No Jab No Play for early childhood education and care services

Why services need to request an immunisation history statement from parents

To comply with No Jab No Play, and to finalise a child’s enrolment in early childhood education and care services, services must request a current immunisation history statement from the parent that shows the child is up to date with all the immunisations due for their age.

The only exception to this requirement is if the child is eligible to enrol under the 16-week support period, in which case an immunisation history statement from the AIR is not required at enrolment.

Purpose of the immunisation history statement

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a national register administered by Medicare that records all vaccinations given in Australia.

An immunisation history statement is a personalised document that shows:

• if a person is up to date with immunisations recommended for their age
• if a person is due, or overdue for immunisations
• the date of administration of each immunisation a person has had
• whether that person has a medical exemption to an immunisation/s
• if the person is on a catch-up immunisation schedule.

This information is taken from the AIR at the time the statement is generated.

Parents seeking to enrol their child at an early childhood education and care service must provide an immunisation history statement as evidence of up-to-date vaccination status, unless the child is eligible to enrol under the 16-week 'support period'.

View an example of an AIR immunisation history statement at Step by step guide to assessing an AIR statement.

How to request the statement from parents

• Ask the parent to provide an immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
• Advise the parent that the statement must show the child is "up to date" with immunisations to enrol, unless they are eligible for the support period.

Is any other document acceptable?

No. Unless the child is eligible to enrol under the 16-week 'support period', the only acceptable evidence of immunisation for enrolment is an immunisation history statement from the AIR.

How to help parents to obtain an immunisation history statement

The parent brochure: Starting childcare or kindergarten? Immunisation information for parents enrolling a child outlines how parents can obtain a copy of their child's immunisation history statement including, if they are not eligible for Medicare or were born overseas:

Additional information for parents can be found under Resources for ‘No Jab, No Play’ on this page. The Better Health Channel also has information and resources available.

What to look for on the statement

Follow this Step by step guide to assess an immunisation history statement for enrolment to determine if an immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is acceptable to confirm enrolment.

Immunisation medical exemptions - what they are and what evidence is required

Some children may not be able to have certain vaccines for medical reasons. In these cases, a medical exemption can be given. Only certain doctors (like GPs or specialists) can issue an immunisation medical exemption. They must report the exemption to the AIR and explain the medical reason.

If a child has a valid exemption, it will appear on their immunisation history statement. The AIR will check if they have can safely receive for their age. If they have, their status will show as “up to date”, even if they missed some vaccines due to the exemption. This means they can still be enrolled in early childhood education and care.

If a parent, thinks their child may need a medical exemption, they should be referred to their GP. The GP can assess the child, and if appropriate submit the exemption to the AIR.

Once the exemption is recorded, the parent must give the updated immunisation history statement to the early childhood service to confirm the child’s enrolment.

Catch-up schedules – what are they, and what evidence is required

If a child has missed some of their routine vaccines or their immunisation history is unknown, they may need to follow a catch-up immunisation schedule. This is a plan made with their immunisation provider to help the child get the vaccines they need for their age.

When a child is on an approved catch-up schedule, this will be recorded on their immunisation history statement from the AIR.

The AIR will check if the child has received all the vaccines recommended for their age, including those in the catch-up plan. If they have, their immunisation status will show as “up to date”.

What to do if the statement is incorrect

Do not enrol the child until the acceptable AIR immunisation history statement is provided unless the child is eligible to enrol under the 'support period'.

• Refer parents to the Parent brochure: Starting childcare or kindergarten? Immunisation information for parents enrolling a child which explains how to update and obtain an immunisation history statement from the AIR.

How to decide if a child is eligible to enrol

Use the Step by step guide to assessing an AIR statement as a handy reference to see the pathways to follow when assessing if a child can be enrolled under the 'No Jab, No Play' requirements.

Enrolment for the child can proceed if:

• the parent provides an acceptable immunisation history statement from the AIR; OR
• Services have determined that the child is eligible for the support period.

What to do if the statement shows the child is not up to date with immunisations

Do not enrol the child until the acceptable Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement is provided unless the child is eligible to enrol under the 'support period'.

Give the parent information on obtaining an up to date immunisation history statement and/or where to discuss/access vaccinations. The parent must obtain an updated AIR immunisation history statement and provide a copy to the early childhood education and care service.

What to do if the parent does not provide a statement

Do not enrol the child until the acceptable Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement is provided unless the child is eligible to enrol under the 'support period'.

Early childhood education and care services can play an important support role for parents by:

• advising them on how to obtain an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement for enrolment
• referring parents to services and contacts if needed.

What to do with the ‘support period’ eligibility assessment form

If used to confirm enrolment, a copy of the completed support period eligibility assessment form should be kept with the child's enrolment record.

Some families may have difficulties getting their child vaccinated or getting the documents needed to prove their child’s immunisation status. The 16-week support period gives these families time to access early childhood education and care services while receiving information and assistance to obtain the required immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), and/or get their child/children’s immunisations up to date.

During this 16-week period:

• The child can attend the service
• The family can get help to:
  • access vaccination, and/or
  • obtain an Immunisation history statement from the AIR.

