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Reasonable and unreasonable student absence reasons

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REAS​ON

DESCRIPTION

EXAMPLES

CONSIDERED REASONABLE  

COUNTED AS AN EXPLAINED ABSENCE

Illness and medical appointments


Please refer to the table below for more information.


The parent, has informed the school that the student is sick.

Where these absences are greater than 2 days or are persistent and regular, the school will require documentary evidence (e.g. medical certificate) to be provided. Documentary evidence will also be required if a senior student is absent for assessment.

If a student is unable to attend school for a period longer than 10 consecutive school days, an exemption is available.

  • All references to ill health or reasons related to the health of the student (including mental health)
  • Absences to attend medical/dental/ health professional appointments during school hours
Yes
Yes

Family reasons

Student is absent due to family circumstances beyond the influence of the student. The parent is aware that their child is absent and an explanation outlining the family situation has been provided to the school. It is important that information other than just stating family is provided in order for the absence to be approved.
  • Moving house
  • Transport issues
  • Family member is ill or in hospital
YesYes

Sorry Business

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students participating in Sorry Business.

Parents are encouraged to ensure their child misses as little school as possible.

  • Cultural activities related to a recent family bereavement
  • Grief for a close family member
YesYes

Holiday

The parent has informed the school that the student/family is taking a holiday. If the absence is more than 10 consecutive days, an exemption is available. Parent is required to provide Information outlining holiday plans for this absence to be approved.

Note that holidays during the school term should be discouraged.

 YesYes

Unexpected


Natural disasters or health reasons 
  • Flooding
  • positive COVID -19 result
Yes
Yes

Other

The principal has determined that the excuse provided by the parent or student (where the student is independent, an adult, or where it would be inappropriate to ask the parent) is reasonable.
  • Religious observances
  • Funerals
  • Legal matters (i.e. attending court)
  • Non-representative sport events / sports events not endorsed by the school
YesYes

Unauthorised

The excuse given for a student absence is deemed as unreasonable by the principal.

Parent authorisation without a reasonable reason is not acceptable.

  • Leisure activities
  • Visiting friends and relatives
  • Celebrating birthdays
  • Truancy/Sleeping in
NoNo

Unexplained

No reason has been given for the student's absence. 
NoNo​


Sickness - Minimum exclusion periods for infectious conditions

This information provides information on the recommended minimum exclusion periods for infectious conditions and will assist medical practitioners, schools, pre-schools and childcare centres to meet the requirements of the Public Health Act 2005.

Some medical conditions require exclusion from school, childcare centres and other settings to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among staff and children.


​COND​​​ITION

​PERSON WITH THE INFECTION

​THOSE IN CONTACT WITH THE INFECTED PERSON

Chickenpox (varicella)

EXCLUDE until all blisters have dried. For non-immunised children,
this is usually 5 days after the rash first appears, and less for immunised
children.
EXCLUSION MAY APPLY
EXCLUDE non-immune pregnant women and any child with immune
deficiency or receiving chemotherapy.
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice.
Varicella can be reactivated in older children and adults as Shingles.
See below.

​Cold sores (herpes simplex)

NOT EXCLUDED if the person can maintain hygiene practices to minimise
the risk of transmission. Young children unable to comply with good
hygiene practices should be excluded while sores are weeping.
Sores should be covered with a dressing where possible.
NOT EXCLUDED

​Conjunctivitis

​EXCLUDE until discharge from eyes has ceased unless a doctor
has diagnosed non-infectious conjunctivitis.​
NOT EXCLUDED​

​Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

NOT EXCLUDED
Pregnant women should consult with their doctor.
NOT EXCLUDED
Pregnant women should consult with their doctor​

Diarrhoea3 and/or Vomiting including:

​• amoebiasis
• campylobacter
• cryptosporidium
• giardia
• rotavirus
• salmonella
• viral gastroenteritis
but excluding:
• norovirus
• shigellosis
• toxin-producing forms of E.coli
(STEC)
See specific information below​

​Exclusion periods may vary depending on the cause.
EXCLUDE a single case until 24 hours after the last loose bowel motion and the person is well.
EXCLUDE all persons who prepare or serve food until they have not had any diarrhoea or vomiting for 48 hours.
If there are more than two cases with diarrhoea and/or vomiting in the same location, or a single case in a food handler, notify your
Public Health Unit.
See information below if norovirus is confirmed or considered likely
as the cause of diarrhoea and vomiting.​
NOT EXCLUDED

​Enterovirus 71

(EV71 neurological disease)

EXCLUDE until written medical clearance is received confirming
the virus is no longer present in the person’s bowel motions.
NOT EXCLUDED

​Fungal infections of the skin and nails (ringworm/ tinea)

​EXCLUDE until the day after antifungal treatment has commenced.
(No exclusion for thrush).
NOT EXCLUDED​

​Glandular fever (mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus)


NOT EXCLUDED
NOT EXCLUDED​

​German measles (rubella) 4


EXCLUDE for 4 days after the onset of rash or until fully recovered,
whichever is longer.
Pregnant women should consult with their doctor.
NOT EXCLUDED
Pregnant women and female staff of childbearing age
should check their immunity with their doctor.
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice.​

​Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

EXCLUDE until the person has completed a course of appropriate
antibiotic treatment.5
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice.
EXCLUSION MAY APPLY
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice.​

Hand, foot and mouth disease (EV71)​​

EXCLUDE until all blisters have dried.
NOT EXCLUDED​

​Head lice

​Exclusion is not necessary if effective treatment is commenced before
next attendance day (i.e. the child does not need to be sent home
immediately if head lice are detected).​
NOT EXCLUDED

​Hepatitis A 4


EXCLUDE until at least 7 days after the onset of jaundice or dark urine,
or for 2 weeks after onset of first symptoms if no jaundice or dark urine
NOT EXCLUDED
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice about vaccination
or treatment for children and staff in the same room or group,
children transferring to another centre and new enrolments.​

​Hepatitis B and C

NOT EXCLUDED Cover open wounds with a waterproof dressing​
NOT EXCLUDED

​Hepatitis E

​EXCLUDE until at least 2 weeks after the onset of jaundice.
NOT EXCLUDED

​Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS)​

NOT EXCLUDED
Cover open wounds with waterproof dressing.
NOT EXCLUDED

​Influenza and influenza-like illness​

EXCLUDE until symptoms have resolved, normally 5–7 days.​
NOT EXCLUDED

​Measles 4

EXCLUDE for 4 days after the onset of the rash.
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice.

EXCLUSION MAY APPLY
Vaccinated or immune contacts NOT EXCLUDED.

EXCLUDE immuno-compromised contacts (including those
receiving chemotherapy) until 14 days after the appearance
of the rash in the last case.

EXCLUDE non- or incompletely vaccinated contacts, without
evidence of immunity.
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice.​

​Meningitis (bacterial)

EXCLUDE until well and has received appropriate antibiotics. 5
NOT EXCLUDED​

​Meningitis (viral)

EXCLUDE until well.
NOT EXCLUDED​

​Meningococcal infection 4

​EXCLUDE until 24 hours of appropriate antibiotics have been completed.
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice. 5
​NOT EXCLUDED
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice about antibiotics
and/or vaccination for close contacts. 5​

​Molluscum contagiosum

NOT EXCLUDED
NOT EXCLUDED​

​Mumps

​EXCLUDE for 5 days after onset of swelling.
Pregnant women should consult with their doctor.
NOT EXCLUDED
Pregnant women should consult with their doctor​

​Norovirus

EXCLUDE until there has been no diarrhoea or vomiting for 48 hours.
NOT EXCLUDED​

​Roseola, sixth disease​

NOT EXCLUDED
NOT EXCLUDED

​Scabies

​EXCLUDE until the day after treatment has commenced.
NOT EXCLUDED​

​School sores (impetigo)

EXCLUDE until 24 hours of appropriate antibiotics have been completed.5
Cover sores on exposed areas with a waterproof dressing until sores are dry,
and encourage handwashing.
NOT EXCLUDED​

​Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC)

EXCLUDE until diarrhoea has stopped and two samples have tested negative.
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice.
EXCLUSION MAY APPLY
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice​

​Slapped cheek syndrome, fifth disease (parvovirus B19, erythema infectiosum)

NOT EXCLUDED
Pregnant women should consult with their doctor
NOT EXCLUDED
Pregnant women should consult with their doctor

​Shigellosis

​EXCLUDE until there has been no diarrhoea or vomiting for 48 hours
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice.
​EXCLUSION MAY APPLY
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice

​Shingles (herpes zoster)

​EXCLUSION MAY APPLY
If blisters can be covered with a waterproof dressing.
until they have dried NOT EXCLUDED.
EXCLUDE if blisters are unable to be covered and until no new blisters
have appeared for 24 hours.
​EXCLUSION MAY APPLY
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice, including advice
for pregnant women and any person who is immuno-compromised
(including receiving chemotherapy).​

​Streptococcal sore throat (including scarlet fever)

​EXCLUDE until 24 hours of appropriate antibiotics have been completed. 5
NOT EXCLUDED​

​​Tuberculosis (TB) 4

​EXCLUDE until written medical clearance is received from the relevant
Tuberculosis Control Unit.
NOT EXCLUDED​

​Typhoid4 and paratyphoid fever

​EXCLUDE until diarrhoea has stopped and two samples have tested negative.
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice.
EXCLUSION MAY APPLY
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice.​

​Whooping cough (pertussis) 4

​EXCLUDE until 5 days after starting appropriate antibiotics or for 21 days
from onset of cough.5
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice.
EXCLUSION MAY APPLY for those in contact with the infected person.
Contact your Public Health Unit for specialist advice regarding
exclusion of non- or incompletely vaccinated contacts.​

​Worms

​EXCLUDE until diarrhoea has stopped for 24 hours and treatment has occurred.​

NOT EXCLUDED

For further information or advice about diseases or conditions not listed here:
• National Health and Medical Research Council publication: Staying Healthy – Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood and education and care services, 5th edition: www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines-publications/ch55
• For fact sheets about various communicable diseases visit the Queensland Department of Health website at: http://disease-control.health.qld.gov.au


Footnotes

  1. Observing the exclusion period meets the intent of the Public Health Act 2005 for a person to be non-infectious.
  2. The definition of ‘contact’ will vary between diseases and is sometimes complex. If unsure, contact your local Public Health Unit.
  3. Diarrhoea definition is: 3 or more loose stools or bowel movements in a 24 hour period that are different from normal and/or escapes a child’s nappy.
  4. Doctors should notify the local Public Health Unit as soon as possible if children or staff are diagnosed with these conditions.
  5. Appropriate antibiotic treatment: this will vary between diseases. If unsure, contact your Public Health Unit.



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Last reviewed 10 September 2024
Last updated 10 September 2024