Immunisation Course for Health Professionals

Entrants to the Immunisation Course for Health Professionals will be asked to provide their AHPRA registration number for entry into the course and hold one of the following relevant roles:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners
• Enrolled Nurses
• General Practitioners
• Paramedics
• Pharmacists
• Registered Midwives
• Registered Nurses

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health care professionals to complete this course. If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person we encourage you to let us know in your application. If you require assistance with completing your application or support during the course please don’t hesitate to let us know.

The Immunisation Course for Health Professionals recognises a growing number of AHPRA-registered health professionals play a significant role in maintaining high immunisation coverage rates by providing accurate and comprehensive information about vaccines and immunisation programs.

The course provides students with comprehensive knowledge of relevant legislation, standards, and codes of practice regarding the administration of vaccines. 

This promotes consistency across states and territories among qualified health professionals involved in the implementation and application of immunisation procedures.

Students will study and complete each e-learning unit, building progressively towards completing the course with the practical workshop training day.

Core learning units:

• Unit 1 - Source immunisation information in primary healthcare
• Unit 2 - Examine and apply guidance on administrative processes for immunisation services
• Unit 3 - Prepare for immunisation encounter
• Unit 4 - Determine and communicate immunisation needs for priority populations
• Unit 5 - Source and communicate immunisation legislation in primary healthcare
• Unit 6 - Plan and perform immunisation Workshop (Virtual or Face-to-Face)

Unit 1. Immunisation Practices in the Australian Healthcare Context: 

• Understand the impact of immunisation programs as a public health measure, including the risks and benefits of an immunisation program.
• Describe the National Immunisation Program and the role of key stakeholders.
• Define knowledge of the vaccine types and their components, expand on the immune response and how vaccines work, and outline the key features of vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Address immunisation misperceptions and/or barriers with clients expressing hesitancy to vaccinate.
  

Unit 2. Identify and examine administrative processes to deliver immunisation services:  

• Review the national guidelines for cold chain management.
• Interpret national and state legislation regarding workplace vaccine management.
• Examine a Vaccine Management Protocol and conduct a fridge audit.
• Identify the actions required in the event of a cold chain breach.
• Accessing the Australian Immunisation Register Learning Modules.

Unit 3. Prepare for an immunisation encounter:  

• Demonstrate knowledge of the National Immunisation Program 
• Determine vaccine recommendations for children, adolescents, and adults who are medically at risk.
• Identify additional vaccines recommended but not funded by the NIP.
• Outline the legal requirements relating to valid and informed consent.
• Prepare for an immunisation encounter.
• Management and reporting of adverse events following immunisation.

Unit 4. Determine and communicate immunisation needs for priority populations:  

• Identify unique and specific needs for priority groups, 
• Address and discuss vaccine misperceptions with clients expressing hesitancy to vaccinate.
• Determine and be able to access reputable immunisation resources suitable for either clients or other Health Professionals.

Unit 5. Source and communicate immunisation legislation in primary healthcare:  

• Identify the National, State or Territory Legislative Act relevant to the immunisation practice 
• Determine key ethical issues affecting immunisation practices
• Examine professional standards and codes of conduct 
• Review key content in legislation, standards and codes for the administration of vaccines
• Compare State or Territory legislation relating to immunisation provider authorisation/endorsement
  

Unit 6. Plan and perform immunisation, including seven hours of face-to-face or virtual learning: 

• Determine the National Immunisation Program Schedule
• Source information from the Catch-up chapter in the Australian Immunisation Handbook 
• Develop immunisation catch-up schedules
• Explain informed consent, risks and benefits of vaccines 
• Demonstrate vaccination administration safely
• Practice adverse event management.
• Reinforce the importance of recording and documenting an immunisation encounter.

Students will be issued a Certificate of Attendance upon attending a Plan and Perform Immunisations (unit 6) workshop.

Then, once ALL activities and workshop assessments are completed, students will gain a Certificate of Completion (HESA accredited). All students need to know their employers' policies and/or procedures, their state or territory legislation, and requirements to fully understand if they can practise as an Immunisation Provider and are working within their scope of practice.

