COUNCIL POLICY
Document No:
Immunisation and Infectious
Disease Policy
Responsible Officer: Family Day Care Team Leader
Authorising Officer:
Approval Date:
Approved By:
SCS FDC POLICY
– 030
15 Jan. 13
Early Years
Coordinator
Review Date:
1 Jan. 14
Expiry Date:
Version No:
1
Aged and Family Services Manager
1. Purpose
Children are often infectious before symptoms appear. Therefore, it is important for Educators to
operate their business ensuring good hygiene practices at all times. It is also important that educators
and staff act appropriately and with sensitivity when dealing with an infectious child and their family.
Educators, Co-ordination unit staff and families need to be informed about infectious diseases that are
common in early childhood settings.
2. Scope
Evidence of link to NQS: 2.1, 2.1.3, 2.1.4,
Evidence of link to ECSNR: 88, 162 (f), 168 (2) (c)
3. Application
To ensure all stakeholders are familiar with the procedures to reduce the spread of infectious diseases
in Family Day Care.
4. Definitions
Exclusion: Unable to attend or participate in a program.
Illness: Any sickness and/or associated symptoms that affect a child’s normal participation in a
program.
Infectious disease: A communicable disease that could be spread from person to person by air, water,
interpersonal contact by any direct or indirect means. (see Communicable Diseases Exclusion Table)
Immunisation status: The record of a child’s immunisation compared to the recommended
immunisation schedule. (see National Immunisation Program Schedule)
5. Policy
Strategies and Practices
Infectious Diseases
The Communicable Diseases Exclusion Table - is to be available at the educator’s homes.
Parents/guardians are required to notify the educator if their child has an infectious disease. During
the exclusion period for an infected person or contacts with that person, that child or adult must
comply with the exclusion period and not attend the service.
Responsibilities:
The Co-ordination unit will:
 Provide information and resources to educators on how to prevent the transmission of
infectious diseases.
 Modelling safe hygienic practices to educators and children where possible e.g. hand
washing.
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
Contacting the Department of health Communicable Diseases section on 1300 651 160 to
notify:
- when a child is suffering from a vaccine preventable disease(VPD) - (see National
Immunisation Program Schedule)
- if a child has a communicable disease as listed in the Communicable Diseases Exclusion
Table (Attachment 1) and to seek advice on exclusion of cases and contacts.
Educators will:

Providing a safe and healthy environment for children
 Notify the FDC Coordination unit of any outbreak of an infectious disease
 When necessary, a child or other person with an infectious disease will be excluded in line
with the recommended exclusion period (see Communicable Diseases Exclusion Table)
 Notifying all parents/guardians of any outbreak of an infectious disease. This should be done
in a manner that ensures confidentiality for any child, family, Educator and their family and
Support Staff .
 Educators will ensure parents of unimmunised children are aware that their child is unable to
access the service for the recommended exclusion period.
 Advising parents/guardians on enrolment that the Communicable Diseases Exclusion Table
will be applied to any infectious disease event.
 Minimise the risk of infection to others by following strict personal and environmental
hygiene practices.
 Responding to the needs of children if a child becomes ill while in care
 Providing up-to-date information for families and Educators on immunisation and the
protection of all children from infectious diseases.
Parents/guardians will:
 Notifying the FDC service if their child has an infectious disease.
 Keep infectious or sick children away from the care environment.
 Promptly pick up a sick or infectious child that becomes ill whilst in care.
 Providing accurate and current information regarding the immunisation status of their
child/children when they enrol and any subsequent changes to this whilst they are attending
the FDC Service.
 Comply with the DEECD exclusion table
 Communicate with the educator about the child’s health and wellbeing.
 Notify the Educator if the child is being tested for an infectious disease.
Immunisation for Children
When a child is enrolled at the Early Childhood Service parents are required to indicate if their child
has been immunised on the enrolment form. A staff member will endeavour to site the Immunisation
record of the child.
It is a requirement of the Commonwealth Government that children’s immunisation records are kept up
to date.
Notices and relevant information regarding immunisation is provided to educators and parents.
Parents of unimmunised children will be notified if there is a child in the service suffering from a
vaccine preventable disease(VPD) . The unimmunised child we be unable to attend the service for
the recommended exclusion period.
Staff immunisation
Educators and staff who are required to undertake tasks which have been identified as having a risk of
exposure to blood borne and other diseases are encouraged to have vaccinations for Hepatitis A,
Hepatitis B, Tetanus and Influenza as required.
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Day-to-Day Service Management of Health and Safety Policies
Reviewed at monthly team meetings and as required
6. Records
Record
Retention/Disposal
Responsibility
Retention Period
Location
7. Attachments
8. References

Education and Care Services National Regulations

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010

Health Records Act 2001; Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001(amended 2004)

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004

DHS Children’s Services Guide, http://www.education.vic.gov.au/earlychildhood/

NHMRC(2005), Staying Healthy in Child Care, 4th edition, available at
www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications or email nhmrc.publications@nhmrc.gov.au or telephone
1800 020 103 to request a free copy.
Resources and further reading
 Education and Care Services National Regulations
 Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010
 ACECQA National; Quality Framework Resource Kit www.acecqa.gov.au
 Childcare service Handbook 2011-2012 (DEEWR)
 VEYLDF, EYLF, MTOP
www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation
Related FDC Documents



Illness Form
Department Exclusion Table
National Immunisation Program schedule
Related FDC Policies/Procedures
 Illness policy
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