This is the Clinical Placement system used by the Occupational Therapy Program at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Once you have logged into Sonia Online, your School homepage will become active. From here you can access information relating to your Clinical Placement including:

  • your placement details;
  • forms and information for mandatory pre-clinical requirements;
  • reminders and important dates;
  • electronic forms;
  • facility information;
  • selecting placement group preferences;
  • uploading and viewing pre-clinical documentation.

On this page:

COVID-19 Infection and Exposure

Students are required to report any COVID infection and exposure that will impact attendance for placement, clinical laboratory or class. Please complete the self-selectable WIL COVID-19 Reporting form available under the Forms tab, once you have logged into Sonia Online.

Mandatory Checks

You need to ensure that you have completed the following mandatory checks prior to the commencement of your placement.

UniSC has a responsibility to ensure all students comply with the mandatory checks (requirements) of placement sites. It is essential that each student maintains their own personal process to manage paper and electronic documents associated with these checks. Many placement sites will ask to see hardcopy evidence of all checks on the first day of placement, so it is the responsibility of each student to be able to provide these on request.

Click on the appropriate buttons below to be directed to information relating to that specific check.

All students - Per Placement Requirements

UniSC Code of Conduct

To be eligible to attend placement, you must complete the UniSC Code of Conduct by reading the document and Agreeing by submitting the electronic form. This is a per placement requirement, available 1-2 weeks prior to placement commencing. You will receive an email when a Code of Conduct has been added to your Sonia Online > Forms.

UniSC Student Placement Agreement Forms

The Student Placement Agreement (SPA) consists of two mandatory electronic forms completed in your Sonia Online account before you attend your placement.
- Placement Disclosure Statement (Disclosing Health Conditions)
- Placement Details Agreement
Available 1–2 weeks prior to placement commencing (per placement requirement). You will receive an email when a Student Placement Agreement has been added to your Sonia Online > Forms.

1st Year Students Preplacement Requirements (OCC101 and OCC102) Due Date: Week 13 - Semester 2

National Police Check - (Australian Federal Police - Purpose Check 37)

Police Check applications can take up to 6 weeks to be processed. NB. Only Australian Federal Police certificates with Purpose Type 37 are accepted.

Blue Card

Apply for a new card or link your existing card to UniSC. (Note: it is highly recommended that you apply for a Combined Blue Card and NDIS Worker Screening card if you do not currently hold either of these. A combined card is valid for 5 years and you will there not be required to renew these during the course of your program).

NDIS Worker Screening Card

To be eligible for placement you must hold a valid NDIS Worker Screening Card or valid Yellow Card. (Note: it is highly recommended that you apply for a Combined Blue Card and NDIS Worker Screening card if you do not currently hold either of these. A combined card is valid for 5 years and you will there not be required to renew these during the course of your program).

First Aid and CPR

To be eligible to attend your placement, you are required to hold a current CPR and First Aid certificate.

Vaccination Evidence (VPD Evidence Form)

All required vaccinations must be complete prior to placement. Vaccinations can take up to 12 months to complete the full vaccination courses.

Placement Uniform Requirements

Occupational Therapy students are required to wear the UniSC Occupational Therapy Uniform to attend a clinical placement. The full uniform is to be worn on all placements unless otherwise indicated by the placement tutor or the Practice Educator/ placement site. When the uniform is not required, the dress standards of the setting should be adhered to.  

2nd Year PrePlacement Requirements (OCC202, OCC201, OCC232) Due Date: Week 10 - Semester 1- All of the above plus

PrePlace

PrePlace is a series of three online modules located on Canvas that you must complete once, prior to your placement. Enrolment to PrePlace is an automated process, so is directly related to your course enrolment. If you are not yet officially enrolled in a placement course, the auto process cannot be triggered. Once you enrol in your placement course the process will happen overnight and PrePlace will then be available to you.

Annual Influenza Vaccination

Evidence of an annual influenza vaccination is required each year, when the new vaccine becomes available. This is usually in March or April. Please wait until the new strain is available each year before you have another vaccine.

