Key information

You can find all the key info needed for your verification and placement experience here.

The information below is compiled from a variety of sources for ease of reference. Please ensure you refer to the original sources listed below for further information and the most up-to-date advice.

For all students
For Callaghan and Manning Education Centre Taree Students
For Central Coast Students

We recommend you consult with your General Practitioner before making any medical decisions based on this information.

Verification process

Vaccinations

Police check

Placement allocation

Most states and territories have their own placement requirements (e.g. additional immunisations). If you are allocated to an interstate placement, you will be informed if additional placement requirements exist. In most cases this information will be available via SoniaOnline.

Some Schools recognise placements in non-Australian settings. These placements are valuable in exposing students to the different health and social needs of other countries, but impose a greater burden of possible isolation, cultural disparity and differing sets of infectious disease. If you wish to undertake an international placement please speak to your Professional Experience Support Officer or Course Coordinator.

Yes! All clinical programs require a variety of placement experiences to complement your program. This will often require placement away from the local area.

Undertaking a rural placement is strongly recommended and even mandatory for some programs. Completing a placement in a rural and remote facility gives you invaluable experience in working as a heath care professional in regional locations.

Many programs require that you experience your profession in a variety of settings, which helps to ensure that you graduate with a broad, well-rounded skillset. This can include the opportunity to undertake a rural and remote placement.

Visit the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health website to find out more about the benefits and support available to students undertaking a placement within the UONDRH footprint.

You may be able to access financial support through scholarships or grants to help cover things like accommodation, travel and internet access. The Higher Education and Training Institute (HETI) has scholarships and grants available and there is also financial assistance available. Based on your program of study and when you are attending placement, the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health may also have subsidised accommodation available.

For further information, please talk to your Course Coordinator or Professional Experience Support Officer.

Placements are designed to meet program outcomes. Work experience is usually directed by the employer and does not align with program outcomes. This generally means that it is unlikely that you will be able to use work experience as placement hours. If you feel that you should be entitled to exemption or credit based on work experience you should discuss this with your Course Coordinator.

As a student you are insured for the time you spend in a placement that relates directly to the course in which you are enrolled. The University has no objection to students undertaking work experience; however, it is your responsibility to notify any person who offers you this opportunity that you are not insured by the University for this period. This means it is the organisation / facility that is responsible for your workplace insurance during that time, unless there is a School specific protocol.

Before placement

If your placement is at a NSW public health facility, you will be required to undertake Mandatory Training Modules in My Health Learning before your placement commences. You’ll receive an email 13 days before your placement begins to give you access to My Health Learning.

Many of our host organisations require students to be fit tested before attending placement. Students that are not fit tested are at risk of their placement being cancelled due to not meeting the sites requirements. Similar to vaccinations, students will be required to organise and pay for their own fit testing.

Fit testing helps identify the most suitable respirator for an individual’s face by testing the seal around the respirator to ensure it is providing the expected level of protection. For further information about fit testing, please review the Clinical Excellence Commission's Respiratory Protection Program Manual.

After you have been allocated you will be able to login to SoniaOnline to view the details of your placement and any additional requirements you will need to meet before attending. In some cases you may be required to contact the site before the first day or they may contact you with further information.

You will need to consider the risk to you and your pregnancy in the work environment. If you are not fully protected / screened / vaccinated, you, your course coordinator and the manager where clinical placement is planned will need to do a risk assessment to determine if placement is reasonable and what precautions may be needed.

Please ensure you have registered with AccessAbility and discussed any adjustments that may need to occur while you're on placement.

While on placement

The experience you'll have on placement is your first taste of what it will be like to be a health care professional and the university expects you to act accordingly. This means dressing appropriately, addressing staff, other students and patients with respect and understanding, being punctual and maintaining confidentiality. It is important to remember that patients may be experiencing significant stress and you are expected to be understanding of their needs and concerns.

All students are expected to dress in a neat and tidy manner while on placement. Some programs have student uniforms and your Course Coordinator will let you know the program uniform requirements and where you can purchase uniform items.

