Before enrolment - 'No Jab, No Play' requirements

• Why you need to request an immunisation history statement from parents/carers

  In 2016, amendments were made to thePublic Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (known as the 'No Jab, No Play' policy) to require children to be up-to-date with immunisations for their age to enrol in early childhood education services.

  The purpose of this legislation is to encourage high early childhood immunisation rates in Victoria, to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.

  The legislation also prompts parents/carers to keep their child's immunisations up to date.

  To comply with this legislation, and to finalise a child’s enrolment in early childhood education, early childhood education and care services must request a current immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) 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 can enrol under the 16-week support period.

  Types of services the legislation applies to:

  The requirements of the "No Jab, No Play" policy applies to approved and licensed early childhood education and care services in Victoria, providing:

  • long day care
  • kindergarten (including 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten)
  • occasional care
  • family day care.

  The legislation does not apply to:

  • enrolment in primary or secondary school
  • children attending an outside school hour care service (after school care, before school care, vacation care)
  • enrolments of school children in long day care, family day care or occasional care
  • casual occasional care services that offer care for each child of no more than 2 hours per day and no more than 6 hours per week (for example, crèches at gyms and shopping centres) playgroups
  • services primarily providing instruction in particular activities (for example, sport, dance, or music)
  • services primarily provided or shared by family members of the children (and a family member is readily available and retains responsibility for the child).

  Approved and licensed early childhood education and care services in Victoria must comply with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. Authorised officers from the Department of Education and Training monitor the compliance of early childhood education and care services. This includes checking that the immunisation status of children is recorded in the enrolment record. Penalties for non-compliance can apply.

• 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 (IHS) 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/carers seeking to enrol their child at your service must provide an IHS 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 Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement at Step by step guide to assessing an AIR statement.

• How to request the statement from parents/carers

  • Ask the parent/carer to provide an immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). You can use this parent enrolment letter template as a basis for correspondence with parents seeking to finalise enrolment. Copy, download or adapt this letter to suit your service.
  • Advise the parent/carer 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 (IHS) from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

  You cannot accept:

  • immunisation documentation from overseas
  • a letter from a doctor or council
  • a document indicating "homeopathic immunisation"
  • a statutory declaration from parents
  • the "green book" immunisation record.

• How to help parents/carers to obtain an immunisation statement

  Parents/carers can get a copy of their child's immunisation history statement:

  • by accessing an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement online (see below)
  • by asking their vaccine provider to download the statement from the medical software access to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
  • by requesting a statement posted to them by calling the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) on 1800 653 809. It can take up to 14 days for the statement to be delivered via post.
    • Non-English speakers can use the National Translating and Interpreting Service to contact the AIR via phone.
    • The National Relay Service is available for people who are deaf or find it difficult to hear on the phone

  This information is included in the parent brochure: Starting childcare or kindergarten? Immunisation information for parents enrolling a child. You may wish to provide a copy of this brochure for parents/carers to take away with them. This brochure is also available on the Health Translations website as a downloadable fact sheet in English, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese.

  Accessing an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement online

  Parent/carers with a Medicare card number can log into their myGov account and print or download a copy of the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement.

  • Parents/carers who have not previously registered for online services will need to visit the Medicare website to register for online services.
  • Parents/carers can print a copy of the child's immunisation history statement using the Medicare online account through myGov OR the Medicare mobile app.

• What to do if the child was immunised overseas

  Children immunised overseas must have their immunisation history and records assessed by a GP or local council immunisation service and be offered catch-up vaccinations as required. The GP or local council must then report the overseas administered vaccines to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

  The AIR must make a file for a new child to Australia and update the child's records. The parents/carers can request an immunisation history statement from the AIR. It can take up to 14 days before the immunisation history statement is available for the family/carer. Alternatively, immunisation providers can print a copy of the statement and provide it to the family after vaccine/s are recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Parents/carers must provide the statement to the early childhood service to confirm enrolment.

  This information is included in the Parent brochure: Starting childcare or kindergarten? Immunisation information for parents enrolling a child. This brochure is also available on the Health Translations website as a downloadable fact sheet in English, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese. You may wish to provide a copy of this brochure for parents/carers to take away with them.

