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Immunisation requirements for FDC services – quick reference guide to support parents and carers

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Parents and carers need to be aware of their child’s immunisation requirements. This information will support family day care services to respond to their questions.

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Where children can get immunised

Immunisation programs

Vaccines recommended for children, adolescents and adults on the National Immunisation Program are available at no cost for those who hold or are eligible for a Medicare card. 

You can search for where to get immunised on the SA Health website - find a service.

Also see:

Immunisation clinic details

The following immunisation clinic information is listed on South Australian council websites.

You should also advise parents that:

Council website immunisation details

For more information see SA Health – immunisation programs.

Aboriginal health contacts

SA Health has a range of Aboriginal-specific services across the state as well as community health services, including GP Plus centres located at:

  • Aldinga
  • Elizabeth
  • Marion
  • Ceduna
  • Port Pirie
  • Gilles Plains
  • Modbury
  • Noarlunga.

The National Immunisation Program schedule for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people provides information on changes to the National Immunisation Program Schedule from 1 July 2020 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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Immunisation history statement examples

A signed notice from the Chief Public Health Officer or letter approved by the Chief Public Health Officer may be accepted.

Refer to:

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Children not captured by the immunisation requirements

See exempt services information on the FDC educator portal.

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National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule

See what is the NIP Schedule?.

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Interpreting the immunisation record or the NIP Schedule

You are not required to interpret the immunisation record or the National Immunisation Program Schedule.

Refer the parent to their immunisation provider if they need help. 

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Important information about the immunisation record

What to look for on the immunisation record

You need to look for the immunisation status which will show either:

  • up to date
  • up to date on a catch up program – an end date will be in the future 
  • not up to date.

Refer to AIR Immunisation History Statement Examples for more information.

Children whose records indicate they are up to date or up to date on a catch up schedule with a future end date can continue to attend the service from 7 August 2020.

Refer to:

What to do with the immunisation record

You will need to provide a copy of the immunisation record to the Business Centre at educationfdcbusiness@sa.gov.au.

The staff at the Business Centre will record on Harmony if the child immunisation record is:

  • up to date
  • up to date on a catch up schedule – with a future end date
  • not up to date.

Not approved immunisation records

Letter from a general practitioner

A letter from a GP is not an approved immunisation record.

The Blue Book

The Blue Book is not an approved immunisation record.

When to provide the immunisations records

Refer to:

For children 4 years of age, a child’s 4 year old immunisation record is not overdue until after the child turns 4 years 8 months of age. Therefore, a child can continue to attend up to that time.

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Monitoring immunisation schedule points

Harmony will automatically monitor a child’s catch up date and next immunisation due date. Harmony will send an alert SMS text or email to the parent that will be triggered by age of the child. At the same time an email will be sent to the FDC service.

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Children who do not meet immunisation requirements

If a child does not meet the immunisation requirements on 7 August

You cannot allow a child to attend the service on or after 7 August 2020 unless the immunisation requirements have been met or there is an exemption granted by the Chief Public Health Officer.

Children already enrolled who do not meet immunisation requirements

You do not have to ‘un-enrol’ a child however, you cannot allow the child to attend the service on or after 7 August 2020 if the immunisation requirements have not been met.

A child can attend the service on or after 7 August 2020 if the immunisation requirements have been met or there is an exemption granted by the Chief Public Health Officer.

Help to tell parents their child cannot attend

Your coordinator and scheme manager are available to support you and can assist you to manage difficult conversations. 

Parent brings their child who is not immunised on or after 7 August

The FDC educator should make every attempt to speak to the parent and provide information on the matter.

If the parent is offensive or abusive the FDC educator must undertake a normal department response to that parent behaviour (seek advice from your coordinator or scheme manager).

If a child is simply dropped off the educator should contact:

  • the child’s parent or carer immediately to arrange pick up
  • an emergency contact or authorised person to arrange pick up
  • the FDC coordinator for advice and support.

