childcare exclusion periods
catherine is an early childhood policy researcher and mother of two from Melbourne. she writes about the intersection of government policy and everyday family life.
when your child gets sick, one of the first questions is: how long do they need to stay home from childcare? Australian health guidelines set minimum exclusion periods for infectious conditions to protect other children and staff.
below is every common childhood illness with its exclusion period, symptoms, return criteria, and treatment notes. tap any illness for the full guide.
quick reference
| illness | exclusion period |
|---|---|
| gastroenteritis (gastro) | exclude until 48 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea |
| hand, foot and mouth disease | exclude until all blisters have dried |
| chickenpox (varicella) | exclude until all blisters have crusted over — usually at least 5 days after the rash first appears |
| conjunctivitis (pink eye) | exclude until the discharge from the eyes has stopped, unless a doctor has diagnosed non-infectious conjunctivitis |
| head lice (nits) | exclude until treatment has commenced — the child can return the same day after the first treatment |
| impetigo (school sores) | exclude until appropriate antibiotic treatment has started. sores on exposed skin must be covered with a watertight dressing. |
| measles | exclude for at least 4 days from the onset of the rash |
| whooping cough (pertussis) | exclude for 21 days after the onset of cough, OR until 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment has been completed |
| ringworm | exclude until the day after antifungal treatment has commenced |
| influenza (flu) | exclude until the child is well enough to attend — there is no set minimum exclusion period |
| COVID-19 | no mandatory exclusion period — follow the same approach as other respiratory illnesses. stay home while acutely unwell. |
| scarlet fever / strep throat | exclude until the child has received at least 24 hours of appropriate antibiotic treatment and is feeling well |
| threadworm (pinworm) | no exclusion required — the child can attend childcare |
| slapped cheek disease (fifth disease / parvovirus B19) | no exclusion required once the rash appears — the child is no longer infectious by that point |
| scabies | exclude until the day after appropriate treatment has commenced |
| mumps | exclude for 5 days after the onset of swelling |
| rubella (German measles) | exclude until at least 4 days after the onset of the rash |
| hepatitis A | exclude until a medical certificate is provided, or for at least 7 days after the onset of jaundice |
| molluscum contagiosum | no exclusion required |
| croup | no specific exclusion period — exclude while the child is unwell and unable to participate in normal activities |
| RSV / bronchiolitis | no specific exclusion period — exclude while the child is acutely unwell |
common in childcare
less common but important
important notes
exclusion periods in this guide are based on the national Staying Healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services guidelines published by the NHMRC. individual states may have slightly different interpretations — always check with your childcare centre.
your childcare centre may have its own illness policy that is stricter than the minimum guidelines. for example, some centres require 48 hours symptom-free before return for any illness, even where the guidelines say otherwise.
related guides
this guide is for informational purposes only. exclusion periods are based on the NHMRC's Staying Healthy guidelines and were accurate at the time of writing. always consult your child's GP or childcare centre for specific advice. mini mode is not a medical service.