  Parents/carers wishing to access an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement online should refer to the Australian Department of Health's downloadable fact sheet titled Get your immunisation history statement using your Medicare online account available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Farsi (Persian), Greek, Italian, Korean, Macedonian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

  The Better Health Channel has a Vaccinations in Victoria video that provides an overview of the immunisation program in Victoria for families who have moved from overseas. It covers childhood, adolescent, and adult immunisation, who provides vaccines, how they are recorded and what immunisation records are required for enrolling in early childhood education and care services and primary school. The video is available in English, Arabic, Assyrian, Burmese, Dari, Hazaragi, Nepalese, Persian, Sinhalese, Tamil, and Urdu.

• What to do if the family doesn't have a Medicare card

  You do not need to be eligible for Medicare to obtain an immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

  Advise the family to attend a GP or local council immunisation service to discuss vaccination needs.

  If this has already been done, advise the parent/carer to request the GP or service print a copy of the child's immunisation history statement.

  Alternatively, the parent/carer can:

  • call the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) on 1800 653 809 to check if the child's immunisations have been recorded and request a statement to be posted. It can take up to 14 days to arrive by post or
  • access the immunisation history statement online:
    • The parent/carer will need to follow the Australian Government's advice on how to create a myGov account.
    • The parent/carer will need to follow the Australian Government's advice on how to use myGov to get an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI).
    • The parent/carer can then view their child's immunisation history statement using their myGov account.

  You may wish to provide this Fact sheet for migrants and other non-Medicare cardholders: immunisation and enrolling in early childhood education and care services in Victoria.

• What to do if the statement has been lost

  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'.

  • Provide parents with information regarding how to obtain an AIR immunisation history statement.
  • Advise the parent/carer to obtain the AIR immunisation history statement and provide a copy to your service.

• What to do if the statement is incorrect

  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'.

  • Advise the parent/carer to contact their immunisation provider to address any errors in the statement.
  • Provide the parent/carer with information regarding how to obtain an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement.
  • Advise the parent/carer to obtain the AIR immunisation history statement and provide a copy to your service.

  This information is included in the Parent brochure: Starting childcare or kindergarten? Immunisation information for parents enrolling a child. This brochure is also available on the Health Translations website as a downloadable fact sheet in English, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese. You may wish to provide a copy of this brochure for parents/carers to take away with them.

• How to help parents/carers find an immunisation provider

  Advise parents/carers 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.

• Where to refer parents/carers with questions and concerns about immunisation

  Review referring parents for health advice, determine which of the four options is the most appropriate match to the situation, and provide the referral details to the family.

  If the parent/carer is concerned about the safety of vaccines for their child, advise the parent/carer to discuss the issue with their GP. A GP can provide information about vaccines, and assess the child's individual circumstances, including determining if an immunisation medical exemption is required.

  Alternatively, you can refer the parent/carer to the following special immunisation services:

  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Immunisation Clinic on 1300 882 924 option 2 or
  • Monash Immunisation, Monash Medical Centre on 1300 882 924, option 4. Telehealth is available with these services.
  • Victoria's vaccine safety service, SAEFVIC on 1300 882 924 option 1.

• What to look for on the statement

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

  Step 1: Look at the 'immunisation status' at the top left of the statement.

  • If immunisation status is listed as 'up to date', go to step 2.
  • If the status is listed as 'not up to date', you cannot confirm enrolment unless they are eligible under the 'support period'.

  Step 2: Look at the 'As at' date at the top left of the statement.

  This is the date the statement was produced from the AIR, and tells you how current the vaccination information is.

  • If the 'As at' date is within two months of the first day the child will start attending your service, and the immunisation status is 'up to date', you can confirm enrolment.
  • If the 'As at' date shows the statement is older, go to Step 3.

  Step 3: Look at the 'Next due vaccine' date at the bottom of the statement.

