Occupational Medicine Unit

Canberra Hospital and North Canberra Hospital are continuing to follow established processes for:

• occupational screening and vaccination compliance assessments
• respirator fit testing
• management of team members with blood and body fluids exposure such as needlestick, other sharps, splash, scratch, and bite incidents
• occupational infectious disease outbreak management.

OMU does not provide travel vaccinations or employee health medical services.

Please contact the Occupational Medicine Unit specific to your worksite for further information:

• Canberra Hospital: (02) 5124 2321
• North Canberra Hospital: (02) 6201 6684

CHS team member screening and vaccination policy

All new Category A CHS team members must provide supporting evidence and records via the CHS onboarding portal.

Please contact CHS Talent Acquisition for assistance submitting evidence and uploading documents to the portal on (02) 6207 1450.

If you are a known vaccine non-responder and/or have a medical contraindication to a vaccine or have a question about your vaccinations or immunity, please contact the Occupational Medicine Unit on (02) 5124 2321.

CHS team members and students must comply with the requirements of the occupational assessment, screening and vaccination procedure to minimise the risk of transmitting infectious diseases among colleagues and patients.

This applies to all incoming and existing Category A employees, students on clinical placement, volunteers, and contracted staff who have direct contact with patients.

The CHS Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination​​​​​​ procedure has more detailed information on requirements for CHS staff members.

Mandatory immunisations and screening

Mandatory immunisations and screening are required for:

• Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis(dTpa) – one dose needed every 10 years
• Hepatitis B (Hep B) – age-appropriate vaccination (usually 3 doses) and surface antibody level greater than 10mlU/mL is required
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) – two doses, one month apart or positive IgG blood result
• Varicella Zoster Virus (chicken pox) – two doses, one month apart or positive IgG blood result
• Tuberculosis (TB) risk assessment and screening
• COVID-19:
  • two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination (evidence must show administration of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved COVID-19 vaccination); or
  • previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 as demonstrated by documentation* of detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by a medical pathology laboratory using nucleic acid amplification (also known as PCR test); or
  • previous infection without immunisation against SARS-CoV-2 as demonstrated by documentation* of detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in the blood by a medical pathology laboratory (Note: this evidence should ONLY be used if either of the above evidence is not available)
    * Documentation includes a hard copy or electronic report from a Medical Pathology Laboratory.

  Respirator Fit Testing

  OMU offers Fit Testing to all CHS staff members and students completing placement at CHS facilities. Fit testing is a validated process of determining the type and size of respirator (N95/P2 respirator) that achieves an adequate seal on an individual’s face.

  To book an appointment please call (02) 5124 2321 or email chs.fittesting@act.gov.au

  Information Sheets and documents

  • Risk Categorisation [PDF 232kB]
  • Checklist of required evidence [PDF 315kB]
  • Specified Infectious Diseases [PDF 224kB]

  Contact us

  For more information please contact:

  Canberra Hospital OMU on (02) 5124 2321 or email CHSOMU@act.gov.au

  Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm

  Level 2, Sr. Mark Maher Building

  Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm