Under the legislation, some families are eligible to enrol and commence at the childcare/kindergarten service, under a 'grace period' provision, while they bring their children's vaccinations up-to-date and/or obtain the required documentation.
Early childhood education and care services, with help from the Departments of Health and Human Services and Education and Training, will support families of children who are not up-to-date with their vaccinations and provide them with information as to where they can access vaccinations.
Children experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage are eligible to enrol in a service under a grace period, without having provided proof of up-to-date immunisation. The grace period provisions allow the family to continue to access early childhood education and care services while receiving information and assistance to get their child's immunisations up to date and to obtain the required Immunisation History Statement from the AIR that needs to be provided to the service. Families who meet any of the following criteria are eligible for the grace period;
Evacuated children
- Children evacuated following emergency (such as flood or fire)
- Children in emergency care
- Children in emergency care (for example, emergency foster care) under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005
Children in the care of an adult who is not their parent
- • Children in the care of an adult who is not the childs parent due to exceptional circumstances such as illness or incapacity
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children
- Children identified by their parents as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Other children experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage
- Children who hold or whose parents hold a health care card, pension concession card, Veterans Affairs Gold or White card
- Children from a multiple birth of triplets or more
- Children who are refugees or asylum seekers
- Children known to child protection
- Children who are on or who have been on a Child Protection Order
- Children in or who have been in foster care or out-of-home care
- Children who have a report made about them under the Children Youth and Families Act 2005
- Families that have received support through Family Services including ChildFIRST; Services Connect; a community-based child and family service; or an integrated family service.