Online learning plus a one-day virtual or face-to-face workshop

Each e-learning unit may have a blend of formative quizzes, journal self-reflections, written questions, and evidence document uploads.  You must complete all assessments to proceed with the course.

Each workshop day is facilitated and assessed by a highly experienced immunisation provider and qualified trainer/assessor.

The course's delivery and assessment include all required resources, including an immunisation practical skills training kit.

To achieve the Certificate of Completion, students must demonstrate successfully the following:

• Written questions and quizzes covering essential knowledge and skills
• Simulated scenarios based on vaccine encounters
• Observed workshop skills practice with practical simulations and oral questioning.

Tasmanian students are required to do an additional workplace activity of ten immunisations. This workplace activity is not organised or managed by Benchmarque Group. You must apply to the Tasmanian Health Department to become an Authorised Immuniser (AI) in Tasmania. Nurse Immuniser Authorisation, Practicum Guide & Skills Assessment Record

Benchmarque Group deliver learning that includes a mandatory workshop.

In-person learning allows for real-time interaction between students and our team of expert trainers and assessors which facilitates asking questions, gaining feedback, and clearing up misunderstandings. Our course provides students with the opportunity to connect, problem-solve, and network with other students from a wide range of backgrounds.

We believe that the skills required to safely and confidently immunise cannot be taught 100% online. Instead, we believe that skills should be observed and assessed by an appropriately qualified individual still employed in practice, which is why our graduates all attend a workshop.

There is no better way to learn.

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.

The online + 1 day workshop model is designed to meet the needs of most health professionals wanting to qualify as an approved immunisation provider.

For students with less experience administering vaccines but still needing to qualify as an approved immunisation provider, the 5 day in-person delivers the benefit of spending extra time in the classroom completing observed practice with our highly skilled training team.

Some students also select the 5 day in-person course because it enables them to fast-track their studies, completing the qualification with 5 days in the classroom.

Yes, this course is HESA accredited; please see our accreditation on the HESA accredited programs webpage.

Authorised immunisers must be employed by a service approved by their state or territory government health department to provide immunisation services and have access to either a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner for clinical advice and support as needed.

Congratulations, you have finished.  

Once your final assessments of two completed catch-up schedules and the “Client Vaccination Encounter” documentation have been uploaded to your accessIQ student learning platform, an assessor will mark them and finalise this learning activity.

We deliver dozens of workshops every year. Most are' virtual workshops,’ but we occasionally schedule a face-to-face workshop in a Capital city for those who prefer face-to-face. Our workshops have a one Trainer to 12 student ratio, ensuring plenty of support for those in attendance.

By enrolling with Benchmarque Group you will be supported by a passionate and responsive team of real humans available from 8:30am - 5pm (most days!). In addition, you will have access to our Expert Clinical Training team who are driven to support you through to competency. Our workshops are delivered by Immunisation Providers who still work in practice and hold cert IVs in Training and Assessment.

Assessments can take up to a maximum of 21 days to be marked.

If you have been successfully booked into the workshop (not conditionally booked) and have not received your kit two weeks prior to the workshop date, please double-check your registered address. If the address is correct and you still haven't received the kit, contact us at [email protected] .

Please ensure your portal has the correct address to avoid any fees for re-dispatching the kit.

Kindly get in touch with us via an email ([email protected]) or call us (1300 855 568). When making your request, please ensure your current residential address is updated. Please note a $25 fee applies (fee may vary based on your location).

Conditional enrolments do not confirm workshop attendance. Before confirming your place in an immunisation class, you must successfully complete any online prerequisite learning and be allocated a student immunisation skills training kit to use on the workshop date.  

We require two weeks after you have confirmed your workshop booking to post your kit to you.

Waitlisted students have expressed interest in attending a workshop that is at capacity. If you are waitlisted for a workshop please note that this is not a confirmation of enrollment. Your booking can only be confirmed if any of enrolled students cancel their enrolments before the workshop date. We will notify you if any places are made available. You cannot attend a workshop if you are waitlisted for it.

Head to our handy Jurisdictional approved immunisation provider status webpage for guidance specific to your jurisdiction.