Additional Information and Resources

Important Information for Students Going on Placement

The  Information for Students > Important Information webpage has significant information about your obligations as a Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences student.  This includes:

  • General Obligations
  • The placement provider's rights and responsibilities
  • Complaints and unsatisfactory performance
  • Your personal information
  • Illness and absence
  • Intellectual property
  • Insurance
  • Equipment and travel for placement
  • Driving for placement
  • Student visas and work rights
  • Overseas placements

Student Undertaking Form in Sonia

As part of your placement requirements, you must complete a Student Undertaking Form at the start of your course as addressed in the Standardised Student Induction Protocol (SSIP) by the Department of Health.

This form confirms that you understand and accept your responsibilities while on placement, including professional conduct, confidentiality, and compliance with placement requirements.

What you need to do:

  • Log in to Sonia and complete the Student Undertaking Form as soon as possible.
  • This form is mandatory and must be submitted at least four weeks before your placement starts to ensure your placement can proceed.
  • The student undertaking check on Checks page is cleared automatically when you submit the form.

The University is responsible for collecting and confirming your completed form and may be asked to provide it to the Clinical Placement Provider (CPP).

This form is an important step to ensure everyone involved in your placement – including you – is clear on expectations and obligations.

Blood borne viruses

You should be tested for infection with blood borne viruses (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV) no more than 12 months prior to starting your course. If you are performing exposure-prone procedures, such as dental and oral health students, you are required to repeat this testing every three years due to an increased risk of infection transmission.

You must not perform exposure prone procedures if you are diagnosed with a blood borne virus until you meet the criteria in the Australian National Guidelines for the Management of Healthcare Workers Living with Blood Borne Viruses and Healthcare Workers who Perform Exposure Prone Procedures at Risk of Exposure to Blood Borne Viruses.

Disclosure of current blood-borne virus infection to the University is not mandatory, however we encourage you to arrange a confidential discussion with a senior academic in your department for advice about possible impacts on your study and/or career goals.

Support Services

As a student, you have access to support services across the University of Melbourne. This can be general support and advice or health and well-being.  Stop 1 is generally the first point of contact - check out the options available on the support services website.

Safer Communities

The Safer Community Program provides support and advice to members of the University of Melbourne community about inappropriate, concerning or threatening behaviour.

Rural Placements

Planning on doing a placement in a rural setting? Check out the Going Rural website to see if there is additional support in your placement region.