Enrolment / Admission
Becoming part of our Centre community begins on your first visit. During that initial visit you will be invited to take a tour of our classrooms and meet our educators.
You will be provided with an enrolment pack for each child. We are required to collect detailed information on each child - including information on who can collect your child, their immunisation status, and information on their family/ cultural background. All of this allows us to provide the best care and education for your child.
Please take the time to complete all the information requested in these forms and return them to our Centre before your child commences care.
We generally recommend that children attend a minimum of two days per week. Attending multiple days allows your child to build friendships with their peers and educators - and provides greater opportunities for them to benefit fully from the educational programs we provide.
Where children are placed from a waiting list, they will be allocated a position based on the Commonwealth Government's Priority of Access Guidelines. Our Centre Director is able to provide more information on the waiting list and allocation process.
Please Note: On commencement you will be required to pay an Enrolment Fee and the first installment of childcare fees.
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Immunisation
You may be aware that from 1 January 2016 a new Queensland law relating to immunisation comes into effect. Under this new law, approved early childhood education and care services can cancel, refuse or place a condition on enrolment or attendance of children whose immunisations are not up to date.
We are committed to the health and well-being of children in our care, their families, and educators. This is why we will be supporting Queensland's new immunisation law.
You may also be aware the Australian Government's No jab No Pay law will also come into effect from 1 January 2016. Under this new law, if your child is not fully immunised it will affect your family assistance payments. The Australian Government law is separate from the Queensland law. Under the Queensland law, approved early childhood education and care services can, at their discretion, allow children whose immunisation status is not up to date to attend. Whilst this is acceptable under the Queensland law, you should be aware that, under the Australian Government law, family assistance payments will be affected. It is recommended parents seek further information on how the Australian Government's No Jab No Pay law will affect their own circumstances at
http://www.humanservices.gov.au (search for immunising your children).
To process your child's enrolment application, we require an immunisation history statement showing your child's immunisation status is up to date. The statement can be obtained from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) at any time free of charge:
- through Medicare Online Services at https://www.humanservices.gov.au/ (view, download and print statement instantaneously)
- through Medicare Express Plus App on a smart phone (download app for free from Google play or iTunes stores) (view and email statement instantaneously, you will need a Gmail account)
- by emailing supplying the child's full name, date of birth and Medicare number (may take up to 7 business days)
- by calling ACIR on 1800 653 809 (may take up to 7 business days)
- in person at a local Medicare Service Centre – to find your nearest centre visit http://humanservices.findnearest.com.au (receive hard copy instantaneously)
Throughout your child's attendance at Aussie Kids Mermaid Waters, we will require updated immunisation history statements after your child passes each vaccination milestone as outlined in the National Immunisation Program Schedule Queensland. The schedule is available at
www.health.qld.gov.au/publications/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/immunisation-schedule.pdf
If your child's immunisation status is not up to date, or if we do not receive an immunisation history statement from you we may:
- cancel your child's enrolment, or
- refuse your child's attendance until proof of an up to date immunisation status is provided, or
- impose another condition on your child's enrolment or attendance until proof of an up to date immunisation status is provided.
It is important to keep your child's immunisation status up to date at all times. By doing this, you provide your child with the best protection against serious and life threatening vaccine preventable diseases, and you don't have to worry about missing out on family assistance payments or limiting enrolment or attendance under Queensland's immunisation law.
Queensland Health has developed a smart phone app specifically for parents to keep a record of their child's immunisation history. The VacciDate app also reminds you when vaccinations and appointments are due.
VacciDate is free and available to download add from Google Play and iTunes stores.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Centre Director
Aussie Kids at Mermaid Waters
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Orientation
Every child is unique - which means that every child's experience starting at our Centre will be different. There is no right way to start care - we just have to learn what works for your child and your family.
We generally recommend that you visit our Centre with your child before they commence care. This way they will come to understand that our Centre is a safe and fun place, and will have an opportunity to explore their new environment . Certain times of the day offer greater opportunities for your child to engage with their educators and other children in the group - our Centre Director will be able to suggest the best times for your visits. Please Note: you will be required to sign in and out of the Visitor's Bok for each of these visits.
Some tips to help during the orientation period:
- Try to schedule at least one visit with your child before they commence.
- Consider starting with a shorter day - gradually building to a full day.
- Speak positively about our Centre and commencing care - your child will mirror your confidence.
- Large Block / construction area
- Please always say good-bye to your child and let them know you will come back to collect them. For older children you may like to give them a time you that you will be back. Let an educator know that you are planning to leave so that they can support your child.
- Remember that every child adjusts to being in care in their own way. Consider bringing a favourite toy or comforter as this may help your child to make the transition from home to our Centre.
- Be assured that all children do settle - and often before you are even in the car. We welcome families contacting us at any time during the day to see how your child is doing. Where possible we will arrange for you to speak with the educators who are caring for your child.