Immunisation education

The Immunisation Program hosted the 2021 WA Influenza Program Update session on 22 March 2021 for all immunisation providers of WA, covering the following topics:

• Surveillance
• Influenza Program overview
• Vaccine brands for 2021 – ordering/reporting requirements
• AIR update: PRODA
• COVID-19 Vaccination Program Update
• Influenza 2020 Overview.

View the updated slides of the Influenza Overview by Dr David Smith (PDF 2.1MB).

Watch a recording of the session (external site).

Please note: Only those who registered and attended on the day of the event recording are eligible for a certificate of attendance

The Understanding vaccines and the national immunisation program (external site) was developed by South Australia Health, with input from the Communicable Disease Control Directorate (CDCD).

This quality online training course uses animation and interactivity to promote learning, and is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of immunology and immunisation, to enable nurses to become confident and competent immunisation providers.

The course is endorsed by the Australian College of Nursing and attracts 70 CPD points, and is equivalent to 70 hours of online learning.

The course is an approved program of study for eligible nurses in WA to meet one of the Structured Administration Supply Arrangement (SASA) requirements.

Registration

• The program must be completed within a period of 20 weeks from the date of registration.
• The course requires access to the internet. The system requirements are listed and should be checked prior to purchase. Animation, interactivity and audio may not be supported on some devices such as iPads or iPhones.
• A self-registration process requires you to create a unique user name and password which enables you to login anywhere, anytime.

Assessments

An assessment follows most modules and you must achieve 90 per cent in each assessment to allow you to progress through the course.

Costs

The course costs $225 inclusive of GST. Payment is made online through a secure PayPal system. Student registration is individual based and cannot be transferred from one student to another.

To find out more about the course and to register, please access the South Australian Health website (external site).

Understanding Vaccines for Midwives – vaccination requirements during pregnancy and early childhood (Immunisation course for midwives)

Midwives play a key role in immunisation. They often provide a baby’s first vaccination and are a trusted source of information for parents to be.

Understanding Vaccines for Midwives – vaccination requirements during pregnancy and early childhood is an introduction to immunisation and key vaccines, topics relevant to midwives and aims to equip midwives with knowledge and skills to feel confident to engage with parents on the topic of vaccines and vaccination.

This course meets one of the requirements of the WA Health Structured Administration Supply Arrangements (SASA).

To find out more about the course and to register, please access the South Australian Health website (external site).

All module updates are best accessed through the use of a desktop or a laptop. The use of iPads and mobile phones is not recommended as the content may not launch in the Articulate Mobile Player. Read more about using the immunisation updates, including software requirements and how to clear your browser.

You may contact Immunisation.Education@health.wa.gov.au for any queries related to the below modules.

Immunisation update

The Immunisation Update module (external site) has been developed by the CDCD and is offered free of charge. Providing WA immunisation providers with this update creates an opportunity for 24/7 access to current immunisation education

This update is required on an annual basis for Registered nurses to meet the requirements of working under the vaccination SASA (Word 83KB). It is also available to all other health professionals as a tool to increase their knowledge on immunisation.

The update comprises of 4 modules including scenarios and quizzes. It will take approximately 4 hours to complete and can be completed over multiple sessions.

You will be able to print a certificate upon successful completion of all modules. It is your responsibility to store this certificate safely as it is evidence of completing the Immunisation Update. It is recommended that you save a copy of your certificate electronically. Please follow these instructions to save a PDF copy of your certificate (Word 728KB).

Read more about using the immunisation updates, including software requirements and how to clear your browser.

COVID-19 vaccination

Read more about the COVID-19 vaccination program training modules.

Influenza

The influenza module (external site) has been developed to support immunisation providers to undertake an annual refresher in this topic and provides the user with up to date information and influenza immunisation.

• This module should take approximately 2 hours to complete. This can be achieved over several visits.Please ensure you read the content of the module and complete all scenarios included within it.
• You are required to complete the final assessment with a passing score of 80%.
• Upon successful completion of the assessment, please ensure you print out and retain your certificate (Word 728KB) for evidence of completion and complete the evaluation survey.

Read more about using the immunisation updates, including software requirements and how to clear your browser.

Shingles

The Shingles module (external site) has been developed to support immunisation providers who wish only to undertake a refresher in this topic. This module provides the user with an overview of shingles vaccine and vaccination.

This module includes scenarios and quizzes and will take approximately 2 hours to complete and can be done over multiple sessions.

You will be able to print a certificate upon successful completion of the module. It is your responsibility to store this certificate safely as it is evidence of completing the Public Health Perspective module.

Read more about using the immunisation updates, including software requirements and how to clear your browser.

Public Health Perspective

The Public Health Perspective module (external site) has been developed to support immunisation providers who wish only to undertake a refresher in this topic. This module provides the user with an overview of public health including health promotion and the immune system.

This module includes scenarios and quizzes and will take approximately 1 hour to complete and can be done over multiple sessions.

You will be able to print a certificate upon successful completion of the module. It is your responsibility to store this certificate safely as it is evidence of completing the Public Health Perspective module

Read more about using the immunisation updates, including software requirements and how to clear your browser.

This immunisation course has been specifically developed for Aboriginal health workers (AHW) in Western Australia who are interested in administering and promoting immunisation.

The course is delivered over two weeks, and upon completion AHWs will be certified to administer vaccines under medical supervision. .

The course was developed by the Department of Health’s Communicable Disease Control Directorate in partnership with the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA).

• All Aboriginal health workers with a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Work (practice) are encouraged to undertake the course.

To register, contact AHCWA on 92271631 or for more information visit the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia website (external site).

Immunisation providers who hold an immunisation course certificate from outside Western Australia are eligible for recognised prior learning (RPL).

The table below includes immunisation educational programs recognised by WA Health as an approved education training program and therefore eligible to practice as an immunisation provider in WA.

NOTE: Nurses would still need to adhere to other additional requirements to support authority to practice, e.g. organisational requirements or the SASA, if applicable.

Immunisation Course certifications not included in the below table, must apply for RPL. The RPL review process takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks. RPL applications received after the 25th of each month will be reviewed in the following month’s intake.

To apply for RPL, please follow the below instructions.

• Complete the RPL application form (Word 610KB).
• Provide a copy of your immunisation course certificate.
• Provide a copy of the course work content or a transcript from the previous course.
• Email all the above documents to immunisation.education@health.wa.gov.au.

The clinical competency assessment guide (PDF 283KB) will assist individuals in identifying levels of competency in their immunisation practice. This guide is purely optional and can be used by immunisation providers who are at varying levels of competency.

Please note that this assessment tool is not a mandatory requirement of the immunisation course. Understanding vaccines and the national immunisation program covers comprehensive clinical knowledge relating to immunisation.