Enrolment
What’s next?
The Education and Care Services National Regulations (Regulations 160, 161 and 162) requires all licensed children’s services to keep an enrolment record for each child. The information on this form is vital to the safety and wellbeing of your child. It will also assist in the development of your child’s program to ensure that it reflects their needs. This form is considered a legal document and therefore must be filled in correctly.
You will receive an Enrolment Record prior to your child attending the kindergarten. Please ensure this is completed and returned before your child commences kindergarten, as they may not be allowed to start until this is done.
Starting Kindergarten
No Jab No Play
No Jab No Play is a Victorian Government legislation that aims to help protect children from serious and possibly life-threatening illnesses.
The No Jab No Play legislation came into effect on 1 January 2016.
Before enrolling a child in kindergarten, services must first obtain evidence that the child is up to date with all vaccinations that are due for their age, or that they are able to receive.
In 2018, the legislation was amended so that an Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is the only form of documentation accepted for the purpose of enrolling in kindergarten.
Previous forms of documentation, for example a letter from a GP or local council, are no longer accepted.
How do I get an immunisation record?
You can print a copy of your child’s Immunisation History Statement from you myGOV account. If you have difficulty getting a copy via your myGOV account you can:
- Call the Australian Immunisation Register on phone 1800 653 809
- Visit a Medicare or Centrelink office
- Visit book an immunisation appointment or contact Council’s Immunisations Team on 9742 0736 or email immunisationteam@wyndham.vic.gov.au
What do I do if my child’s vaccinations are not up to date?
If your child's vaccinations are not up to date, then you should consult your GP or contact Council’s Immunisation Team about bringing their vaccinations up to date.
Once your child is up to date with their vaccinations, you can request an updated Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register. The updated Immunisation History Statement shows that vaccines are 'up-to-date' and needs to be provided to your kindergarten service to confirm your child’s enrolment.
After enrolment, parent/carers will need to provide their child’s kindergarten service with a new Immunisation History Statement whenever their child receives (or was due to receive) immunisation/s after enrolment, or as a requested.
What if my child has a valid medical reason for not being fully vaccinated?
Some children may be exempt from the requirement to be fully vaccinated on medical grounds. If your child has a valid medical reason they cannot be vaccinated, a GP needs to complete and sign a Medicare Immunisation Exemption Medical Contraindication Form and send it to the Australian Immunisation Register.
You can then obtain an updated Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register that indicates that your child is up-to-date will all the vaccines they can have and lists the vaccines they cannot have due to a medical contraindication. You will then need to provide the updated statement to the kindergarten service to confirm enrolment.
If you have questions or concerns about immunisation or particular vaccines, please consult your GP or Council’s Immunisation Team.
For further information on immunisation medical exemptions, please visit the Service Australia website.
What if I cannot get a statement?
In some circumstances, children are eligible to enrol in a service under a 16 week ‘support period’ (also known as the ‘grace period’) without having proof of up-to-date immunisation. The support period provision allows your child to start at the service while you arrange to get a current Immunisation History Statement. The kindergarten service can advise if this applies to you before commencement or during the enrolment process.
If you have any queries about meeting the immunisation requirements for kindergarten enrolment in Wyndham, please contact Child & Family Support on 1300 370 567 or email kinderenrolments@wyndham.vic.gov.au.
For more information about the No Jab No Play legislation or kindergarten and immunisation, please visit:
- Better Health website
- Health Victoria website
- Health Victoria website: Immunisation after enrolment information sheet for parents
- Fact sheet to find out what vaccines are due and when Better Health website: Immunisation Childhood
If you have any queries about meeting the immunisation requirements for kindergarten enrolment, please contact Child & Family Support on 1300 370 567 or email kinderenrolments@wyndham.vic.gov.au.