Certificate III in Sterilisation Services

Selection criteria

• Applicants from non-English speaking backgrounds must be able to demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing and have comprehension skills that would be required to fulfil a job role; and,
• Applicants will require a standard of basic computer literacy skills and must have access to a computer and the internet as learning resources, assessments and exams will be issued and conducted online through our Learning Management System; and,
• Industry-based applicants must be able to nominate a Workplace Supervisor to observe and record competencies within the workplace. As a minimum, the Workplace Supervisor must have a Certificate III in Sterilisation Services or higher relevant qualifications in Sterilisation; and,
• Interstate, non-industry applicants will be accepted providing you can supply the contact name and details of a hospital who is prepared to host you for your 120-hour vocational placement and have a Workplace Supervisor with a Certificate III in Sterilisation Services or higher relevant qualifications in Sterilisation; and,
• Non-industry applicants must be prepared to undergo a series of vaccinations to prepare you for placement; and
• Non-industry applicants must be able to prove (via an immunization statement or letter from your GP) that you have had at least the first two (2) of three, Hepatitis B vaccinations prior to applying for this program.
• Must be over 18 years of age due to placement requirements
• Need to be physically fit for heavy lifting up to 25kg maximum.

Placement

IMPORTANT NOTICE: 
While TAFE Queensland will make every effort to minimise disruption to study, the current COVID-19 pandemic situation and subsequent restriction of access to some health care facilities during this time, may cause delays with vocational placement and completion of this course.

Future students are advised that access to public and private health facilities or organisations in your State for vocational placement assessment will require evidence of commencement or full vaccination for COVID-19.

Note: Gold Coast will accept interstate, non-industry applicants provided you can supply the contact name and details of a hospital who is prepared to host you for your 120-hour vocational placement and have a Workplace Supervisor with a Certificate III in Sterilisation Services or higher relevant qualifications in Sterilisation.

Depending on the placement hospital, non-industry applicants may be required to undergo a Criminal History Check prior to vocational placement. Applicants who are not currently employed in a sterilising department (hospital or office-based) are required to complete a 120 hour (3 consecutive weeks) vocational placement in a hospital sterilisation facility. Vocational placement is conducted Monday – Friday between 6:00 and 23:00 hours. The hospital will give you a shift roster at the time of placement. Vocational placement occurs around month 7 or 8 depending on your progress.

TAFE Queensland  will negotiate with hospitals in your local area (where possible) to find a placement position for you. Please note, due to the high number of students completing placements, you are required to be flexible and may have to travel outside your immediate area to attend placement. It is also understood that students may have preferences for specific hospitals and/or periods of times, however there is no guarantee this is possible and is determined by industry availability.

Non-industry applicants  are required to meet the following specific vaccination criteria prior to being accepted for placement.

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): Two doses
• Hepatitis B: Full course. Note: a full course (i.e. 3 doses) of Hepatitis B vaccinations takes approximately 9 months
• Varicella (Chickenpox): Two doses
• Pertussis (Whooping cough): One dose

Tuberculosis: The Mantoux Test is required by some hospitals if you have lived anywhere other than Australia for more than 3 months. You will be advised if this is required prior to the commencement of your placement.

Note: some hospitals also request immunisation for the annual influenza vaccine.

Prior to the commencement of vocational placement, applicants will need to provide evidence of immunity to the above vaccine-preventable diseases by producing results of a blood test or a statement from a GP.

Applicants who have been previously immunised will need to provide evidence of having sero-converted by producing results of a blood test. This is a high risk industry; those who are unable to sero-convert for Hepatitis B should seek advice from a medical practitioner prior to enrolling. Cover for HepatitisB is mandatory for all Queensland Health staff and students.

Need to know

For all students who are undertaking courses that include Vocational Placements in a high risk workplace, Queensland Health has directed that students must declare your COVID-19 Vaccination status and evidence to either TAFE Queensland or the placement provider. 

This may require you providing us or the placement provider information on:

• Your vaccinate status
• Last date of vaccination
• Evidence of vaccine status

Where this information will be collected as part of your application and / or enrolment process.  Any data collected will be managed under the TAFE Queensland Privacy Policy.

This requirement is in place for all students in affected courses, including TAFE at School students.

Those students who have a medical contraindication may be unable to complete the vocational placement component of their course. This means you may not be able to meet all of the requirements of your course and may not be able to graduate or receive your qualification.

If you have any questions or concerns with this requirement, please contact our COVID hotline on 07 3307 4789.