This is the Clinical Placement system used by the Nursing & Midwifery 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;
  • uploading and viewing pre-clinical documentation.

On this page:

Important note: It is not always possible to place all students near where they live; you may have to travel further than you do to get to University. Placements are allocated in different ways for different subjects; decisions are governed by students' scope of practice which develops as you progress through the Degree.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nursing Placement Information

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 by the deadline given by your Placement Officer and that they are valid for the duration of your placement.

UniSC has a responsibility to ensure all students comply with the mandatory checks (requirements) of placement sites and UniSC. 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. For additional information on how to complete each mandatory check, please click on the headings below which will direct you to any forms, websites, or other applicable information that you will need to complete the check. Once completed, please upload the relevant documentation to the 'Checks' tab in Sonia Online.

If you require further information, assistance or have experienced extreme circumstances resulting in a delay to submit any of these mandatory checks by the due dates, please contact the Fit For Placement Office by emailing ffpo@usc.edu.au

Pre-Clinical Mandatory Checks for all Nursing & Midwifery Students

Your Placement Portfolio - PDF 2.3 MB

Guide to assist with compiling your Placement Portfolio

Blue Card / AHPRA Registration

Apply for a new card or link your existing card to UniSC

National Police Check

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

Vaccinations

All required vaccinations must be complete prior to placement. Vaccination courses can take up to 12 months to complete.

 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.

Annual Influenza Vaccination (Optional for Midwifery students)

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.

First Aid and CPR

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

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.

NDIS Worker Screening Card - Nursing students Only

To be eligible for placement you must hold a valid NDIS Worker Screening Card or valid Yellow Card

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.

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

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

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 Fit for Placement Office 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.

MNHHS Site Specific Pre-Placement requirements

Students attending a Metro North Hospital and Health Service facility will need to complete all Student Pre-Placement Requirements which are MNHHS site specific checks. You will be notified by the Fit for Placement Office if you are required to complete these mandatories. Once completed you must upload the documents to Sonia Online via a form 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.

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.

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.

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

Contact Us: Midwifery Placement Office

Caitlin Finger
Phone:  07 5456 3565
Email: midwiferyplacements@usc.edu.au

Amanda Grant
Phone:  07 5430 1103
Email: midwiferyplacements@usc.edu.au

Contact Us: Nursing Placement Offices

Sunshine Coast
Phone:  07 5456 5005
Email: nursing.midwiferyCPO@usc.edu.au
In person: H1 Ground Floor, Reception (H1.G.66)

Fraser Coast
Phone:  07 5456 5005
Email: nursing.midwiferyCPO@usc.edu.au
In person: Main Reception, Fraser Coast Campus

Gympie
Phone:  07 5456 5005
Email: nursing.midwiferyCPO@usc.edu.au
In person: Main Reception, Gympie Campus

Moreton Bay
Phone:  07 5456 5005
Email: nursing.midwiferyCPO@usc.edu.au
In person: Main Reception, Moreton Bay Campus

Caboolture
Phone:  07 5456 5005
Email: nursing.midwiferyCPO@usc.edu.au
In person: Main Reception, Caboolture Campus

Student's responsibility prior to and during clinical placement

Student's responsibility prior to and during clinical placement is to organise the following:

  • Transport to and from placement
  • Child Care
  • Time off work for placement
  • ALL Mandatory Requirements must be completed prior to placement and kept up to date throughout

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure their mandatory documents are current.

As per the Workplace and Industry Placement Procedures, a student who cannot meet the mandatory requirements before commencement of the placement, will not be allowed to attend placement.

Please note: 'Mandatory Pre-Clinical Checks are not the same as the online learning modules required by individual facilities prior to commencement of placement.

To access information and forms relating to your Mandatory Checks please click on the above 'Mandatory Checks'.

Student Clinical Placement Handbooks

NURSING Student Clinical Placement Handbook (PDF 1.092MB)

MIDWIFERY Student Clinical placement Handbook (PDF 1 MB)

Demonstration Recordings

Please find the recordings of clinical skills in the below link so you can revise them in preparation for your clinical placement.

Access Demonstration Recordings (PDF 538)

Clinical Practice Framework

NURSING - Clinical Practice Framework (PDF 289KB)

MIDWIFERY - Clinical Practice Framework (PDF 304KB)

Uniforms

Clinical Placement Calendars

Facilitator Resources

Clinical Facilitator Handbook (PDF 1.857 KB)

Announcements


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

  1. Select your role (i.e. Student / Site / Liaison)
  2. Enter your ‘UniSC username’ and ‘password’ in the spaces provided
  3. Click on the ‘sign in’ button

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