  • If the date of the next due vaccine is after the first day the child will attend, you can confirm enrolment.
  • If there is a statement that says, 'No vaccines due', you can confirm enrolment.
  • If the next due vaccine date is before the first day the child will attend, go to Step 4.

  Step 4: Still consider the 'Next due vaccine' date at the bottom of the statement.

  • If the date of the next due vaccine is within the two months before the first day the child will attend, you can confirm enrolment.

  The two-month leeway period before the first date of attendance gives parents and services certainty about enrolment. It allows time for the enrolment process to be completed before the child begins attending the service. Parents/carers will be in the process of organising the vaccine for their child in the lead up to attending.

  • If the next due vaccine date is earlier, you cannot confirm enrolment unless the child is eligible for the 'support period'
    • View an examples of Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) statements at Step by step guide to assessing an AIR statement.
      

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

  Some children may be exempt from receiving a vaccine/s on medical grounds. Only certain doctors can provide immunisation medical exemptions, and they must provide a valid medical reason for an exemption to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). The Services Australia website and the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Australian Immunisation Handbook list valid medical reasons for immunisation medical exemptions.

  If a child has a medical exemption to a vaccine/s this will be documented on their immunisation history statement (IHS). When their statement is generated, the AIR will consider their exemption/s, and if they have had all vaccines they can safely have for their age, their status will read “up to date” and they can be enrolled.

  View an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) statement example – medical exemption showing an immunisation history statement from the AIR highlighting how medical exemptions to vaccines are recorded.

  The statement will not show that a child is due or overdue for vaccine/s they have a medical exemption for.If they have had all the other vaccines recommended for their age, their statement will show as 'up to date'.

  Advise parents/carers who think their child may require a medical exemption to one or more vaccines that they should consult their GP to have this exemption documented on their immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

  The parent/carer then needs to obtain an updated immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) that indicates the child is up to date with the vaccines they can have. This statement needs to be provided by the parent/carer to your service to confirm enrolment.

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

  Catch-up schedules

  When a child misses important vaccines for their age, or their immunisation history is unknown, they may commence a “catch-up immunisation schedule”. This is a plan made with their immunisation provider to complete their recommended vaccination schedule for their age in the shortest but most effective time frame.

  If a child is on an approved catch-up schedule this will be documented on their immunisation history statement. When their statement is generated, the AIR will consider their catch-up schedule, and if they have had all vaccines they can have at the time, their status will read “up to date”. They can be enrolled.

• What to do if a parent/carer provides a different document (not the AIR statement)

  • Let the parent/carer know that the only acceptable evidence of immunisation for enrolment is an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement.
  • Advice the parent/carer on how to obtain an immunisation history statement.
  • If the parent/carer cannot obtain an immunisation history statement for whatever reason, assess if they are eligible to enrol under the 16-week support period.

Information on the support period

• What is the support period

  The support period is a provision in the No Jab No Play policy that allows some children to be enrolled in early childhood education when they have not provided evidence that they are up to date with their immunisations.

  There are some children in the community whose families face difficulties accessing vaccinations and/or the required documentation to prove immunisation status. The support period allows the family 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.

  It is generally a 16-week period, during which early childcare centres should support families to obtain the required documentation, and/or seek information about immunisation. More information on what to do during and at the end of the support period can be found here.

  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/guardian holds a healthcare card
  • have a parent/guardian 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 family has difficulty obtaining an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) statement, you should have a private conversation about why. You can use the support period eligibility assessment form to determine if the family is eligible. If used, a copy of the completed form should be kept with the child's enrolment record.

  Start the conversation by explaining to the parent/carer why you ask the questions: to determine whether the child can be enrolled under the support period provision, allowing 16 weeks for the family to undertake vaccination and/or obtain an acceptable immunisation status certificate. This can also be a chance for the family to get some extra help if they need it.

