As alerted on 11 August 2017, the NSW Parliament today (14 September 2017) has passed a new law that will ban unvaccinated children from NSW childcare services from 1 January 2018 onwards.

This NSW legislation removes the "conscientious objector" option, rendering childcare approved providers to be personally liable for fine of up to $5,500 per offence if they break the new rules, for example having unvaccinated children enrolled on or after 1 January 2018, or forging or falsifying any vaccination certificates.

Hence, from 1 January 2018, parents must now provide childcare services with a copy of one or more of the following documents as part of their enrolment process:

• a Medicare Immunisation History Statement​ which shows that the child is up to date with their scheduled vaccinations; or
• a Medicare Immunisation History Form ​on which the immunisation provider has certified that the child is on a recognised catch-up schedule (temporary for 6 months only); or
• a Medicare Immunisation Medical Exemption Form ​which has been certified by a GP.

That said, there also exist permanent and temporary exemptions of children from complying with the new law, and childcare services are encouraged to be familiar with these and all related details on the new law via the ACA NSW webpage or NSW Health webpage.

It is also worth noting that the Australian Federal Government is also ramping up its "no jab, no pay" policy, with legislation anticipated to be introduced to parliament to dock welfare payments by $28 a fortnight for parents whose children do not meet immunisation rules.