DGD13-001
Policy
Student and Trainee Clinical Placement
Policy Statement
The ACT Government Health Directorate (Health Directorate) accepts students and trainees
undertaking health and health related courses for clinical placement within the Health
Directorate facilities. The Health Directorate is committed to providing quality clinical
placement, supervision and/or management of student and trainees’ health professions
which does not compromise safe multidisciplinary patient-centred care.
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to ensure that student and trainee clinical placements
within the Health Directorate are coordinated in accordance with relevant legislation, policy
and Standard Operating Procedures, with the aim of providing the highest quality of care to
and safety of Health Directorate staff, students and clients/consumers/patients.
Scope
This policy applies to all individuals involved in the clinical placement, supervision and/or
management of students and trainees, and staff of the Health Directorate.
The Health Directorate’s primary responsibility is the safe and effective management and
delivery of clinical care for patients/clients. Supervision, education and training of students
and trainees are secondary to this responsibility.
This policy does not cover work experience students from secondary school and college
programs. Refer to ACT Secondary Student Work Experience Program Policy.
Roles & Responsibilities
This policy ensures that:
The Health Directorate:
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Will meet its responsibilities whilst supporting the clinical placement of students and
trainees from the community and Educational Institutions.
Will adhere to the arrangements and responsibilities outlined in the Deeds of
Agreement and Standard Operating Procedures.
Doc Number
DGD13-001
Issued
Dec 2012
Review Date
Dec 2015
Area Responsible
PLERB
Page
1 of 4
DGD13-001
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Ensures the arrangements between the Health Directorate, Educational Institutions,
students and trainees are clearly defined.
Will meet future health workforce requirements are supported through the provision of
student and trainee placements in collaboration with Educational Institutions.
Meets its policy, legislative and accreditation requirements in regard to student clinical
placements.
Will provide clinical experience to health professionals both affiliated and not affiliated
with an Australian Educational Institution or organisation.
Will review data from evaluations of all student clinical placements to assist with
strategic planning and provide data to other government organisations such as Health
Workforce Australia.
Student Clinical Placement Unit (SCPU)
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Ensure the Deeds between the Health Directorate, Educational Institutions, Students and
Trainees are coordinated by the staff of the Student Clinical Placement Unit (SCPU).
Is responsible for checking that there is a current Deed, and a specific course Schedule,
prior to accepting any student or other trainee for placement, whether in a clinical or
non-clinical role.
Maintain the Student Placements Online (SPO) database and provide relevant data and
reports as required.
Support the planning and implementation of clinical placements with relevant staff,
educational institutions, students and trainees.
Ensure there is consistency in the coordination and management of student and trainee
clinical placements across the Health Directorate.
Students and Trainees:
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Are to complete Health Directorate mandatory training courses, which includes but is not
limited to: Fire & Safety; Manual Handling, and Child Protection Training Level 1.
Must comply with the arrangements and responsibilities outlined in the Deeds of
Agreement and the Standard Operating Procedure.
Must sign and adhere to the Student Acknowledgement Form.
Must adhere to the Health Directorate’s ICT policy for Semi-Trusted Devices, the use of
private mobile phones, text, images audio and video records captured on a semi-trusted
device for clinical and administrative uses.This is restricted in accordance with the Health
Directorate Standard Operating Procedure for the Release or Sharing of Clinical Records
or Personal Health Information.
Evaluation
Outcome Measures
 100% compliance that all clinical placements are covered by a current Deed and
Schedule.
 Demand and supply of clinical placements (number of placements requested and
facilitated,) identified, monitored and tracked.
 All students and trainees on clinical placements prior to commencement have:
o Produced a National Police Check
Doc Number
DGD13-001
Issued
Dec 2012
Review Date
Dec 2015
Area Responsible
PLERB
Page
2 of 4
DGD13-001
o
o
o
o
Met Immunisation requirements
Received a workplace orientation
Have a named supervisor
Competed all mandatory training
Method
 SCPU will provide an annual report showing that Deeds and Schedules are current and
filed in accordance with the Territory Records Act 2002.
 The Student Placement Online (SPO) system will provide current and projected student
placement data to help identify, monitor and report the demand and supply of clinical
placements.
 SPO reports demonstrating compliance for each student and trainee have prior to
commencement of placement:
o A NationalPolice Check
o Immunisation requirements met
o Workplace orientation provided
o A named supervisor
o Competed mandatory training
Related Legislation, Policies and Standards
Legislation
 Health Records (Privacy and Access Act) 1997
 Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth)
 Territory Records Act 2002
 Crimes Act 1900 (ACT)
 ACT Public Sector Management Act 1994
 Working with Vulnerable People Act 2011 (ACT)
 ACT Occupational Health and Safety Act 1989
 ACT Manual Handling Regulations 1997
Policies and Standard Operating Proceedures
 Health Directorate Staff Screening and Immunisation Policy
 Health Directorate Manual Handing Policy
 Health Directorate Acceptable Use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Resources
 Health Directorate Clinical Records - Release or Sharing of Clinical Records or Personal
Health Information SOP
 Health Directorate Child Protection Policy
 Health Directorate Clinical Record Management Policy
 Health Directorate Infection Prevention and Control Policy
 Health Directorate Staff Identification Policy
 ACT Government Public Service Code of Conduct
 ACT Government Mobile Devices Policy
 ACT Government Encryption Policy
 ACT Government ICT Security Policy
 ACT Government Password Policy and Standards
 ACT Public Non-Executive Passenger And Light Commercial Vehicle Management Policy
Doc Number
DGD13-001
Issued
Dec 2012
Review Date
Dec 2015
Area Responsible
PLERB
Page
3 of 4
DGD13-001
Standards
 Work Safe Australia: For the Prevention of Musculo-skeletal Disorders from Performing
Manual Handling Tasks at work
 National Standards for Manual Tasks Canberra August 2007
 Work Cover ACT Manual Handling Code of Practice 1999
 Work Cover Australia National Code of Practice August 2007
 Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4360: 1999 Standards Australia
 ACT Public Sector Management Standards 2006
Attachments
Student and Trainee Clinical Placement SOP
Deed – Placement of Educational Institution Students 2012
Disclaimer: This document has been developed by Health Directorate, Professional Leadership, Education and
Research Branch specifically for its own use. Use of this document and any reliance on the information
contained therein by any third party is at his or her own risk and Health Directorate assumes no responsibility
whatsoever.
Doc Number
DGD13-001
Issued
Dec 2012
Review Date
Dec 2015
Area Responsible
PLERB
Page
4 of 4