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Policy: Criminal record screening for students undertaking clinical placements

Purpose

To advise students of their legislative, ACT and NSW Government obligations for criminal record screening if undertaking clinical placements in ACT or NSW health facilities.

Overview

Clinical placements are a significant and sometimes mandatory component of a number of programs at the Australian National University (the University). The University relies upon state, territory and private health providers for access to clinical training facilities.

Access to these facilities is regulated by the operators of the facilities. This policy focuses upon the requirements of the ACT and NSW governments and their health services, as that is where the majority of University placements occur.

Scope

This policy is for the information of staff involved in student administration or teaching and learning and applies to all students undertaking clinical placements in health facilities.

Policy statement

  1. The University’s Criminal record screening for students undertaking clinical placements in health facilities policy and procedure are consistent with the requirements of the:
  1. ACT Health Directorate;
  2. NSW Ministry of Health;
  3. Advocate for Children and Young People Act 2014 No 29 (NSW);
  4. Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 No 51 (NSW);
  5. Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 (ACT).
  1. All students who have a clinical placement component in their program undertake a criminal history check (including sexual, serious offence and child offence checks) prior to placements commencing.
  2. Students undertaking placements in non-ACT and non-NSW government operated health facilities may be subject to different requirements from those set out in this policy and the related procedure, and those different requirements are resolved by the student with the Clinical Placement Office (ACT placements) or the Public Health Organisation (NSW placements) and the University prior to any placement commencing.
  3. The appropriate area within ACT Health or NSW Health decides the outcome for placement following a criminal history check.
  4. Students enrolled in programs with a compulsory clinical placement who are unable to undertake the clinical placement as a result of a criminal history check, are excluded from all courses requiring placements in health facilities and are provided with advice to determine their eligibility to transfer to other University programs.
  5. Students who are enrolled in a course that requires placement in a health facility, where clinical placement is not a compulsory requirement of their program, and are excluded from clinical placements as a result of a criminal history check, are excluded from courses requiring placements in health facilities and are advised of alternative course enrolment for their program.

Information

 Printable version (PDF)
Title Criminal record screening for students undertaking clinical placements in health facilities
Document Type Policy
Document Number ANUP_000400
Version
Purpose To advise students of their legislative, ACT and NSW Government obligations for criminal record screening if undertaking clinical placements in health facilities.
Audience Students
Category Academic
Topic/ SubTopic Students
 
Effective Date 9 Nov 2020
Next Review Date 9 Nov 2025
 
Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration
Approved By: Academic Board
Contact Area Division of Student Administration and Academic Services
Authority: Advocate for Children and Young People Act 2014.
Privacy Act 1988
Delegations 0

Information generated and received by ANU staff in the course of conducting business on behalf of ANU is a record and should be captured by an authorised recordkeeping system. To learn more about University records and recordkeeping practice at ANU, see ANU recordkeeping and Policy: Records and archives management.

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Procedures
Criminal record screening for students undertaking clinical placements in health facilities