​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Schools and child care facilities​ are required by the Public Health Act (PHA) 2010​​​ to notify their Public Health Unit (PHU)​ as soon as possible if a child enrolled at the school or facility:

• ​has a vaccine-preventable disease, or
  
• is reasonably suspected of having been in contact with someone with a vaccine-preventable disease and does not have documented evidence of immunisation or acquired immunity against that disease.​
  

Timely notification of infectious diseases helps NSW Health prevent outbreaks, respond to emerging health threats, and protect the community.​

Notifications are legally required and are kept strictly confidential in line with privacy legislation.

​​What needs to be reported

• Diphtheria
• Gastro (“gastroenteritis”)—​2 or more cases​
  
• Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib)
• Measles
• Meningococcal disease
• Mumps
  
• Pertussis ("whooping cough")
• Poliomyelitis (polio)
  
• Rubella ("German measles")
• Tetanus
  

How to notify

Schools and child care centres should:

1. Complete the vaccine preventable disease notification form, providing all required information.
2. Contact the local PHU by phone at 130​0 066 055.

The PHU will advise the best method to send the form. 

Good to know

Principals and centre directors are also encouraged to contact their local PHU for guidance if they suspect an outbreak of any infectious disease—such as​ COVID-19, flu, or RSV—at their school or centre.​