DEPARTMENTof EDUCATION
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When students must not attend school

Your school may prevent your child from attending school because of:

Contagious diseases and head lice

If your child has an infestation such as head lice, or is suffering from an infectious or contagious disease which may be harmful to others, they will not be allowed to attend school until it has cleared up.

For information on the types of illness and the period of non-attendance required, contact your school. You should tell the school if your child has one of the listed diseases so that the absence can be properly recorded and the health of other children monitored.

Outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases

If there is an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease such as Measles in the community and your child has not been vaccinated against it, they will not be allowed to attend school until the outbreak is over. This is to help prevent the disease from spreading.

Immunisation provides effective protection against disease. It is in the best interests of your child and that of other children to follow an immunisation schedule. For more information on immunisation you can read Immunisation requirements or contact:

  • your school or child care facility,
  • the local council,
  • your family doctor,
  • your Family, Child and Youth Health Nurse,
  • the DHHS Immunisation hotline (1800 671 738)

Disciplinary measures

A child may be excluded from school as a disciplinary measure.

If your child has behaved in an unacceptable way they may be suspended, excluded or expelled.

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