3rd Year PrePlacement Requirements (OCC301, OCC312, OCC331 and OCC322) Due Date: Orientation Week - Semester 1

All 1st and 2nd Year Mandatory requirements plus site specific requirements

Please check your mandatory requirements have not expired or pending expiry. You may also be required to complete the below Site-Specific Requirements depending on allocations (please ensure you familarise yourself with these requirements to ensure these are completed on time if required).

4th Year PrePlacement Requirements (OCC401) Due Date: Mid-November

All 1st and 2nd Year Mandatory requirements plus site specific requirements

Please check your mandatory requirements have not expired or pending expiry. You may also be required to complete the below Site-Specific Requirements depending on allocations (please ensure you familarise yourself with these requirements to ensure these are completed on time if required).

2024 OCC401 Preferencing Briefing

2024 OCC401 Preferencing Briefing is now available for viewing.

ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING A QUEENSLAND HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE FACILITY

Queensland Health Pre-Placement requirements

To be eligible for a Queensland Health placement you must complete the following Queensland Health checks and iLearn training modules (iLearn User Guide):

- Queensland Health Orientation Checklist
- Queensland Health Student Deed Poll
- Queensland Health Allied Health Training Record

You will be notified by the Placement Officer if you are required to complete these mandatories.

TB Screening

To be eligible for placement you must complete a Queensland Health TB Risk Assessment. If required, you also need to provide evidence of further testing.

Respirator Fit Testing

It is a Queensland Government requirement that all students attending any placement in a health setting, clinical setting and residential aged care setting, are required to undertake respirator (mask) fit testing prior to commencing.

ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING A SUNSHINE COAST HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICE FACILITY

SCHHS site specific Pre-Placement requirements

Students attending a Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service facility will need to complete all Student Minimum Pre-Placement Requirements which are SCHHS site specific checks and the SC-Learning on Line (SC-LoL) training modules .

You will be notified by the Placement Officer if you are required to complete these mandatories. You must complete and print all documents and take to your first day of placement. Failure to have these documents will result in you being removed from placement.

OTHER SITE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

COVID-19 Vaccination Evidence

Some placement host organisations may still require COVID-19 vaccination now or in the future. If you are not fully vaccinated, it is important to know that placement opportunities in this program may be limited.

Log into Sonia Online > Checks tab and follow the instructions to upload your COVID-19 vaccination evidence.

Hand Hygiene Certificate

Module to be completed by required deadline set by your placement officer.

PLEASE NOTE: You will be granted full access to Sonia Online, once you have been enrolled into your program.

Placement Calendars

Placements will be arranged in full-time blocks, students can review placement group dates and placement block periods for the academic year. This provides an overview of when students will be expected to be available for placement. It is important to note that holidays should not be booked within the placement block periods.

2024 UniSC Occupational Therapy Placement Calendar (PDF 341 KB)

If you require further information or assistance with submitting any of these mandatory checks please contact the Fit For Placement Office on the details below:

Fit For Placement Office
Building H1.G
Tel: +61 7 5456 5487
Email: FFPO@usc.edu.au  
 
Alternatively, if you have experienced extreme circumstances resulting in a delay to submit any of these mandatory checks by the due dates, please contact your Placement Officer.

Contact the Placement Office

Aileen Spalding
Phone:  07 5456 3753
Email: SHSSPlacements@usc.edu.au

Jennifer MacNevin
Phone:  07 5456 5036
Email: SHSSPlacements@usc.edu.au

PebblePad

Access to PebblePad

Announcements

Events

Please visit the Events page to view all current events.

Events

Please Note

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure their mandatory documents are current and that the originals are available for sighting on request from UniSC or Placement Staff.

You may still need to check Canvas for additional information, and some facility information may be provided via additional emails. If you believe any of the content is incorrect please contact the placement coordinator.

Login to Sonia Online

To login to Sonia Online:

Select your role
(i.e. Student / Site / Supervisor)

  • Student: University Sign In
  • Site Contact: Username and Password
  • Supervisor: University Sign In (for UniSC employees), Username and Password (for external employees)

Sonia for Students App

Download the Sonia for Students App:

Apple iTunes for IOS
Google Play for Android

Sonia for Students App instructional video

Sonia Support

For technical support:

Email: USCSoniaSupport@usc.edu.au