Bachelor of Human Nutrition

Professional experience placements such as the self-directed placement, NUTD3110 Independent Studies in Nutrition (ISP), are designed to meet your learning needs and to provide you with the opportunity to develop and apply 21^st century skills identified by industry for today’s graduates. Placements also enable you to develop the skills and knowledge required to meet the potential competency standards of the Nutrition Society of Australia for Registered Nutritionists in Australia.

ISP placements consist of planned tasks with clearly defined goals and pre-determined assessment strategies. Students achieve these outcomes by participating in placement activities, participating in ongoing performance feedback from your expert advisors, academic advisor and peers, and undertaking significant reflective practice.

ISP placements happen across a range of settings and sites, including the mobility program where students provide voluntary nutrition services overseas in under-served countries. Your University Academic Advisor will work with you and your industry expert advisor to facilitate the development and application of your skills, knowledge and professionalism in the placement setting. The philosophy of placements is one of ‘give’ and ‘receive’. The placements are a 2-way process between the students and the staff, as students are exposed to opportunities for experiential learning.

All professionals, whether trainees or graduates, are required to meet a number of requirements when working. In preparation for your placement experiences, please complete the following checklist and compliances in the two months before undertaking your placements.

Human Nutrition pre-placement compliance checklist

Pre-requisites 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
COVID – 19 Vaccination	From July 2024, evidence of 1 x COVD 19 vaccinations minimum required for placement, in line with ATAGI and our placement partners. Please be aware this could change, and the University is guided by our placement providers.	Please upload proof of vaccination to InPlace How to get proof of your vaccination	InPlace
Emergency contact	Confirm your emergency contact details are up to date in the Student Information System.		Student System

Activity	What you need to do	Form / more information	Submit to
DHS Aged Care Sector Related Screening	Obtain a clearance from DHS	DHS compliance information	InPlace
DHS Working with Children Check	Obtain a clearance from DHS	DHS compliance information	InPlace
NDIS Worker Check	Obtain a clearance from DHS	DHS compliance 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

Other requirements

Activity	What you need to do	Form / more information	Submit to
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
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
Infection control	Undertake the online National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) module: Principles of infection prevention and control module. Upload the certificate.	NHHI - Complete learning module	InPlace
Annual influenza vaccination	Book an annual influenza vaccination from an immunisation provider.	Influenza vaccination certificate (PDF)	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

Detailed compliance information

Department of Human Services (DHS) clearances

These clearances are valid for five years from date of issue (unless revoked prior), except Aged Care Sector Clearance, which has an expiry of three years.

There are three main types of screening offered by the DHS the University requires; Aged-Care Sector, Working With Children Check (WWCC), and NDIS Worker Check. 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 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

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences require students to obtain DHS Clearances through self-initiation via the DHS website.

Please follow this guide for step-by-step directions of how to start your application.

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.

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:

Unsupervised Contact within the Health/Aged Care Sector.
The following information is provided to assist you complete an application form for your Police Check:
Reason for Check – Unsupervised Contact with Vulnerable Groups (if there is a character limit, ensure Unsupervised Contact is recorded at a minimum).
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

Contact your WIL placement team

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Location: Level 1, North Wing, Sturt campus
Phone: 8201 7500
Email: cnhs.placements@flinders.edu.au

Bachelor of Human Nutrition

Bachelor of Human Nutrition