Parents who are experiencing exceptional circumstances and have not immunised their child

The department has considered particular scenarios to understand better how to implement these new requirements, such as children who are waiting for appointments with immunologists to meet the requirements, or where the child has received the immunisation but the register has not yet been updated.

The legal position is clear. A child may not attend until the service has received an immunisation record showing the child’s immunisation status as up-to-date including up-to-date with a catch up schedule or unless an exemption has been granted.

Refer parent to the Chief Public Health Officer exemption information:  

Parent who is intending to immunise their child but hasn’t

The department has considered particular scenarios to understand better how to implement this new requirement, such as children who are waiting for appointments with immunologists to meet the requirements, or where the child has received the immunisation but the register has not yet been updated.

The legal position is clear. A child may not attend until the service has received an immunisation record showing the child’s immunisation status as up-to-date including up-to-date with a catch up schedule or unless an exemption has been granted.

Refer to:

Parent has evidence of an appointment with their doctor or immunisation provider after 7 August

In order for a child to continue to attend on or after 7 August 2020 an immunisation record must be provided and indicate that the child has met the immunisation requirements.

To continue to attend, the immunisation record must show that the child’s immunisation is either:

  • up to date
  • up to date on a catch up schedule with a future date.

If an exemption has been approved, a copy of this approval signed by the Chief Public Health Officer must be provided.

Parent has requested an exemption from the Chief Public Health Officer but does not have a response

The department has considered particular scenarios to understand better how to implement this new requirement, such as children who are waiting for appointments with immunologists to meet the requirements, or where the child has received the immunisation but the register has not yet been updated.

The legal position is clear. A child may not attend until the service has received an immunisation record showing the child’s immunisation status as up-to-date including up-to-date with a catch up schedule or unless an exemption has been granted.

If an exemption has been approved, a copy of this approval signed by the Chief Public Health Officer must be provided.

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Instructions for parents or carers to download an immunisation history statement

Immunisation history statements can be accessed and downloaded by:

The guide to accessing immunisation history statements (PDF 540KB) outlines the process.

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Newly arrived refugees

Vaccines for newly arrived refugees are available at no cost under the Australian Government Department of Health. Refugees can access the free vaccines through the Newly Arrived Refugee Immunisation Program at the following local councils and health services:

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Overseas immunisation record

Overseas immunisation records need to be added to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) by an immunisation service provider.

Some records may need translation before they can be added to the Australian Immunisation Register.

For immunisation records that need translation, parents or legal guardians will need to complete the Australian Government Free Translating Services application. The Free Translating Service can be used by most permanent and some temporary residents. All fields must be completed in English.

If parents or carers need an interpreter to complete the application, contact the National Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

For those that are not eligible for the Free Translating Service, there are accredited translator or interpreter services available. See National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters to locate a service.

Parents or carers will need to take a translated copy of the child’s immunisation records to an immunisation provider.

Translating immunisation records

If parents or carers need an interpreter and/or have immunisation records that need translation they can contact:

National Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

Translated SA Health parent FAQ

Early Childhood Services has been regularly communicating with the Immunisation Section of the Communicable Disease Control Branch at SA Health about translating key information for parents on the new immunisation requirements, such as the Parents and Carers FAQ’s document into other languages.

SA Health have decided against translating these documents. Advice received from SA Health was 'Information in the service provider FAQs outlines what services families can access for records to be translated and if parents or guardians require an interpreter they can contact the National Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450'.

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Child not eligible for Medicare card

Refer to:

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Catch-up schedule

Refer to:

Child’s Immunisation History Statement doesn’t show they are on a catch-up schedule

If a child is on a catch-up schedule but the child’s AIR Immunisation History Statement does not show this, parents or carers will need to contact their immunisation provider and ask them to update the information on the AIR.

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Approved exemptions

Refer to:

Parents can apply to the Chief Public Health Officer for an exemption

Refer to:

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Parents can contact SA Health directly

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More information for families

See:

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Contact

Regulation and compliance

Phone: 8226 1646
Email: education.nqfenquiries [at] sa.gov.au

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