Compliance

Science and Engineering - Prerequisites for Placements Components

Additional compliance - may be required

Some host providers also require additional compliance evidence. You will be informed if these are required for your placement.

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
DHS Vulnerable Person Employment Screening	Obtain a clearance from DHS	DHS compliance information	InPlace
DHS Disability Employment Screening	This screening is no longer provided by the department of Human Services Screening Unit. It has been replaced with the NDIS Worker Check. If you require this clearance for a placement a member of the WIL Placement team will contact you.	Not applicable	InPlace
Police Check	You will need to provide a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC).	Police Check detailed information	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

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

The College of Science and Engineering require students to obtain DHS Clearances through self-initiation via the DHS website. Link - https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/rights-and-law/rights-and-responsibilities/screening-checks

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. https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/rights-and-law/rights-and-responsibilities/screening-checks

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, Territory or Federal Police
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.

NT Health placements and the National Police Certificate

In accordance with the Northern Territory government guidelines for clinical placements within NT Health, only National Police Certificates (NPCs) provided by police services in Australian states or territories will be accepted. NPCs issued by 3rd party providers are not accepted.

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

COVID – 19 Vaccinations Requirement

South Australia

As of the 7th October 2021, the Emergency Management (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 issued under the Emergency Management Act 2004, comes into effect.

This Direction places COVID-19 vaccination requirements on all persons working in a public hospital, private hospital or ambulance service, including patient transport service in South Australia. A public hospital includes all services provided by a Local Health Network, not just those physically located in a hospital.

This Direction applies to all persons engaging in work or duties in one of the above settings, including clinicians, ambulance workers, allied health workers, cleaners, administrative and executive staff and students undertaking placement regardless of whether they work in a patient or a non-patient area.

People must be vaccinated against COVID-19 with a TGA approved vaccine, with the first dose being completed by 1 November 2021 and the second dose being completed within one month of the first dose.

You will need to upload evidence of your vaccination after each dose, to InPlace.

What happens if I cannot be vaccinated because of a medical reason? How can I get an exemption?

Northern Territory

National Cabinet have announced that all aged care workers are to have had at least their first COVID-19 vaccination by 17 September 2021.

A person who is an officer, employee or contractor of an aged care facility must not enter or remain on the premises of the aged care facility if the person has not had:

• on or before 17 September 2021- the first does of a COVID-19 vaccine; and
• on or before 31 October 2021- the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

You will need to upload evidence of your vaccination after each dose, to InPlace.

Other blood-borne diseases

For Hepatitis C (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - it is recommended that students obtain serological evidence with regard to these two diseases as it is important to know their status especially if the student is exposed to bodily fluids. Students are not to advise their HCV or HIV status.

While students do not have an obligation to notify AHPRA about an infection, the student must comply with CDNA guidelines.