Children whose parents have not provided evidence of their immunisation status or have provided evidence that states they are not up to date with their immunisations are eligible for the support period if they:

• identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• are a refugee or asylum seeker
• are from multiple births of triplets or more
• hold or their parent holds a healthcare card
• have a parent who is a pension concession card holder
• are evacuated from their home due to an emergency (such as a flood or bushfire)
• are in the care of an adult who is not their parent due to exceptional circumstances (such as parental illness or incapacity)
• are in the care of a parent who is a Gold or White Department of Veterans' Affairs card holder
• are involved with child protection services, or have been in the past
• receive support through Family Services, or have in the past
• are living in crisis or emergency accommodation
• are being supported by a housing agency or family violence service

How to assess eligibility for the ‘support period’?

If a parent has difficulty obtaining an immunisation history statement, services should have a private conversation about why. Services can use the support period eligibility assessment form to determine if the family is eligible. Parents who answer 'yes' to any of the support period eligibility assessment form criteria are eligible for the 'support period'.

Why ask parents to continue to provide immunisation evidence

If there is a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak at the service, it is important to have up-to-date immunisation records. These records help to identify children who may be at risk (for example, children too young to be fully vaccinated). These children might need to stay away from the service until it is safe to return.

For information on exclusion periods for infectious diseases cases and contacts, visit exclusion periods.

How to inform parents of this obligation

'No Jab, No Play' regulations specify that parents must provide early childhood education and care services with a current statement (if the one on record is no longer current) at intervals of no greater than seven months. Download the immunisation after enrolment: fact sheet for parents who want or need additional information regarding their obligation to maintain evidence of up to date immunisation for their child at the service.

Service's role during the ‘support period’

During the 16-week 'support period', the early childhood education and care service is required to take reasonable steps to assist the parent in obtaining the required immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

This may include:

• providing information to parents about where they can access immunisation services or how to obtain an immunisation history statement
• referring parents for health advice or to appropriate specialist support services for families experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage
• providing appropriate resources to parents.

What happens at the end of the ‘support period’

Services may wish to refer the family to support services listed on the specialist support services for families experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage.

After a child's enrolment has been confirmed, No Jab, No Play does not require early childhood education and care services to exclude enrolled children who are not up to date with their immunisations, except in the circumstance of an outbreak of infectious disease at the service. Early childhood education and care services determine enrolment and attendance policies that suit their organisation or community, in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements.

Specialist services are available in Victoria to support parents seeking medical advice.

Service's role and obligations to keep the latest immunisation evidence

Holding a current immunisation history statement for each child is a requirement under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and under the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011, which specify that the approved provider must take reasonable steps to ensure children's enrolment forms are accurate (Regulation 177). This includes, but is not limited to, the immunisation status of the child.

Reasonable steps may include:

• Twice a year, issue a general reminder to parents that they must provide an updated immunisation history statement if their child has received or been due for a vaccination.
• Provide follow-up requests for an up-to-date immunisation history statement from parents if
• Assess immunisation history statements to ensure they indicate the child is up to date with immunisation
• Support parents to comply by providing information or referral to support services.

With each child’s enrolment record, keep the most current immunisation history statement and (if relevant) ‘support period’ eligibility assessment form.

Requesting an updated statement

• No Jab, No Play requirements specify that parents must provide the early childhood and care service with a current statement (if the one on record is no longer current) at intervals of no greater than seven months.
• Where possible, services can request evidence of current immunisation at the same time as contacting families; for other details needed to maintain up to date enrolment information.
• For guidance on when and how to send requests for immunisation evidence to parents, download the Immunisation evidence request decision aid flow chart.
• For guidance on what to include in communications to parents, download the immunisation evidence request text document.

What to do if a child is transferred to the service

If a child transfers to the service from another early childhood education and care service, the parent must provide a copy of the child's current immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) for enrolment at the service.

How to help parents find an immunisation provider

Advise parents that they can receive vaccines from a GP or their local council immunisation service.

• Visit Vic Councils website to identify a local council
• Visit healthdirect Australia website to find a GP.

Services for parents requiring support with immunisation

Services for parents with questions about immunisation

• Local council immunisation service
• Regular GP

Services for parents with significant vaccine hesitancy, refusal, or complex issues

• The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Immunisation Clinic on 1300 882 924, option 2.
• Monash Immunisation, Monash Medical Centre on 1300 882 924, option 4. Telehealth is available with these services.

Services for parents concerned about adverse reactions following immunisation

• Adverse Event Reporting Service - SAFEVIC
• Phone 1300 882 924, option 1. Telehealth is also available with this service.

• The Orange Door
• Family violence state-wide support services

• The Refugee Health Program
• Refugee and asylum seeker health and wellbeing
• The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC)
• Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub - call 03 8388 7874
  

• Koorie engagement support officers
• Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations

Victorian Government

Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA)
General enquiries
Phone: 1300 307 415 Monday to Friday, 9am - 5 pm
Email: vecra@education.vic.gov.au

Department of Health
Immunisation Program
Email: immunisation@health.vic.gov.au
Web: health.vic.gov.au/immunisation

Commonwealth Government

Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
Phone: 1800 653 809 Monday to Friday from 8am - 5pm
Web: Australian Immunisation Register

Medicare service centres
Web: Services Australia
A translating and interpreting service is available by calling 131 450, Monday to Friday, from 8:30am to 4:45pm.

National Immunisation Program Schedule
Web: National Immunisation Program