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12: Health, Hygiene and Safety Policy
Infectious diseases Policy
Policy Number – 12.5
Link to National Regulations and National Quality Framework
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Quality Area 2: Children’s health and safety – Standard 2.1 - Element 2.1.4 – Steps are
taken to control the spread of infectious diseases and to manage injuries and illness, in
accordance with recognised guidelines
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National Regulations: 88: Infectious diseases
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National Regulations 173: Prescribed information to be displayed
National Quality Framework (October 2011)
Education and Care Services National Regulations (13.12.2011)
Staying Healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care
services, 5th edition, 2012.
Aim
The aim of exclusion is to reduce the spread of infectious disease. The less contact between
people who are at risk of catching the disease, the less chance the disease has of spreading.
Excluding ill children, educators, and other staff is an effective way to limit the spread of
infection in education and care services (Staying healthy: preventing infectious diseases in
early childhood and care services fifth edition, 2012, page 13).
Implementation
Exclusion Procedures

Children and staff with infectious diseases must be excluded from the centre in
accordance with the recommended minimum Exclusion Policy Guidelines from the
NHMRC 2012.

Children, educators and other staff who are unwell should stay home from
education and care services. Even if they do not have a condition that requires
exclusion, the best place for an ill child to rest and recover is with someone who
cares for them.
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12: Health, Hygiene and Safety Policy

Sometimes people who have been in contact with an infected person may need to
be excluded too. This depends on the disease, and a public health unit will be
involved to ensure exclusion is appropriate.

If a child has not been medically vaccinated (‘not medically vaccinated’ includes
children who may have been naturopathically or homeopathically vaccinated), they
will be excluded from care during outbreaks of some infectious diseases (such as
measles and pertussis), even if their child is well.

If people whose work involves food handling have vomiting or diarrhoea, they
should not return to work until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.

The centre Director should notify their local Public Health Unit by phone as soon
as possible after they are made aware that a child enrolled at the centre is suffering
from one of the following vaccine preventable diseases: Diphtheria, Mumps,
Poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib), Meningococcal disease,
Rubella (german measles), Measles, Pertussis (whooping cough) and Tetanus.

The centre Director are also encouraged to seek advice from their local Public Health Unit
when they suspect an infectious disease outbreak is affecting the centre, such as outbreaks
of a gastrointestinal or respiratory illness

A medical certificate is required before a child or adult having: Diphtheria, Mumps,
Poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib), Meningococcal disease,
Rubella (german measles), Measles, Pertussis (whooping cough) and Tetanus.can
return to the centre.

In the event that one or more children have presented with the same diagnosis of
an infectious disease which is listed in the NSW Health Department Guidelines as
requiring exclusion, the Director will: place a ‘Infectious Disease Notification’
about the occurrence in the front foyer. This notice will endorse confidentiality at
all times, merely stating symptoms and exclusion guidelines.

Parents will be emailed notice of any infectious disease, with the provision of a ‘fact
sheet’ form Staying Healthy.

Children experiencing diarrhoea and/or vomiting are not permitted to return to
the centre until 24 hours after the diarrhoea or vomiting has ceased.
When a serious infection occurs, the advice of the Public Health Unit will be sought
requesting that a letter be provided to each child’s parents. The letter should make the
parents aware of the presence of the infection in the centre and provide advice about
prevention and any action to be taken in the event of illness of their own child.
Immunisation Procedures
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12: Health, Hygiene and Safety Policy
Each family is to provide a copy of their child’s individual immunisation history on
enrolment.
All vaccinations will be checked recommended for the child’s age group. If a child has
not been medically vaccinated, the parents are informed of the exclusion policy relating
to a outbreak of some infectious diseases (such as measles and pertussis), even if their
child is well.
Each child’s records will be reviewed and email reminders provided if a child’s
vaccinations fall behind.
Each room is provided with a 2013 National Immunisation program schedule.
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