Infection prevention and control education

Continuous updating of skills and knowledge is important in the rapidly expanding area of infection prevention and control to promote sound decision making and policy formulation.

The Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare identify that there are a range of postgraduate education programs available for clinicians seeking or establishing a career in infection control in Australia.

Education courses and post graduate courses are available from a number of providers including SA Health e learning, the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC), The Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) and a number of universities.

SA Health Infection Control Service (ICS)

ICS Infection Prevention and Control Link Nurse/Champion Introductory ½ Day Workshop

Open only to SA Health staff working in an Infection Prevention and Control role. The aim of the workshop is to provide general information about the role of an Infection Control Link Nurse / Champion. Further information is available on the SA Health Infection control education and training webpage and Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare.

No date currently scheduled for 2024.

Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance Introductory Workshop

Open only to SA Health staff working in Infection Prevention and Control Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Surveillance role. The workshop aims to provide general background information and education regarding HAI surveillance. Specific training in surveillance methodology using the SA Health Infection Control Information Management System (ICIMS) is available upon request by contacting the Infection Control Service Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Program Coordinator via email at healthICS@sa.gov.au, your Local Health Network (LHN) Infection Control Unit or the Rural Support Service.

No general group workshop currently scheduled for 2024.

Reprocessing and Sterilisation 1/2-day Update Seminar
Date: Wednesday, 10 April 2024
Audience: for SA Health and private organisations

Winter Illness Outbreak Preparedness Seminar
Date: Wednesday, 1 May 2024
Audience: for SA Health and private organisations

Infection Prevention and Control Annual Update Seminar
Date: Wednesday, 16 October 2024
Audience: for SA Health and private organisations

Note: all dates, workshops and seminars are subject to change.

SA Health eLearning courses

Infection prevention courses are available to all SA Health employees to support the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. There are currently three infection prevention and control related courses available to staff:

  • Infection Prevention and Control
  • Aseptic Technique
  • Safe Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Access to these courses are available via the Digital Media e-Learning portal. 

Universities

University of Adelaide: Graduate Certificate in Nursing Science (Infection Control)

The University of Adelaide offers 6-months full-time or 1 year part-time online certificate, which provides graduates with the opportunity to build infection prevention and control competencies for senior and specialist positions in infection control. For more information refer to the University of Adelaide’s website.

James Cook University: Graduate Certificate of Infection Control

The James Cook University offers 6-months full-time or 1 year part-time equivalent online course.  For more information see the James Cook University course website.

Griffith University: Graduate Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control

The Griffith University offers a 1-year part-time online course.  For more information see the Griffith University course web page.

Griffith University: Master of Infection Prevention and Control 

Griffith University also offers an online 1 to 1.5 years full-time or 3-year part-time course for Infection Control Professionals to undertake. For more information see the Griffith University course web page.

Charles Darwin University: Graduate Certificate of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control

Charles Darwin University offer an online or on campus (Casuarina, Darwin) 6-months full-time of 1-year part-time course. For more information, see the Charles Darwin course web page

Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC)

The ACSQHC offers an online training package that consists of a set of ten learning modules on infection prevention and control topics, designed for the novice Infection Control Professional.  Also available are

  • a module on infection prevention principles for general staff orientation
  • aged care dedicated modules for workers and ICP leads in residential care facilities. 

For more information see the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care website.

Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) Foundations of Infection Prevention and Control

The ACIPC Foundations of Infection Prevention and Control course provides a pathway for further learning and is an important resource for those wishing to pursue a career as an Infection Control Professional. The course comprises of eleven modules and is designed for professionals working in the areas of health and allied health care, acute care, rural and remote health, office-based practice, residential aged care, community health and health policy. There is a fee for this course, please refer to the website for details.

For more information see the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control website.

The ACIPC Mentoring Program aims to contribute to the future of the Infection Prevention and Control profession by pairing mentees with suitable mentors across all fields in a professional relationship of growth and development. This course is free for ACIPC members.

For more information see the ACIPC Mentoring Program web page.

Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care COVID-19 Infection Control Training

COVID-19 infection control online training is available for health care workers in all settings. It covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19; see COVID-19 training keep you safe at work and Aged care COVID-19 infection control training.

National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) Online Learning Modules

The NHHI Learning Management System (LMS) hosts a suite of online learning modules on hand hygiene and infection prevention and control. These modules are suitable for healthcare workers, student healthcare workers and for other industries where infection prevention and control is important.

There are 3 Hand Hygiene Modules to be accessed according to staff role :-

  • Hand hygiene for clinical healthcare workers
  • Hand hygiene for non-clinical healthcare workers
  • Hand hygiene for dental healthcare workers

Further information

For further information on education and training, contact SA Health's Infection Control Service.