Immunisation Endorsement Pathway (Nurse Immuniser)

The Immunisation Endorsement Course is based on the National Immunisation Education Framework for Health Professionals and has been accredited by Health Education Services Australia (HESA).

This nationally accredited course is for Registered Nurses and Midwives who are required to administer vaccinations independently of a Medical Officer.

Pathway components:

• Explore the Foundations of Immunisation Practice - Online learning
• Explore the Course in Immunisation Practice in Primary Healthcare - Online learning and assessment, workshop and observed skills practice
• Immunisation Endorsement Unit - Online learning specific to jurisdictional requirements.

Authorised immunisers work in a variety of settings including community, primary healthcare, tertiary and corporate organisations.

Currently, this qualification has received direct recognition from State Health Departments in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania. Students who successfully complete this course should refer to the Department of Health in the jurisdiction they practice in, or wish to practice in, for information and conditions leading to authorisation.

On the successful completion of the Immunisation Endorsement Pathway, health professionals will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule
• Implement effective Cold Chain Management
• Develop and implement a Catchup schedule.
• Understand the National, State or Territory Legislative Act relevant to immunisation practice within the jurisdiction they practice
• Apply fundamental elements of legislation, standards and codes for the administration of vaccines
• Demonstrate knowledge of state or territory legislation relating to authorisation/endorsement.

On successful completion, students will receive a Statement of Attainment for the Course in Immunisation Practice in Primary Healthcare (10754NAT).

Entrants to the Immunisation Endorsement Course must provide evidence of a relevant professional role and hold one of the following:

• AHPRA registered nursing qualification
• Medical practitioner qualification

Relevant roles would include:

• Registered Nurses
• General Practitioners
• Nurse Practitioners
• Midwives

Benchmarque Group Specific Requirements Students must complete the Foundations of Immunisation Practice Course prior to entry to this course.

The Immunisation Endorsement Pathway recognises that registered nurses and registered midwives play an important role in maintaining high immunisation coverage rates through the provision of accurate and comprehensive information about vaccines and immunisation programs.

The qualification provides students with comprehensive knowledge related to relevant legislation, standards and codes of practice for the administration of vaccines. This promotes consistency across states and territories among qualified health professionals involved in the implementation and application of immunisation procedures.

Pathway delivery and assessment includes:

• Online assessment completed via accessIQ
• One day virtual or face-to-face workshop
• In-class activities assessed by a qualified assessor
• Observed skills practice.

Delivery and assessment includes online learning completed via accessIQ, a one day virtual or face-to-face workshop, in-class activities assessed by a qualified assessor and mandatory observed skills practice.

There is no pre-reading and all course materials are supplied.

To achieve competency students must demonstrate successful completion of:

• Practical simulations and oral questioning
• Written questions covering essential knowledge and skills
• Mandatory observed skills practice.

Under HESA's Framework (a subsidiary of ANMAC), it is a requirement for any Registered Nurse or Midwife seeking authorisation as a nurse immuniser to have completed training that meets the minimum accreditation standards.

Workplace activity or observed skills practice is a mandatory requirement for this course.

The observed practice can be completed in a virtual setting or in simulated workplace conditions.

Workplace practice must be observed by a medical practitioner, practice manager or practice nurse that performs the identified workplace tasks as part of their role.

All workplace observed activities must be completed in accordance with work health and safety standards and infection control policies and procedure.

All workplace observed activities must be completed in accordance with workplace policies and procedures of the facility where the activity is being conducted.

Under HESA's Framework (a subsidiary of ANMAC), it is a requirement for any Registered Nurse or Midwife seeking authorisation as a nurse immuniser to have completed training that meets the minimum accreditation standards.

The course delivered by the Benchmarque Group reflects the standards across the four domains, learning outcomes and learning objectives of the National Immunisation Framework for Health Professionals. In some jurisdictions it maybe be a requirement for students seeking authorisation to complete workplace practice.

In response to the COVID-19 and the ongoing challenges for students to undertake clinical practice in a 3rd party workplace, The Benchmarque Group have introduced the option for students to complete either a workplace activity or complete observed skills practice. The observed practice can be completed in a virtual setting or in simulated workplace conditions.

View activities here

Build comprehensive Immunisation independence with this Program that covers foundations, Immunisation Practice in Primary Health Care, and importantly the Endorsement which is based on specific learning for jurisdictional requirements. The pathway offers the ability to immunise without a Medical Officer overview.

The workshop involves practical workshop activities involving cold chain management and administration of vaccines in a simulated environment. Students are required to pair up as part of the practical skills activities, with all practice and assessments performed on a mannequin. The course practical assessment is conducted during the skills activity session.

Students enrolled in Benchmarque Group courses should adhere to the following principles:

• Display a commitment to learning and to achieving success
• Be responsible and accountable for their own learning, behaviour and decisions
• Actively participate in all workshop activities and learning experiences
• Attend all scheduled sessions and be punctual at all times
• Complete all online assessments and workplace practice activities
• Work in harmony and respect the rights and opinions of staff and other students
• Treat others as they themselves would like to be treated
• Use acceptable language at all times.

Continuing professional development is the means by which members of the clinical profession maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge, expertise and competence, and develop the personal and professional qualities required throughout their professional lives.

The CPD cycle involves reviewing practice, identifying learning needs, planning and participating in relevant learning activities, and reflecting on the value of those activities.

As a general guide, one hour of active learning equates to one hour of CPD. It is the responsibility of the individual student to calculate how many hours of active learning have been completed. The hours of active learning estimated above should act as a guide to CPD hours.

For all other health professionals completing this course, your continuing professional development (CPD) requirements may vary and it is important to remember that it is your responsibility to maintain and register CPD with your professional body. In many instances, your regulatory authority will recognise hours of learning as stated above.

6 months. The time is calculated from when a student activates their assessment. Within the accessIQ platform, students will be provided an initial 3 months to complete and submit all required assessment activities. Friendly email reminders will be sent to students to ensure an assessment is completed on time. At the completion of the 3 month period, students can request a maximum of 1 extension, this extension being for a period of 90 days.

If you are deemed Not Yet Competent on your first and second assessment submissions, feedback will be provided. It is very important that you read all the feedback provided. The Assessor will have identified any areas where additional evidence is required or any questions that need to be reviewed and resubmitted. If, after 3 unsuccessful submissions, you are unable to demonstrate competency on your assessment, your assessment will be deemed Not Competent. Feedback will be provided to you and what the possible following steps and outcomes are.

• Registered Nurses
• Registered Midwives

To move your workshop date, you will be required to pay a non-refundable fee. Please choose your workshop carefully as it is a requirement that your pre-requisite learning is completed and assessed before you can attend your scheduled workshop. If you do not complete your pre-requisite learning in time for the workshop, you may be required to pay further fee(s) to reschedule.