Immunisation education

WA Health provides immunisation education to health professionals within the State.

This includes a comprehensive immunisation course for immunisation providers, which is available online, through the link provided below.

The immunisation update offered online serves as a refresher and:

  • provides updated information on all aspects of immunisation
  • serves to enhance immunisation knowledge.

The education requirements table (PDF 25KB) has been developed to assist immunisation providers working under the CEO of Health SASA in identifying the specific education requirements based on the vaccine to be administered.

Immunisation course for nurses

The Understanding vaccines and the national immunisation program (external site) was developed by South Australia Health, with input from the Communicable Disease Control Directorate (CDCD).

This quality online training course uses animation and interactivity to promote learning, and is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of immunology and immunisation, to enable nurses to become confident and competent immunisation providers.

The course is endorsed by the Health Education Services Australia (HESA) and attracts 70 CPD points, and is equivalent to 70 hours of online learning.

The course is an approved program of study for eligible nurses in WA to meet one of the Structured Administration Supply Arrangement (SASA) requirements.

Registration

  • The program must be completed within a period of 20 weeks from the date of registration.
  • The course requires access to the internet. The system requirements are listed and should be checked prior to purchase. Animation, interactivity and audio may not be supported on some devices such as iPads or iPhones.
  • A self-registration process requires you to create a unique user name and password which enables you to login anywhere, anytime.

Assessments

An assessment follows most modules and you must achieve 90 per cent in each assessment to allow you to progress through the course.

Costs

The course costs $350 inclusive of GST. Payment is made online through a secure PayPal system. Student registration is individual based and cannot be transferred from one student to another.

To find out more about the course and to register, please access the South Australian Health website (external site).

Immunisation course for midwives

Understanding Vaccines for Midwives – vaccination requirements during pregnancy and early childhood (Immunisation course for midwives)

Midwives play a key role in immunisation. They often provide a baby’s first vaccination and are a trusted source of information for parents to be.

Understanding Vaccines for Midwives – vaccination requirements during pregnancy and early childhood is an introduction to immunisation and key vaccines, topics relevant to midwives and aims to equip midwives with knowledge and skills to feel confident to engage with parents on the topic of vaccines and vaccination.

This course meets one of the requirements of the WA Health Structured Administration Supply Arrangements (SASA).

To find out more about the course and to register, please access the South Australian Health website (external site).

SA Health Immunisation Course Scholarships for WA residents

Applications for the CDCD Immunisation scholarship for eligible Western Australian Registered Nurses to undertake the South Australia Health Immunisation Course Understanding Vaccines and the National Immunisation Program (external site) have now closed.

Learn more about the immunisation course scholarships or submit an expression of interest for future opportunities.

Online immunisation module updates

New process to access Immunisation Update modules

From Tuesday 4 January 2022 onwards, users will need to complete a registration form (external site) in order to access any of the modules. Your request will be responded to within 3 working days. Once access is provided, users will have two weeks to complete the module and obtain a copy of their certificate.

Note: User access to the platform will be automatically removed at the end of the two-week period. There will not be a record of any assessments or certificates. All modules must be completed within the two-week period.

All module updates are best accessed through the use of a desktop or a laptop. The use of iPads and mobile phones is not recommended as the content may not launch in the Articulate Mobile Player. Read more about using the immunisation updates, including software requirements and how to clear your browser.

You may contact Immunisation.Education@health.wa.gov.au for any queries related to the below modules.

Immunisation update

The Immunisation Update module has been developed by the Immunisation Program and is offered free of charge.

This update is required on an annual basis for Registered nurses to meet the requirements of working under the vaccination SASA (Word 83KB). It is also available to all other health professionals as a tool to increase their knowledge on immunisation.

The update comprises of 4 modules including scenarios and quizzes. It will take approximately 4 hours to complete.

You will be able to print a certificate upon successful completion of all modules. It is your responsibility to store this certificate safely as it is evidence of completing the Immunisation Update. It is recommended that you save a copy of your certificate electronically.

Read more about using the immunisation updates, including software requirements and how to clear your browser.

COVID-19 vaccination

Read more about the COVID-19 vaccination program training modules.

Influenza

The influenza module has been developed to support immunisation providers to undertake an annual refresher in this topic and provides the user with up to date information and influenza immunisation.

  • This module should take approximately 2 hours to complete. Please ensure you read the content of the module and complete all scenarios included within it.
  • You are required to complete the final assessment with a passing score of 80%.
  • Upon successful completion of the assessment, please ensure you print out and retain your certificate (Word 728KB) for evidence of completion and complete the evaluation survey.

