Childcare exclusion periods in South Australia

Who regulates childcare in SA

The Education Standards Board is the regulator for early childhood education and care services in South Australia under the National Quality Framework.

SA Health's exclusion table

SA Health publishes recommended minimum exclusion periods for childcare, preschool and school, based on evidence and on other guidelines including Staying healthy and the Australian Immunisation Handbook. SA Health says the guidelines also apply to most workplaces, and that longer exclusion may be needed depending on the circumstances.

The table separates cases (people with the disease) from contacts (people exposed to it). Whether exclusion is needed depends on how easily the infection spreads, whether the person can follow hygiene precautions, their immunity and, to a lesser extent, how severe the disease is.

Examples relevant to childcare

• SA Health defines a gastro outbreak as 2 or more cases with vomiting or diarrhoea within 24 hours.
• Diarrhoea with no organism identified: exclude until no diarrhoea or vomiting for at least 24 hours — and during outbreaks in childcare, exclude staff and children for 48 hours. Food handlers are excluded for 48 hours.
• Chickenpox: exclude until all blisters have dried (usually 5 days).
• Conjunctivitis: exclude until discharge from the eyes has stopped, unless a doctor has diagnosed non-infectious conjunctivitis.
• Whooping cough: for contacts in childcare, seek advice from SA Health's Communicable Disease Control Branch.

Always use the current table on SA Health's website.

Who to call

For several conditions — including diphtheria, measles contacts and whooping cough contacts — the table refers services to SA Health's Communicable Disease Control Branch, on 1300 232 272. Follow its advice on who stays home and for how long.

Your part

Know your service's exclusion policy, keep illness records accurate, and report possible outbreaks to your director straight away so they can seek advice. Stay home yourself for the same periods when you're unwell.