Occupational Assessment, Screening & Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases

Students enrolled at a university, TAFE, high school or other educational institution may be required as part of a course of study to access NSW Health facilities to undertake clinical placements, work experience, observation or other arrangements. Students who are undertaking clinical placements which involve patient contact as defined under Category A must comply with the requirements of the Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination against specified infectious diseases policy directive.

This letter outlines the requirements of the policy directive and the definition of Category A. An updated policy directive will be released in early 2010. Students are advised to consult this webpage closer to the start of term.

In anticipation of a revised Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy, to be released in mid 2009, certain requirements of PD2007_006, relating to hepatitis B vaccination and documentation and tuberculosis (TB) screening have been varied.

This advice has been sent to health services, universities and other stakeholders regarding their use. The variations are set out in this letter of advice dated 29 April 2006 and its attachment.

The letter of advice and its attachment refers to high-TB incidence countries. A list of these may be found on the World Health Organisation website at: http://www.who.int/tb/publications/global_report/en/index.html

Health services should use their discretion in applying the amended requirements, on a case by case basis, in order to avoid delays in recruitment or clearance for clinical placement, or to avoid unnecessary screening or vaccination of already protected individuals. It should be noted that application of this advice to any particular case is at the health service's discretion.