  Families who answer 'yes' to any of the following criteria are eligible for the 'support period':

  • Are you and your child currently evacuated from your home due to an emergency such as a flood or bushfire? (document the verbal response)
  • Is your child in the care of an adult who is not the child's parent due to emergency or exceptional circumstances such as parental illness or incapacity? (document the verbal response)
  • Did your child arrive in Australia as a refugee or asylum seeker? (document the verbal response)
  • Is child protection involved with your family, or have they been in the past? (document the verbal response)
  • Has your family received support through Family Services? (document the verbal response)
  • Are you living in crisis or emergency accommodation, or are you supported by a housing agency or family violence service? (document the verbal response)
  • Do you or your child hold a health care card? (sight a copy of card)
  • Do you hold a pensioner concession card? (sight a copy of card)
  • Do you hold a veteran's affairs Gold or White card? (sight a copy of card)
  • Is your child from multiple births of triplets or more? (sight a copy of the child's birth certificate)

  If a family has difficulty obtaining an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) statement, you should have a private conversation about why. You can use the 'support period' eligibility assessment form to determine if the family is eligible. If used, a copy of the completed form should be kept with the child's enrolment record.

  Start the conversation by explaining to the parent/carer why you ask the questions: to determine whether the child can be enrolled under the 'support period' provision, allowing 16 weeks for the family to undertake vaccination and/or obtain an acceptable immunisation status certificate. This can also be a chance for the family to get some extra help if they need it.

• Extra support for children in out-of-home care

  Children are eligible for the 16-week 'support period' in out-of-home care.

  You may wish to provide the carer with the fact sheet Immunisation for children in out-of-home care. The fact sheet covers how to get consent for immunisation, finding out if a child is up to date with immunisations, requirements for benefits, payments, and enrolment in care.

  You may wish to refer the carer to an appropriate specialist support service for families experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability.

• Extra support for children who are refugees or asylum seekers

  Children who are refugees or asylum seekers are eligible for the 16-week 'support period'.

  A fact sheet on catch-up vaccinations for refugees and asylum seekers in Victoria explains how refugees and asylum seekers can obtain free vaccines available under the Australian Immunisation Program. It is available in Amharic, Arabic, Assyrian, Burmese, Chin, Dari, Farsi, Karen, Tamil.

  You may wish to refer the parent/carer to an appropriate specialist support service for families experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability.

• 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.

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

  Do not enrol the childuntil 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/carer information on obtaining an up to date AIR statement and/or where to discuss/access vaccinations.

  The doctor/immunisation nurse who administers a vaccine must, by law, report which vaccine they administered and to whom to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

  The parent/carer must obtain an updated Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement and provide a copy to your service.

  Alternatively, the parent/carer can ask their GP/nurse to print an immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) for the parent/carer to give to your service. Most immunisation providers can do this.

  Use the /node/17503 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.

• What to do if the parent/carer 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/carers by:

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

  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.

• When not to enrol

  Enrolment for the child cannot proceed if:

  • the parent/carer does not provide an acceptable immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR); AND
  • you have determined that the child is not eligible for the support period.

  Do not enrol the child until an acceptable Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement is provided.

  • Advise the parent/carer that, under Victorian legislation, the service is not allowed to enrol the child without acceptable documentation.
  • Refer parents/carers wishing to discuss questions and concerns about vaccination to seek specialist medical advice from their GP or one of the following specialist immunisation services:
    • 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.
    • Victoria's vaccine safety service, SAEFVIC on 1300 882 924 option 1.

  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.

• Where to refer parent/carers with questions or concerns about vaccination

  1. Review the options provided regarding referring parents for health advice,
  2. Decide which of the four options is the most appropriate match to the situation
  3. Provide the referral details to the parent/carer.

• Where to refer parent/carers with questions or concerns about the No Jab No Play requirements

  Parents/carers should visit the Better Health Channel - 'No Jab, No Play' page for more information

• What to do with the provided statement

  Keep one or both of the following documents with the child's enrolment record:

  • the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation history statement
  • a completed support period eligibility assessment form

  Authorised officers from the Department of Education and Training monitor the compliance of early childhood education and care services.

  This includes checking that the immunisation status of children is recorded in the enrolment record.

• 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.

  Authorised officers from the Department of Education and Training monitor the compliance of early childhood education and care services.

  This includes checking that the immunisation status of children is recorded in the enrolment record.