You will be required to progress through theoretical and practical simulation training components in each stage of your course. The practical simulation components will be conducted on campus either in residential block periods or as timetabled sessions throughout your stage of study. These residential block periods are multiple full day allocations of 1 week or more with mandatory attendance requirements, for students to complete the necessary practical sessions and assessments to be eligible to continue to clinical placement allocations. You will need to successfully undertake a clinical placement in a health care facility or hospital where you will get to use your new skills and knowledge in the real world. 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 assessment is compulsory, and you will be expected to manage family and work commitments in order to complete your shifts. You will need to successfully complete a minimum of 400 hours of placement to satisfy AHPRA's requirements for your qualification.
You will need to be eligible for, and obtain, a Working with Children Check (for Queensland students, this is a Blue Card), and NDIS clearance, and a Police Check issued by the Australian Federal Police.
Queensland students are advised that a Blue Card application will be assisted by TAFE Queensland staff after enrolment. TAFE Queensland will verify your student status and link you to our organisation in the Queensland Blue Card portal. Please note for students from other States and Territories you will need to follow the specific guidelines for your Working with Children Check for your location. If a Student believes they may be disallowed from receiving a Working with Children Check (or Blue Card) please contact your regional VP Officer to discuss prior to enrolment as this may impact on your ability to be allocated for vocational placement assessment.
You are to apply for 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.
Australian Federal Police checks are to be no older than 3 months from the start of study for Stage 1 studies. If a Student believes they may have a notification or charges on their police check please contact your regional VP Officer to discuss prior to enrolment as this may impact on your ability to be allocated for vocational placement assessment.
If your Australian Federal Police check identifies that you have a criminal history or you are unable to be issued with a Blue Card or NDIS Worker’s Clearance, you may be disqualified from being eligible to undertake placement and assessment, which would affect your course. If you think this might impact you, please speak to the relevant Vocational Placement Coordinator for further information.
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.
Vaccination requirements
COVID-19 vaccination requirements across a range of high-risk settings have eased. There are no Public Health Directions in affect requiring you to be vaccinated in high risk settings. However, decisions on mandatory vaccinations will be made by the owner or operator of these settings. Some facilities may also mandate the number of vaccinations required. These requirements will be provided to the student, prior to arrangements being made for the completion of vocational placement.
Students who are not up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations will be ineligible for placement at a Queensland Health Facility. However, they may still have the opportunity to complete their placement at another organisation that does not mandate vaccinations. It's important for students to be aware that the availability of facilities/organisations without vaccination requirements may be limited, and this could potentially affect their ability to fulfil the placement requirements of the course.
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 up to date 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.
Mandatory Mask Use and Fit Testing
Students are advised that mask use is mandatory in health facilities and care delivery situations, in accordance with Australian Government and State Health guidelines. Health care providers require students to be fit-tested for the specific type of masks required in workplaces. TAFE Queensland will arrange for annual fit testing to be available at all campus locations, for students attending vocational placement in a health care setting.
There are several factors that impact on ensuring an effective seal when wearing the required type of mask. Students are advised of the following requirements for when being fit tested, and while wearing the mask on vocational placement:
- Facial hair along the sealing surface prevents an effective seal so students are advised they must be clean / closely shaven.
- Long hair that frames the face or falls forward may impact on an effective seal and students are advised to ensure hair is pulled back from the face.
- Facial jewellery that interferes with an effective seal must be removed.
- Facial creams or makeup may cause skin irritation at the site of where the mask sits on the skin surface, and soil or moisten the fabric reducing the seal’s effectiveness, and students are advised to minimise the use of such products.
The wearing of industry-approved masks that require fit testing prior to use is mandatory for students attending vocational placement in the majority of health care settings.
Students who are unable to ensure the above requirements need to discuss their enrolment options with Customer Service in their region.
After enrolment, campuses will be scheduling fit testing and students will need to ensure they are available to attend these sessions.
Vocational Placement Allocation Process and Cancellation Fee
Students are allocated to Vocational Placement periods according to the vocational placement assessment requirements for each Stage of study and our ANMAC accreditation guidelines.
Planning placement availabilities and student allocations are a complex processes. TAFE Queensland negotiates directly with industry, and in accordance with contractual requirements. Industry has been clear in its direction that students are not to contact or approach health facilities or organisations to attempt to source their own placement.
Students are allocated on the basis of receipt of validated mandatory documents by a due date (this includes any facility-specific pre-placement requirements, such as eLearning), progressing soundly across theoretical units, and successful completion of the safe practice practical assessments.
TAFE Queensland is routinely required to financially reimburse placement providers for the opportunities to allocate our nursing students. As a reflection of industry’s professional conduct requirements, students are directed to provide sufficient notice should they not be able to attend, and where due to unexpected circumstances, medical/legal evidence is required to support their absenteeism.
Absenteeism and / or non submission of mandatory facility orientation and sufficient absence that impacts on the supervising staff’s ability to make a determination of knowledge and skills application may directly impact on the continuation and result of the placement assessment.
Where specific pre-placement mandatory documentation and evidence is not provided, or an absence is not medically or legally justified, a cancellation / re-allocation fee of $600 is applied to the student’s account. This is to contribute to the cost of the invoiced placement and the additional time required to recommence the process of sourcing, allocating, confirming, and communicating with industry to provide further opportunity for placement assessment. Each student’s situation is reviewed on an individual basis.
Preparedness for Professional Practice
Students are expected to ensure their preparedness for placement assessment. This will include managing their health and welfare to support attendance and the participation requirement. Students should identify if they have a physical or mental impairment, disorder, disability, or condition, which may impact on their ability to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills in the workplace. (This includes impairment as a result of substance dependence or abuse)
Any medical treatment must not limit a student’s ability to participate in placement assessment in a professional and emotionally mature manner.
The physical and mental demands in nursing are varied given the range of clinical procedures and scenarios, and the vulnerability of clients. Those who are not able to participate in activities requiring ranges of movements such as bending / standing / walking for lengthy periods, interpret written or verbal instructions correctly, or use complex equipment requiring fine motor skills, may need to consider their ability to complete the assessment requirements to industry standard.
Students who may have sensory deficits or uncontrolled medical conditions that cannot be managed without compromising safe practice and assessment requirements will need to contact their vocational placement staff/team to discuss their assessment and/or enrolment options. Reasonable adjustment is available in specific circumstances only and students are advised that the assessment integrity and evidence requirements cannot be altered. Industry may not have the flexibility to accommodate a student’s specific needs for their individual circumstance.
Students whose placement assessment is interrupted by serious health concerns or chronic illness may be required to provide a medical clearance prior to attempting further placement assessment.
Intake Opportunities
TAFE Queensland also delivers the Diploma of Nursing in partnerships. Students are able to apply to become part of a dedicated student nurse cohort for either Ramsay Health, St Vincent's Health or Greenslopes Private Hospital. Students would attend all clinical placement onsite within the partnership's dedicated facility. For more information please go to -
Ramsay Health Care
St Vincents Health
Greenslopes Private Hospital
