| Policy Rationale |
Infectious diseases are divided into four categories based on the method of notification and the information required. A Minimum Period of Exclusion from Schools and Children’s Services for Infectious Diseases Cases and Contacts was developed to protect the public by preventing, or containing, outbreaks of infectious conditions common in schools and other children’s services and is regulated by the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009. An immunisation program is also in place to assist in the prevention and spread of infectious diseases. Families are required to confirm if the child has been immunised at the time of his/her enrolment. As this program is considered an Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) program, the legislation known as “No Jab, No Play’, does not apply to MakerDojo services.
| Procedures |
If the service is notified that a child has suffered or is suffering from an infectious illness, the service will exclude the child from attending the service for the time specified in the exclusion table known as the ‘Minimum period of exclusion from primary schools and children’s service centres for infectious diseases cases and contacts’. MakerDojo staff members will be able to request a clearance certificate from a medical practitioner to verify that a child is no longer suffering a contagious illness or infectious disease. Please see the 22.0 COVID-19 Safe Policy for specific information relating to COVID-19.
The MakerDojo Master Sensei (Nominated Supervisor) is responsible for:
- Informing the Department of Education and Training (DET) and DHHS Communicable Diseases Control Unit, within twenty-four hours of reaching a decision, that a child is suffering or they believe a child is suffering from a vaccine-preventable disease, or a child who has not been immunised against such a disease has been in contact with a person at the service who is infected with that disease, as per the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009. Any exclusion will be based on firm medical evidence following diagnosis of a vaccine-preventable disease, or on recommendations from the Communicable Diseases Control Unit
- Contacting the parent or guardian of the child they suspect may be suffering from an infectious or vaccine-preventable disease, or that their child who is not immunised has been in contact with someone who has a vaccine-preventable disease and requesting the child be collected from the service as soon as possible. Those parents will be required to keep their child(ren) at home when an infectious disease has been diagnosed at the service until there are no more occurrences of that disease and the exclusion period has ceased.
- Establishing good hygiene and infection control procedures and making them part of the routine for everyone in the workplace (refer to the Hygiene and Infection Policy)
- Placing a sign at the main entrance of the service notifying any families, staff and visitors of any infectious diseases that may be harmful. (R 173)
- Ensuring the exclusion requirements for infectious diseases are adhered to as per the Communicable diseases exclusion table (refer to the First Aid, Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Procedures Policy).
- Notifying MakerDojo and parents/guardians of any outbreak of an infectious disease within the service.
- Advising parents/guardians on enrolment that the DHHS Communicable diseases exclusion table (refer to the First Aid, Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Procedures Policy) will be followed in regard to the outbreak of any infectious diseases.
- Requesting parents/guardians notify the service if their child has an infectious disease.
- Providing information and resources to parents to assist in the identification and management of infectious diseases and infestations. This may include tip sheets from Staying Healthy In Child Care (5th Edition)
- In the case of a head lice outbreak, families/Guardians will be contacted if head lice are suspected.
The Dojo Sensei (Responsible Person) is responsible for:
- Maintaining confidentiality at all times.
- Avoiding the stigmatisation of any child or family by themselves or any other member of the service community when an infectious illness is detected.
The parents/guardians are responsible for:
- Notifying the service if their child has an infectious disease or has been in contact with a person who is infected with an infectious disease (refer to the First Aid, Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Procedures Policy).
- Providing accurate and current information regarding the immunisation status of their child/children when they enrol and any subsequent changes to this while they are attending the service.
- Complying with the DHHS Communicable diseases exclusion table (refer to the First Aid, Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Procedures Policy).
- Keeping their child at home when an infectious disease has been diagnosed at the service and their child is not fully immunised, until there are no more occurrences of that disease and the exclusion period has ceased.
- Regularly checking their child’s hair for lice or lice eggs and regularly inspecting all household members and then treating if necessary as well as ensuring their child does not attend the service with untreated headlice.
- Notifying the service if head lice have been found in their child’s hair and when treatment has started.
| References |
- Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations (2009), R 85
- Staying Healthy in Childcare – 5th Edition (2013)
- Department of Health and Human Services www.dhhs.vic.gov.au Education and Care Services National Law Act (2010), S 165, S 167
- Education and Care Services National Regulations (2011), R 87, R 173
- ACECQA National Quality Framework Resource Kit (2012)
- Quality Area 2 – Children’s health and safety
- Quality Area 7 – Leadership and Service Management
| Version control date: March 2021 | To be reviewed: December 2021 |