Prepare for Your Nursing Clinical Placements

Immunisations and vaccinations are an important element of the mandatory checks required for our nursing bachelor degrees.

What you need to provide

Read the below instruction sheets about the requirements for immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) for the following diseases: 

• Hepatitis B, 
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella, 
• Varicella, 
• Pertussis (Whooping Cough), 
• Influenza, 
• Tuberculosis screening.
• Hepatits A (note, this is a site-required check. Your placement officer will advise if you require Hepatitis A vaccination.)

Timelines

These can take up to 6 months (sometimes longer), so it's important to start on these mandatory checks as soon as you accept your offer.

Cost

Varies.

What you need to provide

Queensland Health placements

Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 Vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination-specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students.

Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and South Australia placements

COVID-19 Vaccination is mandatory for students attending placements in the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, and Victoria. If you are unsure if COVID-19 vaccination applies to your placement, please contact the WIL Compliance Team on 07 4930 9124.

For further information

Refer to the CQUniversity Work Integrated Learning Immunisation and Vaccinations COVID-19 Vaccination Instruction Sheet.

What you need to provide

You are required to provide the Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Certificate as evidence. It is mandatory for you to maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.

Refer to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Certificate instruction sheet for details.

Timelines

A police check can take up to 6 weeks. 

Cost

Approximately $50

What you need to provide

You are required to provide evidence of working with children or vulnerable persons or an aged care sector security check for the state or territory where you will undertake your WIL placement. You must maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.

For details, refer to the working with children instruction sheet.

Timelines

A working with children check can take up to 8 weeks. 

Cost

Varies from state to state. Approximate costs are listed below (note - costs may change)

What you need to provide

You are required to provide evidence of your NDIS Worker Screening Clearance Card. It is mandatory for you to maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.

Timelines

The NDIS Worker Screening Clearance can take up to four weeks (but sometimes can be processed faster than this). It can take several weeks for the card to arrive however you do not need a physical card to attend placement. This timeframe does not include the process of applying for a QLD CRN if required.

Cost

States and territories other than Queensland charge a fee for the NDIS Worker Screening Clearance card. CQU has negotiated with the Queensland Government, and all CQU students can apply for their NDIS Worker Screening Card through the QLD NDIS Portal if they choose. This will ensure all CQU students can apply for the check for free. 

Follow the instructions on the NDIS Worker Screening Clearance Card instruction sheet. 

What you need to provide

Respiratory mask fit testing is required. You must provide evidence of a quantitative fit test result of 100 or higher (passed) for two (2)* respirator masks from the approved list provided.

*If you only pass a fit test for one mask, despite multiple masks attempted, this will be accepted as the minimum for placement. For Paramedic Science students, two (2) respiratory masks are mandated by industry as the minimum for placement. 

Providers

Respiratory Mask Fit Testing is available on CQU's Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton and Townsville campuses. Online bookings are required.

Refer to the respiratory mask fit testing instruction sheet for other providers and more details.

Cost

Approximately $95; however, the cost will vary per provider.

What you need to provide

You are required to provide evidence of completing a First Aid Certificate from a nationally recognised training organisation in Australia.

Refer to the First Aid Certificate instruction sheet.

Timelines

Average course duration is 1 day. 

As a Bachelor of Nursing student, you are required to submit a First Aid Certificate once only and are not required to renew. You must submit a current First Aid Certificate in your first year of study with CQUniversity.

Cost

Approximately $120; however, the cost will vary depending on the provider.

What you need to provide

You are required to provide evidence of completing a CPR Certificate from a nationally recognised training organisation in Australia.

Note - many first aid courses include the CPR component, which is valid for 1 year from the certificate date of issue. Until your first aid certificate expires (usually this is 3 years), you are required to attend a relevant CPR course every 12 months.

Refer to the CPR Certificate instruction sheet.

Timelines

The average course duration is 4 hours.

Cost

Approximately $60; however, the cost will vary depending on the provider.

What you need to provide

As a part of workplace health and safety legislated obligations, State and Territory Government Health Departments must ensure that students are adequately orientated to their facilities. Health Authority Compliance mandatory checks are determined by each State or Territory Government
Health Department. 

Health Authority Compliance may include online orientation modules, checklists, or other documentation completed prior to placements.

Queensland-based students

In Queensland, you must complete the Queensland Health Student Orientation Checklist and any other mandatory iLearn modules. For details, refer to the Health Authority Compliance instruction sheet.

Students outside of Queensland

For students who reside outside of Queensland, the CQU work-integrated learning team will confirm the Health Authority Compliance requirements that apply to your course, which will be visible in your Sonia placement system profile.

Timelines

Generally, the health authority compliance will be valid for 12 months, and some requirements are per placement.

What you need to provide

Before the relevant term's mandatory check deadline, you must complete the University’s requirements for placement. These include:

• CQU Student Declaration and Confidentiality Agreement: This electronic form is located in the Sonia placement system within the Forms Tab drop-down menu. You must complete this form and submit it in the Sonia placement system. 
• CQU Student ID Card: You'll need to upload a copy of your CQU Student ID Card. You must ensure that you have received your CQU student ID card before attending placement, as this must be always displayed during placement. How to request a CQU student ID card.

Timelines

Please note that an ID card can only be generated after you have successfully enrolled for the term, as the card will reflect your study load at the time of printing.

Cost

For a new CQU student card request there is no cost. Should you lose or severely damage your Student ID Card before it expires, you will need to pay a $10 replacement fee.

There are additional requirements for students attending placements in Western Australia. These include the:

• Western Australian Department of Health Criminal Screening and  
• Western Australia Manual Handling Competency.

What you need to provide

Western Australian Department of Health Criminal Screening

The WA Department of Health Criminal Screening is a site-required check. Your placement officer will advise if you require WA Criminal Screening Card.

Western Australia Manual Handling Competency

For placements in Western Australia, you'll need to provide Evidence of manual handling competency – no more than 12 months old. You may have evidence of manual handling competency during your employment, and this may be sufficient to provide as evidence. 

Alternatively, an annual manual handling course (not an online course) needs to be attended, practical competencies assessed, and the certificate provided as evidence. Costs depend on the provider and workplace and are incurred by the student.