On 22 July 2019, changes to the Public Health Act 2016 (WA) and the School Education Act 1999 (WA) came into effect that will help to increase vaccination rates of children in Western Australia (WA) and better protect the community from vaccine preventable notifiable infectious diseases.
When enrolling a child into any child care service, kindergarten or school, parents/guardians are already required to provide their child’s Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) Immunisation History Statement. This statement must not be more than two months old.
Under these new changes, the child’s immunisation status must be ‘up to date’ according to their AIR Immunisation History Statement to be permitted to enrol into long day care, family day care, pre-kindergarten or kindergarten.
Exceptions apply to children who have an approved medical exemption to a vaccine, have natural immunity to a specific disease, are on an approved catch-up schedule, or are identified as an exempt child because of a particular family circumstance.
Kindergarten enrolments
If enrolment of a child attending kindergarten in 2020 or later was finalised before 22 July 2019, the enrolment is not impacted by this change.
All new kindergarten enrolment applications lodged by parents/guardians from 22 July 2019 onwards must meet the immunisation requirements.
Child care enrolments
As of 22 July 2019, where an application for enrolment has not been accepted and/or finalised, the new immunisation requirements must be met.
All new child care enrolment applications lodged by parents/guardians from 22 July 2019 onwards are subject to the new legislative changes.
More information
Persons in charge of child care services, community kindergartens and schools
For more information on how to apply the new legislation during the enrolment process, please refer to:
Parents/guardians
For more information:
Parents/guardians are encouraged to ensure their children’s vaccinations are up to date to avoid their application for enrolment being declined.