Read more about using the immunisation updates, including software requirements and how to clear your browser.

Shingles

The shingles module has been developed to support immunisation providers who wish only to undertake a refresher in this topic. This module provides the user with an overview of shingles vaccine and vaccination.

This module includes scenarios and quizzes and will take approximately 2 hours to complete.

You will be able to print a certificate upon successful completion of the module. It is your responsibility to store this certificate safely as it is evidence of completing the Public Health Perspective module.

Read more about using the immunisation updates, including software requirements and how to clear your browser.

Public Health Perspective

The Public Health Perspective module has been developed to support immunisation providers who wish only to undertake a refresher in this topic. This module provides the user with an overview of public health including health promotion and the immune system.

This module includes scenarios and quizzes and will take approximately 1 hour to complete.

You will be able to print a certificate upon successful completion of the module. It is your responsibility to store this certificate safely as it is evidence of completing the Public Health Perspective module.

Read more about using the immunisation updates, including software requirements and how to clear your browser.

Aboriginal health worker immunisation course

This immunisation course has been specifically developed for Aboriginal health workers (AHW) in Western Australia who are interested in administering and promoting immunisation.

The course is delivered over two weeks, and upon completion AHWs will be certified to administer vaccines under medical supervision.

The course was developed by the Department of Health’s Communicable Disease Control Directorate in partnership with the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA).

  • All Aboriginal health workers with a Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Work (practice) are encouraged to undertake the course.

To register, contact AHCWA on 92271631 or for more information visit the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia website (external site).

Recognised prior learning

All Immunisation programs either listed below or accredited by Health Education Services Australia (HESA) (external site) are recognised by WA Health as an approved education training program and therefore contribute towards eligibility to practice as an immunisation provider in WA.

Note: Immunisation providers would still need to adhere to other additional requirements to support authority to practice, e.g. organisational requirements or the SASA, if applicable.

Education Provider Approved Immunisation education program
WA Health Immunisation Certification Program: Excellence in Immunisation ,Theory and Clinical Competency (No longer available)
NT Health About Giving Vaccines (No longer available)
University of Southern Queensland Advanced Nursing Practice - Immunisation Nursing
SA Health A short course on immunology and Immunisation for Nurses (No longer available)
SA Health Understanding Vaccines and the National Immunisation Program
University of Melbourne Immunisation - Nurse Immuniser course
Queensland Health, Education and Training Cunningham Centre Immunisation Program - Registered Nurse Health (Drugs and Poisons) regulations 1996 Course
Immunisation Advisory Centre, Ministry of Health, Auckland New Zealand Vaccinator Training Course
Central Queensland Health Service District Education and Research Unit Advanced Nursing Practice: Immunisation Course
The Australian College of Nursing Immunisation for Health Practitioners course 307 (prior to this the Immunisation for Registered Nurses course 306)
La Trobe University, Melbourne Nurse Immuniser Program
University of Tasmania Immunisation Education for Registered Nurses
Australian Catholic University, Queensland Program for Nurse Immunisers
    Immunisation clinical competency assessment

    The clinical competency assessment guide (PDF 283KB) will assist individuals in identifying levels of competency in their immunisation practice. This guide is purely optional and can be used by immunisation providers who are at varying levels of competency.

    Please note that this assessment tool is not a mandatory requirement of the immunisation course. Understanding vaccines and the national immunisation program covers comprehensive clinical knowledge relating to immunisation.


    Advice for nurses returning to the immunisation workforce

    Nurses who have not worked in immunisation related fields (in any capacity) may need to undertake additional educational requirements, please see below table for more information.

    Category Action
    No current nursing practice for over 3 years Full immunisation course to be completed
    Currently practising nursing in non-immunisation related field for 3-5 years Complete WA online immunisation update
    Currently practising nursing in non-immunisation related field for over 5 years Full immunisation course to be completed

    The Understanding vaccines and the National Immunisation Program is a comprehensive course which is delivered entirely online. Successful completion of the course will provide the educational requirements for immunisation practice in Western Australia. Please note that nurses will need to adhere to additional requirements depending on your place of employment e.g. in-clinic supervision.

    Note: The Structured Administration Supply Arrangements may be relevant to your practice, depending on your place of employment. Please review to assess if you need to meet any additional requirements to safely practice immunisation in Western Australia.

    More information

    Email: immunisation.education@health.wa.gov.au

    Last reviewed: 04-05-2022