Health care workers (HCWs) have an increased risk of acquiring some vaccine preventable diseases and of transmitting these diseases to other health care workers, other employees, patients, family members and visitors in SA Health services. SA Health has a duty of care and a responsibility under the Work Health and Safety Act (SA) 2012 to minimise the transmission of vaccine preventable diseases in the workplace.
The Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy (PDF 452KB) applies to all current and prospective employees*, contractors, students and volunteers of the Department for Health and Wellbeing, Local Health Networks (including state-wide services aligned with those networks) and SA Ambulance Service.
The Policy categorises health care worker roles into three categories based on the expected work duties. Roles will be classified as either Category A, Category B, or Category C (see Mandatory Instruction 1 in the policy).
*Note: it is the role of the employing authority to ensure relevant vaccinations and screenings have taken place before commencement of employment.
The Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy (PDF 452KB) defines the minimum standards, including documented evidence of immune status to selected vaccine preventable diseases (Mandatory Instruction 1 and 3).
SA Health services are required to implement these standards in the workplace to minimise risk of the transmission of vaccine preventable diseases.
The Policy requires all HCWs in category A and B roles to know their immune status for selected vaccine preventable diseases. Documented evidence of immune status is required for some of the diseases covered by the Policy.
All prospective employees applying for roles within SA Health are required to provide confirmation of immune status. Those who refuse to participate in screening and/or vaccination, or fail to provide confirmation of immune status, and whose prospective work activities are assessed as Category A or Category B, will not be considered for employment.
Current SA Health employees, who are seeking a new position within SA Health, are expected to be compliant with the immunisation requirements for that new position.
The Job Pack PDF available for the role you are applying for will detail whether the role is determined as requiring Category A, Category B or Category C immune status. Information about such requirements can be found within the Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy (PDF 452KB) (Mandatory Instruction 1).
You will be required to submit the Prospective SA Health HCW Immunisation Screening Form DOCX 190KB). You will have the opportunity to upload this information within the application form, or if you are short-listed for an interview you may submit the documents at the time of the interview.
The Immunisation Screening Form indicates whether documentation is required or not, and if required, the acceptable evidence of immunity for each vaccine preventable disease which may be:
Prospective employees currently working within SA Health can provide a copy of their HR21 Health Assessment record.
You are encouraged to read and understand the Policy to ensure you are aware of your requirements prior to applying.
The Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy (PDF 452KB) is supported by the following model documents. These can be adapted by education providers and Local Health Networks in implementing the policy:
A person must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to obtain an exemption from vaccination. See Services Australia's Immunisation Medical exemptions page for further information. Refer to Mandatory Instruction 2: Vaccination management (refusal, non-responder, exemptions including medical contraindications) in the Policy.
