. This will ensure you arrive in a timely manner and be prepared to engage

Missed placement hours or shifts

Any hours missed during your placement must be ‘made up’ as you need to attend for the allocated duration. Missed placement hours may mean that you:

cannot complete the topic requirements for placement
may not meet the course graduation requirements.

Paid employment

If you are undertaking your placement in your workplace, you may not:

count paid employment hours in that venue towards your placements hours
you must ensure your employer has a clear expectation around your role as an employee and as a student.

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 the venue where you are doing your placement, the first person to contact is the course coordinator.

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).
Make an appointment to speak with your course coordinator.
If the matter if still not resolved arrange to meet with the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning).

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).

Further information about while you're on placement

Placement communication framework

Interstate students

If you are an interstate student undertaking the practicum topics you must comply with the university global attributes and upload your equivalent clearance documents in the appropriate attribute dropbox.