Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice

Placement

Students are advised that they will need to evidence maintenance of full COVID-19 vaccination to attend the mandatory vocational placement assessment components of this course.
The vaccines received must be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for use in Australia or endorsed by the WHO-COVAX if vaccinated overseas. Please see the following link for the accepted vaccines.

If you are not currently employed in industry, during your course TAFE Queensland will arrange a vocational placement for you in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care facility, so you can start practicing your new skills in a real-world environment. You’ll be required to work shifts determined by your placement provider, and these can include early mornings or late nights, any day of the week, including public holidays.

Completing placement is compulsory, and you will be expected to manage family and work commitments in order to complete your shifts. You are required to complete 500 hours of placement to satisfy this component of your qualification.

Before commencing clinical placement you will need to complete a:

• Australian Federal Police Check (AFP); and,
• NDIS Workers Screening Clearance; and,
• Apply for a Blue Card (Working with Children Check).

Please note: TAFE Queensland wishes to warn you, as a Blue Card applicant, that it is an offence for a disqualified person to sign a Blue Card application.  For further information regarding 'disqualified' persons, please contact Blue Card Services.

You are to apply for your NDIS Worker Screening Check once enrolled as you will be considered a volunteer and TAFE Queensland will need to verify your application as a student.

If your police check identifies that you have a criminal history or you are unable to obtain a Blue Card, you may be disqualified from being eligible to undertake placement and assessment, which would affect your course outcomes. If you think this might impact you, please speak to the relevant Vocational Placement Coordinator for further information.

You will also be required to complete a vaccination record or full immunisation. TAFE Queensland vaccination and immunisation guidelines reflect the specific requirements from health placement providers across Australia to ensure students are prepared and eligible to attend all placement allocations. It is important to be fully aware that the following Vaccination and Serology requirements are subject to change.

You will not be able to commence your Vocational Placement unless you have provided the required evidence as specified below:

• Maintenance of full COVID-19 Vaccination – evidence of vaccinations of a type approved by Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia, or endorsed by the World Health Organisation.
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): Evidence of 2 vaccinations one month apart or positive serology for all 3 diseases
• Hepatitis B: Commence a Hepatitis B course which is 3 injections (0, 1 and 6 months) with positive serology supplied 4-6 weeks following 3rd vaccination or supply evidence of an Age-appropriate Hep B course
• Varicella (Chicken Pox): Evidence of 2 vaccinations one month apart or positive serology
• dTpa (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis) vaccination: Evidence of vaccinations for all 3 diseases within the last 10 years
• Tuberculosis: Mantoux Test or evidence of a plain chest x-ray
• Influenza Vaccination: Annual vaccination
• Any other test / vaccination as directed by Australian health authorities.

Please note: you will be responsible for any costs associated with meeting these requirements.

Students will also need to provide evidence that they hold a first aid competency that is current at the time of placement. This can be in the form of:

• HLTAID011 Provide First Aid statement of attainment, that was obtained in the last 1 year.
  OR
• HLTAID011 Provide First Aid statement of attainment, that was obtained more than 1 year but less than 3 years ago
  AND a HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation statement of attainment that was obtained in the last 1 year

Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 commencing in September 2021
Due to the Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 commencing in September 2021, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners are now authorised to administer medicines in Queensland as per the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 Extended Practice Authority ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners’ and completed Practice Plan. Students will be required to administer medicines under the direct supervision of a RN or a Registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner with an endorsed Practice Plan while on work placement as per TAFE assessment requirements.

Need to know

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.

To be eligible for the Higher Level Skills subsidised or Fee-Free TAFE price, you must:

• Identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• be aged 15 years or over, and no longer at school
• permanently reside in Queensland
• be an Australian citizen, permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen
• not hold or be currently enrolled in a Certificate IV or higher-level qualification (does not include qualifications completed at school or foundation skills training).