In many circumstances allowances can be made to accommodate cultural dress. If you have any concerns, please speak to your Course Coordinator.

At all times you should demonstrate professional behaviour and comply with all attendance requirements, actively participate in learning experiences, and demonstrate respect for peers, supervisors and patients / clients. You must:

  • be punctual
  • dress professionally for your placement and adhere to any school or facility-specific dress codes (like uniforms)
  • demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity
  • display University student identification card (with photograph)
  • adhere to the rules, regulations and by-laws of the placement facility
  • show consideration of the rights and properties of others
  • meet the statutory and / or facility requirements regarding privacy and confidentiality
  • Misconduct in any form will not be tolerated by the site or the University. Misconduct includes:
    • inappropriate behaviour and / or language
    • knowingly performing procedures beyond your level of learning
    • demonstrating intimidation
    • argumentation and disrespect

In some placement facilities mobile phones may interfere with the effective operation of electronic equipment. Consult with your placement supervisor about the site guidelines. You may be required to make sure your mobile phone is switched off before attending a placement facility.

All patients/clients have a right to free and informed consent. You must always ask a patient/client for their consent to see them, talk with them, undertake a physical examination, access their patient/client notes or be involved in their care. You need to make sure that the patient/client understands that you are a student.

While most patient/clients are generous and will allow you to interact with them, some patients/clients may decline consent. It is expected that you will respect this decision.

It is an expectation that all students obtaining consent are familiar with the process and are aware of particular circumstances which influence the provision of informed consent. These include the patient's culture, language barriers or impact of medical or psychiatric illness.

You should review your course notes for specific guidance or discuss the relevant issues with your Course Coordinator or placement supervisor.

Patient information is confidential. You should not identify a patient in any documentation or assignments. Any form of copying or photographing of patient information is not permitted. Each Health Facility will have a policy about the process of accessing a patient's record.

The University does not cover students if they are driving service vehicles owned by a business or government entity.

Your School will provide you with course outlines and additional information about learning objectives for each placement.

An incident is something that results in (or potentially results in) harm to yourself or others. It can include physical injury or psychological damage. In the event of any incident occurring while you are on placement, you must not ignore it. You should seek medical attention (where appropriate); follow the health facility’s incident response and reporting procedure; and contact your facility placement supervisor and Course Coordinator.

Consult with your Course Coordinator in the event:

  • You can't do the placement at the scheduled times
  • You wish to defer a placement
  • You will be pregnant when on placement
  • Your immunisations do not work, or you are allergic to immunisation material

Renewal of information

From 2019, NSW Health validate Students’ National Police Checks (also known as National Criminal Record Checks) for 5 years. You must renew your police check before it is due to expire, otherwise you will be unable to attend placement.
The new National Police Check must be in colour and your Student ID must be in colour. Both documents are required together in a single combined PDF format for verification.

To remain compliant with NSW Health you need to have a booster dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (dTpa) vaccine every 10 years.
dTpa vaccination can be given by your General Practitioner (GP) or Authorised Pharmacist.

(For Medicine, Midwifery and Oral Health Students Only)
Screening for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV is required every 3 years to remain compliant with NSW Health and students must complete the Blood Borne Virus Student Declaration.

IMPORTANT: The NSW Health verification team only require your one-page student declaration. DO NOT include the whole policy or your results as part of your paperwork when renewing your information.

Additional info

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the national registration body for many health care professionals. AHPRA helps to maintain quality healthcare in Australia.

When you enrol with the University of Newcastle, we ensure that you are entered into the AHPRA Student Register.

Once you have graduated you will need to apply to AHPRA to become registered in order to work in Australia as a Health Care Practitioner.

Visit the AHPRA website for more information.

Sonia is the University’s professional placement software, which records and manages all placements. SoniaOnline will give you access to a range of information specific to you, including:

  • Current NSW Health verification status (there can be a seven-day lag between receiving NSW Health verification and SONIA displaying the new information)
  • Additional program requirements
  • Placement site requirements
  • Placement events
  • Upcoming and current placement allocations
  • Your placement history