School of Medical and Health Sciences

It is recommended that students receive at least two COVID-19 vaccinations prior to attending placement/work integrated learning opportunities.  Some placement providers may ask students to declare their vaccination status.  Sites may conduct their own COVID-19 vaccination risk assessment in order to determine the suitability for students to commence placement or to adjust placement related activities or caseloads.

Once at a placement site, it is your responsibility to attend and participate in all orientation and induction activities provided by the organisation, and adhere to infection control standards, procedures and requirements.

It is important to regularly check your Learning Management System (Canvas) for information and correspondence from your Placement/Unit Coordinator regarding vaccinations and announcements.

For more information, please see ECU's Covid19 advice for students.

VALID PERIOD: This is evolving based on current health advice. ​

To access the National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) training:​

1. Go to the NHHI training website​
2. Register yourself as an ECU student and select Education Facility as the organisation. ​
3. Once registered, find the Hand Hygiene Student Health Practitioners Online Learning Module and complete the modules and quizzes. ​

VALID PERIOD: 12 months​

HLTAID011 Provide First Aid Course provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to manage emergency first aid situations.​

This course is often taught as a hybrid with both online and in-person course components.​ Courses are available in a number of locations and cost varies depending on organisation.​

​Please note: ​Ensure you are registering for course HLTAID011​

​VALID PERIOD: 3 years​

The Basics of Infection Prevention and Control module provides foundation infection prevention and control knowledge. The module is suitable for healthcare workers and healthcare students working in both clinical and non-clinical settings where infection prevention and control is important.

To enrol in this module:

1. Log in to the National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) Learning Management System.
2. Register yourself as an ECU student and select Education Facility as the organisation, if you have not done so previously.
3. Select the tile labelled ‘Click here for Basics of Infection Prevention and Control Orientation Module’
4. The catalogue page of The Basics of infection prevention and control module will load.
5. Select the Enrol button next to The Basics of Infection Prevention and Control.
6. A module milestones page will load. Click the Launch button when you are ready to start the module.

Valid Period: 1 year

To complete the annual influenza vaccination and required documentation:​

Option 1:

• Make an appointment with your GP or ECU Student Health Services.​
• Download the Influenza Form and take to your appointment.​
• Once the form has been completed, upload to SONIA.​

Option 2:

• Upload a copy of your Immunisation History Statement which can be downloaded from Medicare.

VALID PERIOD: The seasonal influenza vaccination is valid until 30 April the following year.

ECU Resp-FIT Service

Bookings fill fast, all students requiring fit testing must ensure they pay and book an appointment in advance, to avoid disappointment. 

Step 1: Access the platform at Fit Testing Payment. Cost is $110 for two suitable Department of Health approved mask models.

• In rare situations some individual face shapes may result in only one mask model being found suitable.

Step 2: Take a screen shot of the payment receipt.  You will be required to enter the receipt number to make a booking.  Please bring evidence of this receipt (screen shot or print out) when you attend the Fit Testing Clinic.

Step 3: Access our Microsoft booking page at Fit Testing Booking Page.

Step 4: Select Fit Testing Clinic 1 (Joondalup).

Step 5: Go to the booking calendar and select a day and time available for testing.

Step 6: Enter all the required information to complete the booking (including your receipt number).

Step 7: You will receive a booking confirmation to the email address you provide during the booking process.

On the day of the test:

• VENUE: ECU Joondalup Campus - please review your booking information for the specific location.
• If a fit test is in progress, please take a seat to wait and have receipt evidence ready.
• Make sure that your face is cleanly shaven (i.e. have shaved on the morning of the test - no stubble at all) - In accordance with AS/NZS ISO 16975.3:2023 Respiratory Fit Testing Standards, testing CANNOT be performed if head dress or facial covering is worn. If you require a female tester, or if shaving is not feasible due to religious or medical reasons, please contact the email address below to discuss alternative arrangements. Refer to FAQs section.
• No makeup or face cream to be worn.
• Remove facial piercings, particularly nose piercings, as these may interfere with the mask seal.
• If you wear glasses, please bring these with you so you can be tested with your glasses on.
• 30 minutes before the test DO NOT:
  • Eat or drink anything except water
  • Smoke or vape or ride in a car with someone smoking or vaping (passive smoking).

One hour (60 minutes) before the test DO NOT:

• Eat or drink anything other than water
• Smoke or vape or ride in a car with someone smoking or vaping (passive smoking)

FAQs

1. What do I need to bring to a mask fit test?

   Please bring a screenshot of your payment receipt number.  We will provide disposable P2 masks for the fit test, in accordance with the Department of Health Fit testing process

2. Which disposable P2 masks I will be tested on?

   The ECU Fit testing clinic strictly follows the Department of Health’s recommendations for Fit testing process. You will be tested on up to 2 types of disposable P2 masks. However, in some cases due to individual face shapes, only one mask may be found to be suitable.

   Our fit testing team will be available on the day to answer any of your questions you may have. Alternatively, you can contact us at smhsrft@ecu.edu.au.

3. Why can’t I eat, drink or smoke 30 minutes before the test?

   Eating, Drinking (except water) and Smoking before the test can negatively impact on the fit test results. The Fit testing machine operates by counting particles that may leak into the respirator as a ratio of particles in the ambient air and residual particles from food, beverage or smoke can affect the accuracy of the test.

4. Why must I be clean shaven for the test?

   Any beard or facial hair on the face can prevent the respirator from achieving an effective seal on the face and test CANNOT be performed, in accordance with AS/NZS ISO 16975.3:2023 Respiratory Fit Testing Standards.

