Things Students need to know about Clinical Education
Clinical education enables students to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the academic units of study of the physiotherapy course in a health care setting. Under the supervision and guidance of clinical educators undergraduates will assess and treat patients in a variety of clinical settings, thereby gaining experience in physiotherapy practice.
Clinical Schools and Placements
Five clinical schools have been established in line with area health services in the Sydney metropolitan area (Central, Northern, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western). Each clinical school incorporates hospitals, community health centres, private practices, rural affiliations and other facilities within the geographical region.
Students are divided (via a preferential ballot system) between the 5 clinical schools and remain in the same clinical school for the duration of their undergraduate course. All students are required to participate in at least one rural or out-of-Sydney clinical placement during the undergraduate course. Depending on availability, opportunities may exist for some students to elect to do an interstate placement.
NSW Criminal Records Check
In accordance with NSW Health Department policy, all health care workers, including students who undertake clinical professional training or fieldwork in the NSW health care system, are subject to a criminal records check. This procedure is a requirement and condition of gaining access to NSW Health Department facilities.
As part of the first year enrolment package, students will receive a form from the NSW Health Department to consent to a criminal records check. It is the student's responsibility to complete this form and have it signed by a Justice of the Peace (a JP will be present on enrolment day to facilitate this process). Once the form has been completed and signed, students must return it to Student Central (Cumberland). All enquiries regarding this process should be made through Student Central, Faculty of Health Sciences.
Students will be required to present their letter of clearance to the clinical sites to which they have been assigned. Failure to present the clearance letter may result in a student having to leave a clinical placement, which may also compromise graduation date.
AFP National Police Check (Aged Care)
In accordance with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, all people who work in aged care facilities must have completed a National Police Check. As most students will undertake at least one clinical placement in an aged care facility, all students must apply for an Australian Federal Police (AFP) Check (Aged Care) in 2nd year.
Clinical Education Administration will provide details of how to apply for the check during clinical education lectures in semester one of 1st year and early in second year. The process involves completing an application form and sending it to the AFP with a photocopy of indentification and a cheque or money order for the required fee (currently $32.73). Applications take between four and eight weeks to process.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certificate
A certificate of competency in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is required from all students undertaking clinical education. Students must submit a current certificate showing evidence of competency before commencing the first scheduled clinical placement in second year. CPR skills must be updated every 12 months. For information relating to scheduled courses on CPR, students may wish to contact their local St John Ambulance, Life-Saving Association or the Cumberland Student Guild (CSG) (via Depot) which offers CPR courses on campus for students and staff.
Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases and their transmission between health care workers (including students) and patients or between patients and the health care worker are of concern to all those working in clinical settings. Participation in screening and vaccination according to the NSW Health Policy Directive 2007_006 is a prerequisite for students for clinical placements in facilities of NSW Health. Failure to comply with the requirements may jeopardise completion of the student's studies as they may be asked to leave a clinical site. This directive is available on the Department of Health website at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au
The NSW Health Directive requires that students obtain proof of their immunity status and/or be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, hepatitis B, influenza and tuberculosis. Tuberculosis screening must be conducted at the students' local chest clinic or at the University of Sydney Health Service, Camperdown, within 12 months of the start of your placement (or 3 months for some sites). Proof of immunity or vaccination must be carried with you at all times when on placement in facilities of NSW Health and will be required prior to placement. NSW Health has provided an "Adult Vaccination Record Card" for this purpose.
As a full course of vaccinations may take several months to complete, The University advises that students begin this process by visiting the University Health Service well in advance of the commencement of clinical placements.
Clinical Hours
To be eligible for registration as a physiotherapist through The NSW Physiotherapists Registration Board, undergraduates must undertake all clinical education units of study during the physiotherapy course. Time missed from clinical placements will be made up at the discretion of the Head of Discipline and, where possible, is usually completed in the weeks between the end of semester 2 exams and prior to the commencement of the next academic year. Students are advised to take this into consideration before arranging holidays and work commitments etc.
Uniform Regulations
- Navy tailored trousers (straight legs)
- White short sleeves open neck shirt or Disciplineof Physiotherapy polo shirt with University insignia (as supplied by the Campus Rewards Bookstore)
- Black work shoes
- Navy cardigan/pullover
- Monotone coloured socks either navy, black or white
Approval for males and females to wear navy tailored long shorts is the clinical site's decision. It is the student's responsibility to obtain approval from the clinical site prior to wearing shorts. The clinical site's decision is final. However, students applying for special consideration due to religious and/or cultural circumstances must discuss changes to uniform regulations with their Practicum Coordinator.
Rural Clinical Placement Scholarships and Grants
The Discipline of Physiotherapy provides information about grants and scholarships from various sources, to assist physiotherapy students with travel and accommodation costs of rural clinical placements. Information on the various grants and scholarships can be obtained from Clinical Education Administration, Discipline of Physiotherapy or the NSW Health website: www.health.nsw.gov.au
Clinical Dates
Clinical Dates 2009
Year 2 (Mentored Clinical Placement)
27 April - 5 June
Year 3
27 July - 28 August
7 September - 9 October
19 October - 20 November
Year 4 Pass/Honours
13 April - 15 May
25 May - 26 June
Graduate Entry (GEM) Year 2
2 March - 3 April
13 April - 15 May
25 May - 26 June
19 October - 20 November
Academic / Clinical Pattern for 2009
Further Information and Updates
For information and updates about the Clinical Placement Program please contact Clinical Administration:
Email:
Phone: 02 9351 9178