Insert school name
Insert school address
Insert school postal address
Queensland post code Australia
Telephone xxx xxxx xxx
Website school website
<Date>
<Parent Name>
<Address>
<SUBURB QLD 4xxx>
Dear <insert name of parent>
Unvaccinated Children and Vaccine Preventable Contagious Conditions under
the Public Health Act 2005 (Qld)
Under s.166 of Public Health Act 2005 (the Act) school principals have the legal
authority to direct a parent to remove from school any unvaccinated child who is at
risk of contracting a vaccine preventable contagious condition. This power is
required to protect unvaccinated children from becoming infected and to prevent
further spread of the condition within the school community.
There has been a child at the school who has been confirmed with <insert condition>
which is a vaccine preventable condition.
I have consulted with the <insert name> Public Health Unit, which advises that any
unvaccinated children who may have had contact with this child should be removed
from the school and not return to school until this outbreak of <insert condition> is
declared over. I have attached, for your information, a copy of this advice and further
information on this condition provided to me by the Public Health Unit.
I suspect that your child, <insert child name> has not been vaccinated against <insert
condition> and may be at risk of contracting <insert condition>. I advised you of my
suspicion on <insert date>. You have continued to send your child to school despite
my advice to you.
Pursuant to s.166 of the Act, I hereby direct you to remove <insert child’s name>
from the school and he/she may not return to school before <insert date at end of the
prescribed period>, the end of the prescribed period for the condition, or until you can
otherwise satisify me on reasonable grounds that he/she is no longer at risk of
contracting <insert condition>.
If you have vaccination records that you believe indicate your child has had the
relevant vaccinations, please contact the school as soon as possible to allow this
information to be reviewed.
Uncontrolled copy. Refer to the Department of Education and Training
Policy and Procedure Register at http://ppr.det.qld.gov.au to ensure you have the most current version of
this document.
Page 1 of 3
If you think your child may have developed <insert condition>, then I recommend you
seek medical advice as soon as possible. Please advise the medical practice before
your visit that the condition may be contagious. You can also contact your local
Public Health Unit who can provide you with further advice.
Should you wish to discuss options for your child to access an educational program
while they are subject to this direction please contact me on <insert contact details>.
I look forward to seeing him/her again after <insert date at the end of prescribed
period>. We will advise you if this period needs to be extended due to further cases
of <insert condition> occurring in the school.
Yours sincerely
Principal
Enc. (Ss. 165-166 Public Health Act 2005)
(Queensland Health advice)
Uncontrolled copy. Refer to the Department of Education and Training
Policy and Procedure Register at http://ppr.det.qld.gov.au to ensure you have the most current version of
this document.
Page 2 of 3
Extracts from PUBLIC HEALTH ACT 2005 (Qld)
s.165 Person in charge may advise parent of child not vaccinated about suspicion of
vaccine preventable condition
(1) This section applies if the person in charge of a school, education and care service or
QEC approved service reasonably suspects that a child attending the school or service—
(a) has not been vaccinated for a vaccine preventable condition; and
(b) may be at risk of contracting the condition if the child continues to attend the
school or service.
(2) The person in charge may advise at least 1 of the child's parents of the suspicion.
s.166 Person in charge may direct parent not to send child to school, education and
care service or QEC approved service
(1) This section applies if—
(a) a person in charge of a school, education and care service or QEC approved
service has advised a parent under section 165(2) about the parent's child; and
(b) the child continues to attend the school or service or the parent tells the person in
charge that the parent's child will continue to attend the school or service; and
(c) the person in charge reasonably suspects that the child will be at risk of
contracting the contagious condition if the child continues to attend the school or
service.
(2) The person in charge may direct the parent—
(a) to remove the child from the school, education and care service or QEC approved
service as soon as reasonably practicable; and
(b) not to send the child to the school or service during the prescribed period for the
condition applying to the child.
(3) However, the person in charge must consult a doctor or another person authorised by the
chief executive for advice before taking action under subsection (2).
Uncontrolled copy. Refer to the Department of Education and Training
Policy and Procedure Register at http://ppr.det.qld.gov.au to ensure you have the most current version of
this document.
Page 3 of 3