   If shaving is not feasible due to religious or medical reasons, please contact smhsrft@ecu.edu.au to discuss alternative arrangements.

5. What should I expect on the day of the test?

   ECU Fit testing involves:

   • Training on proper donning and doffing techniques
   • Guidance on performing a user seal check
   • Testing for 2 types of disposable masks
   • A copy of your fit test results
6. What testing method is used?

We use Quantitative (QNFT) – Ambient aerosol condensation nuclei-counting (CNC). The method compares the concentration of ambient particles outside the respirator to those inside.

Thank you for attending ECU Resp-FIT services

All students who work with aged people require a WA Police national criminal clearance - National Police Certificate​ (NPC)

This is in addition to the other police screening requirements. The Policy and guidelines are available at the WA Police website. You can complete either:​

• In person at an Australia Post outlet​
• Online at the WA Police website​

​Please note: ​

• Cost = $63.80 required upon application​
• In person and online applications that require further investigation may take up to 10 business days or longer to be finalised​

​VALID PERIOD: 3 years. Some placement sites will require NPC within 12 months.​

An NDIS Worker Screen is required for students who work with people with disability in a risk assessed role.​

​To complete: ​Access the application through the Department of Transport ​

​Please note: ​

• Elect ECU as your employer (ECU is a registered NDIS provider)​
• When asked to input nominated employer registration ID number use: 4-4GHG-759 (If there is an error, try entering the ID number without the hyphens)​
• Once the form has been completed, upload to SONIA​
• Cost = $11​

VALID PERIOD: 5 years, subject to ongoing-monitoring​

​For more information, please refer to: NDIS Worker Screening, NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators, Quick Reference Guide

The NDIS Worker Orientation Module ‘Quality, Safety and You’ helps assist NDIS workers to better support people with disability.​ This module is an interactive online course that explains the obligations of workers under the NDIS Code of Conduct. ​

​Access the training through NDIS.  ​

​Please note: ​

• The module takes approximately 90 minutes to complete​
• Students must upload the Certificate of Completion to SONIA​

​VALID PERIOD: No expiry and certificate is transferable with job change. ​

Risk Aware is a program designed to increase your awareness of the risks associated with the clinical placement environment and ways to manage or control for these risks. ​

You will receive an email with instructions for creating an account and participating in the program as required.​

​Please note:​

• There are multiple modules in this training. Please allow adequate time (2-4+ hours) to complete​
• Once complete, upload your certificate to SONIA​

The WIL Risk Management Checklist ensures there is a mutual understanding of the risk management responsibilities of the student, host organisation and ECU supervisor. ​

​Please note:​ Your Placement/Unit Coordinator will provide information about completing this form.

​VALID PERIOD: Length of specific placement​

You will be required to complete and sign a Student Declaration Form which details your understanding of expectations for placement.  You can complete this form on SONIA.

1. Log into SONIA.
2. Click on Forms menu.
3. Select Student Declaration Form from the Form drop down list.
4. Click Add.
5. Click Edit on the form heading to open.
6. Read and tick each statement to confirm you have read the statement.
7. Check Student ID and Student Name.
8. Click Submit once complete.

Valid Period:  There is no expiration date for the Student Declaration Form. however you may be asked to resubmit a new form during your course by your Placement Coordinator.

The Student Vaccination Form consists of two parts:

1. Medical (immunisations and MRSA screening) on page 1-2.
2. Health Student Placement Acknowledgement on page 3.

To complete the form there are 2 options:

Option 1 – see GP first, then test:

• Download the Student Vaccination Form and take it to an appointment with the Student Health Service or with your GP. The GP will order the relevant blood tests, and arrange for you to have the relevant immunisations, so that you can complete the Student Vaccination Form.
• In most cases you will need at least 2 appointments to complete the tests, immunisations, and forms. Please note that there will be costs to these appointments, tests, and immunisation

Option 2 – test, then see GP:

• Have your blood tests done by Western Diagnostic Pathology (WDP) who will attend on campus on set days. WDP can arrange all the required tests, and ensure that you have a copy, so that you can go to your appointment with at the Student Health Service or with your GP with the test results already completed. WDP will arrange to contact you if there are any issues with the tests.

• This could mean that there are less appointments overall. Please note that there will be costs to these appointments, tests, and immunisation.
  • Please check your Canvas student community site for your course where Western Diagnostic Pathology will be on campus.

Please note:

• Please take action early to avoid missing out on your placement.
• Once the form has been completed, including the Health Student Placement Acknowledgement component, upload to SONIA.

VALID PERIOD: There is no expiration date for the GP form.

Students who are attending a placement outside the Perth metropolitan region need to complete a Student Travel Approval form.

Your Placement/Unit Coordinator will provide further information as required.

As a requirement for students working with children within a primary school setting, all Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and Dietetics students on some placements, will need to complete the following additional check:​

WA Department of Education and Training National Criminal History Check​

​Original documents need to be sighted, and the form signed by your Placement/Unit Coordinator.​

Please Note: ​

• Cost = $46 ​
• This check can take up to 3 months to process – please initiate early​

VALID PERIOD: 3 years

The Working with Children Check (WWC) is a comprehensive criminal record check for certain people in child-related work in Western Australia. The WWC Check aims to increase the safety of children in our community. ​

​Application forms are available from Student Hub or Australia Post (not online)​.

To complete:​

• Take your completed application to the Student Hub for signing (don’t forget to take your original documents with you)​
• Once signed, take your application in person to your local Post Office. Your photograph will be taken at the time of lodgement.​

Please note:​

• Cost = $11 ​
• This application can take up to 3 months to process – please initiate early​

VALID PERIOD: 3 years​