CSU holds insurance which covers students' activities while they are undertaking workplace learning. Details of the insurance coverage relevant to workplace learning are provided by the Division of Finance. The Division of Finance provides certificates of currency which can be downloaded.
Personal accident insurance is provided for students. Information about the policy is available through Student Central including details of the limits and claims process.
The insurance cover does not cover students undertaking additional work experience unless this is a recognised requirement of a course.
In the event students experience an incident or injury while on placement then they are required to complete and submit the CSU accident and incident form. They may also be required to complete forms as required by the Industry partner where they are undertaking workplace learning.
Students are often required to complete mandatory pre-placement requirements before they undertake any period of workplace learning. These will be determined by the course that the student is enrolled in but could include:
Students are advised of these requirements prior to enrolment via University Admission Guides, and following enrolment by their subject outlines, verbal announcements, placement manuals, email and Interact postings. The Faculty of Science has developed a policy to describe the responsibilities, processes and consequences related to meeting pre-placement requirements. Any costs associated with meeting these requirements are to be met by students.
Students in the Faculty of Science who are involved in workplace learning may be exposed vaccine-preventable diseases. Costs of screening tests and vaccination are to be met by students.
Students enrolled in the following courses must comply with policy requirements for vaccination against infectious diseases prior to placement within the NSW Health System, and most other Australian State Health Systems.
Students completing placements at a facility operated by NSW Health must have a documented screening and vaccination history available whenever on placement in accordance with the policy Occupational Assessment Screening and Vaccination Against Specific Infectious Diseases (PD2011_005)
Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all students on clinical placement. The Policy requires that you consult your local doctor to obtain written proof of protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox and hepatitis B.
Results of these vaccinations are kept on a personal record card (available from the School through which the student is studying). This card must be presented, upon request, by NSW Health, or other State Health staff, whilst the student is on placement. For some placements this card will need to be presented in advance of the placement.
Workplace administration staff will monitor completion of immunisation requirements prior to placements and non-compliance with these requirements will lead to student being unable to complete their placements.
As a full course of vaccinations may take several months to complete (e.g. Hepatitis B), students are advised to consult their local medical practitioner well in advance of the commencement of their first clinical experience placement.
Students will be advised about processes for Screening for tuberculosis.
Further information is available from the NSW Health web site
Students enrolled in Veterinary Science and Agriculture courses are required to engage in a Q fever immunisation program. Q fever is an occupational hazard to veterinarians and others involved with livestock. It is caused by Coxiella burnetii, a rickettsial organism, which infects a variety of domestic and wild animals (especially cattle, sheep, goats, macropods and bandicoots). Infected animals are often symptomless but are important sources of infection for people, as high numbers of the organism are shed in urine, faeces, milk and in the products of parturition. Direct contact by inhalation is the commonest route of infection in man. In people the disease can be severe and debilitating but is rarely fatal. Clinically it is similar to influenza (muscle pains, severe headache and high fever) and is usually rapidly self-limiting but it can also be recurrent (Q fever fatigue syndrome) or result in pneumonia, liver or heart problems.
Q-fever vaccination is compulsory to enable you to participate in the practical components of the veterinary science and agriculture courses. If you have previously been vaccinated or have immunity, documentation to that effect is required to be sighted and recorded by the Schools administration staff.
Students will be advised of the timing of the Q fever vaccination program.
Students enrolling in some courses are required to have a current First Aid certificate when completing workplace learning: First Aid Courses
Students undertaking placements in Health care facilities are required to comply with clearances and to provide documentation on arrival at placement. The student clearance requirements are outlined on the NSW Health website - Notice to Students enrolling in courses that require clinical placements in NSW Public Health Facilities (Ref: S3).
You are advised to read this notice carefully and ensure that you have understood and complied with its requirements. Failure to do so will result in your clinical placements being delayed.
Many workplaces require staff members to have completed a basic food safety course prior to commencing work or at least before handling food in a therapy situation. As work places have this expectation of staff members, it is appropriate for students doing placements at these workplaces to have also completed a basic food safety course prior to commencing placement.
Completing basic food safety training is compulsory for students on courses where when they are on placements which will involve some degree of handling food, such as occupational therapy and speech pathology courses. In other courses, such as physiotherapy and podiatry, food safety training is not compulsory, but may be recommended depending on the type of placement a student will attend.
Manual Handling Online Training Instructions
Hand Hygiene Online Training Instructions
From March 2011 nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, podiatry, dentistry and pharmacy students will be required to be registered with the Australian Health Professionals Regulating Authority (AHPRA).
Information about student registration can be found on the AHPRA website.