Overview

Professional placement is a highly valued and compulsory part of the Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery/Nursing.

Engagement and completion of all professional practice units inclusive of 800 placement hours for Nursing and 1656 hours for the Dual Degree is essential to achieve the overall requirements of the course.

This is required as evidence for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) to be eligible for graduate registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA). 

There is a PEP Communication page set up for each course via VU Collaborate.

HBMA Professional Practice VU Collaborate
HBNB Professional Practice VU Collaborate

This will provide students with access to the following information:

  • Key dates and deadlines
  • Professional practice rules and expectations
  • Forms (including mandatory pre-placement documentation)
  • Australian Nursing Standards Assessment Tool (ANSAT)
  • Professional practice news and updates (including last-minute placement opportunities).
VU’s practical learning – Health Sciences - Transcript

Mandatory pre-placement requirements

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery/Nursing are required to complete the following mandatory pre-placement requirements each year by a specific due date before they will be permitted to commence clinical placement.

Mandatory documents are those documents that Victoria University is required to collect from each student to meet contractual, Occupational Health and Safety, and legal agreements with the DHHS and partnering health facilities, including:

  • mask fit testing
  • fit2work police check 
  • vaccination/immunisation requirements
  • working with children check

Note:

There are additional costs associated with clinical placement including, the purchase of a student clinical placement uniform, all mandatory pre-placement requirements (such as the annual police check) travel, accommodation, and meals while the student is attending placements. 

The Department of Health and Human Services requires all students undertaking placement in the healthcare sector to be fully immunised.

The annual Immunisation Checklist is available via VU Collaborate and, once completed, must be uploaded to VU WIL each year.

You need to submit a completed Immunisation Form signed off by a medical practitioner showing you are fully vaccinated for the following:

  • COVID-19 (3 doses)
  • hepatitis B
  • influenza (annually)
  • pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, diptheria
  • measles, mumps, rubella
  • varicella (chickenpox)

You also need to have an annual tuberculosis screening.

Start your immunisations as soon as you enrol, as some immunisations require a course of injections over several months. 

Refer to the Victorian Government for the latest information about vaccination requirements for healthcare workers.

A valid police check is required upon commencement of the course, and is valid for 3 years to ensure it is valid for the duration of the course.

The police check must be uploaded to VU WIL/InPlace.

To create a check:

  1. Go to the Fit2Work police check site
  2. Enter your Victoria University student email address to login or create an account

For further assistance:

Phone: 1300 525 525

Email: support@fit2work.com.au

For an international police check:

  • If you have resided in another country for more than 12 months in the last 10 years, you are required to obtain an international police check or complete a Statutory Declaration.
  • If you have lived in several countries you can include them all in the one Statutory Declaration. This form can be downloaded from https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/statdecs
  • If your international police check is written in another language it will need to include an English translation.

Apply for your free volunteer working with children check.

Upload a copy of your card to VU WIL/InPlace.

A National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Worker Screening Check was introduced by the Victorian State Government. Students are required to have an NDIS Worker Screening Check to attend placements in residential aged care facilities.

  • The NDIS Worker Screening application is available at Service Victoria and can take up to 3 weeks
  • In your application, you must note that you work for Victoria University
  • The NDIS Worker Screening Check costs $121.10. Clearances are valid for 5 years unless surrendered or revoked.

VU WIL

VU WIL (In Place Student Placement Portal) is the online portal for students to upload all pre-placement and mandatory document requirements. This can be accessed via MYVU Portal. Alternatively, login here:

Log in to InPlace

All mandatory documentation forms and supporting documents must be submitted in VU WIL (InPlace) by the due dates in order to be allocated placement.

All student placements will be allocated and viewed via VU WIL (InPlace).

Students will be required to accept the Terms and Conditions within VU WIL (InPlace).

VU’s practical learning – Health Sciences - Transcript

Placement locations

It is an expectation that you undertake both metropolitan and rural PEP allocations.

You are enrolled in theory sequences that lead to PEP allocation over the duration of your course.

Travel within the Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery/Nursing is an expectation.

Professional practice allocations are a compulsory requirement.

It is a requirement that you attend your allocated PEP regardless of geographic allocation.

Travel away from your place of residence to undertake shift work will be required for the duration of the course.

Gaining momentum in midwifery

My placements allowed me to integrate my knowledge into my clinical practice and also consolidate my knowledge and skills. They also helped me build my independence and confidence and started to shape me as a midwife.

Emma Heard — Bachelor of Midwifery / Bachelor of Nursing
Emma's story

Related

Placement fees

The cost of the placement is covered by your student fees for enrolment in the relevant PEP unit.

You will be charged a placement fee if you don't comply with minimum standards for external placements such as:

  • student and/or professional misconduct
  • failure to attend an allocated clinical placement
  • failure to meet mandatory documentation or other requirements
  • withdrawing from placement units outside of the cancellation notice period
  • failure to comply with University and/or Provider Policies and Procedures.

View placement fees for the relevant academic year.

Uniform requirements

All students are required to attend placement wearing the prescribed uniform.

Purchase your uniform from VU's Uniform Portal.

Contact us

Submit your placement enquiry via ASKVU or call the dedicated phone line during operating hours:

Phone: +61 3 9919 2708

Tuesdays to Thursdays

10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm