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Clinical rules and regulations

The NSW Department of Health has implemented policies and procedures whereby all health care workers, including nursing and midwifery students, who undertake clinical placements in NSW health facilities must:

Criminal Record Check and Clearance Card

NSW Health is committed to providing their staff, patients, and clients with a safe workplace. The NSW Department of Health Employment Screening policy (PDF) requires all students enrolling in courses that involve clinical placements in NSW Public Health Facilities to undertake a National Criminal Record Check and comply with other policy requirements. In addition, when starting nursing or midwifery studies at UTS, International /Overseas Students are required to obtain a Police Certificate (with English translation) from their home country and any country that they have resided in, incorporating any charges the student may have against his/her name. If the student is unable to provide a Police Certificate, he/she must complete a Statutory Declaration stating that he/she has no pending criminal charges or convictions from their home country or any country that he/she has resided in. If a student does have such records, he/she must list the date of offence, type of offence, and court outcome. Details of the clearance requirements for students, including those for overseas students, are given in a document titled Notice to Students enrolling in courses that require clinical placements in NSW Public Health Facilities. This document and further links related to the forms, police contacts, frequently asked questions, and further information can be found at NSW Health - Student Clearances for Clinical Placements (opens an external site).

In addition, during enrolment at UTS you will be required to read and sign a NSW Health Student Undertaking. This undertaking requires you to notify the NSW Department of Health if you are charged or convicted of a criminal offence after the date of issue of your National Police Certificate or during the completion of your course. Information on this process will be provided at enrolment.

Also following the commencement of your studies and prior to each clinical placement, you will be required to:

  • Have read the NSW Health Code of Conduct and signed a form confirming that you have read, understood, and will comply with the NSW Health Code of Conduct.
  • Sign a Commission for Children and Young People Student Declaration – see below.

Further information will be provided on the commencement of yours studies.

Students cannot undertake nursing practice until these clearance requirements are attended to. Fees may apply which must be met by the student.

Commission for Children and Young people Student Declaration

(Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998)

Under NSW law any person who has been convicted of a serious sex offence, the murder of a child or a child related personal violence offence or who is a Registrable person under the Child Protection (Offenders registration) Act 2000 is prohibited from working in child related employment. When you have commenced your studies at UTS, prior to commencing each clinical placement, you will be required to:

  • Sign a Commission for Children and Young People Student Declaration.

Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination against specified infectious diseases

Infectious diseases and their transmission between health care workers, including students, are of concern to all those working in clinical settings. Students should be aware of the requirements regarding vaccinations and level of required immunity, as indicated within the NSW Health policy PD2007_006 Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases (opens an external site). This policy is under review and current details are provided on the NSW Health website in a NSW Health letter (opens an external site) provided to students. This letter gives advice as to the acceptable evidence to demonstrate protection against the following specified infectious diseases:

  • Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis - adult vaccination required
  • Hepatitis B and serology (blood test)
  • Measles/Mumps/Rubella
  • Varicella (chickenpox)
  • For healthcare students who were born overseas or have lived overseas in a high TB incidence country for more than 3 months, screening for Tuberculosis will also be required. This can be undertaken in NSW at NSW Health Chest Clinics. The World Health Organisation has a list of high risk countries (opens an external site)
  • Influenza (Strongly Recommended)

A full course of vaccinations (if necessary) will take several months to complete; therefore you are advised to consult the UTS Health Service or your local doctor well in advance of the commencement of clinical placements. You must carry your proof of immunity or vaccination with you at all times when on clinical placements. For Hepatitis B a full course of vaccination takes several months there are provision made for this for new students - please refer to the interim advice (PDF).

NSW Health has provided an 'Adult Vaccination Record Card' for the purpose of recording your immunity status and vaccinations, which must be signed by a doctor. This is available when you enrol and from the UTS Student Centre. Please note that written record must be signed by a medical practitioner, contain where possible the brand and batch number and have an official stamp from the provider eg clinic stamp or provider number.

Failure to comply with the requirements may jeopardise completion of your studies.

Prior to attending any clinical placements you will also be required to complete a Student Declaration Form and a Tuberculosis Screening Form to take on your placements. Further information will be provided at the commencement of your studies.