{"id":"public-health-regulations-2017","name":"Public Health Regulations 2017","slug":"public-health-regulations-2017","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181728,"registerId":"wa-public-health-regulations-2017-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Public Health Regulations 2017","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nPublic Health Act 2016\n\nPublic Health Regulations 2017\n\nWestern Australia\n\nPublic Health Regulations 2017\n\nContents\n\nPart 1 — Preliminary\n\n1. Citation 1\n\n2. Commencement 1\n\nPart 1A — Services excluded from meaning of child care service\n\n2A. Services excluded from meaning of child care service 2\n\nPart 2 — Notifiable infectious diseases and related conditions\n\n3. Notifiable infectious diseases 3\n\n4. Notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions 10\n\n4A. Urgently notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions 11\n\n5. Notification of notifiable infectious diseases and notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions: information not required 11\n\n6. Notification of notifiable infectious diseases and notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions: information prescribed 11\n\n7. Authorised officers may request further information 13\n\n8. Protection from liability 14\n\n9. Disclosure and use of information 15\n\n10. Recognition of interstate public health orders 15\n\nPart 2A — Immunisation status of children\n\n10A. Terms used 16\n\n10AA. Period prescribed for definition of *current* 17\n\n10AB. Exempt children 17\n\n10AC. Circumstances in which Chief Health Officer may issue a certificate 20\n\n10AD. Immunisation catch‑up schedule 22\n\n10C. Relevant person or person in charge to give report on immunisation status 22\n\n10D. Person in charge to give report on contracted disease 23\n\n10E. Person in charge to prevent attendance of non‑immunised child 23\n\n10F. Closure of whole or part of school, community kindergarten or child care service 25\n\n10G. Chief Health Officer may request further information 25\n\nPart 3 — Public health emergencies\n\n11. Relevant information 27\n\n12. Disclosure of relevant information 27\n\n13. Keeping disclosed relevant information secure 27\n\n13A. Fee prescribed for cost of hotel quarantine (Act s. 202H(1)) 28\n\n13B. Payment by instalments (Act s. 202L) 28\n\nPart 3A — Abortion\n\n13C. Prescribing practitioner 29\n\nPart 4 — Inquiries\n\n14. Allowances and expenses of a person required to attend 30\n\nPart 5 — Miscellaneous\n\n15. Disclosure and use of information provided under Part 9 or 10 of the Act 31\n\n16. Regulations repealed 31\n\nPart 6 — Transitional provisions\n\n17. Inquiries or investigations under the *Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911* section 13 32\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 33\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nPublic Health Act 2016\n\nPublic Health Regulations 2017\n\n## Part 1 — Preliminary\n\n##### 1. Citation\n\n\t\tThese regulations are the *Public Health Regulations 2017*.\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThese regulations come into operation as follows —\n\n(a) Part 1 — on the day on which these regulations are published in the *Gazette*;\n\n(b) the rest of the regulations — on the day on which Part 9 of the Act comes into operation.\n\n## Part 1A — Services excluded from meaning of child care service\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2847.]\n\n##### 2A. Services excluded from meaning of child care service\n\nFor the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of ***child care service*** in section 4(1) of the Act, the following child care services are prescribed —\n\n(a) a service described in the *Education and Care Services National Regulations 2012* regulation 5(2)(c) or (h);\n\n(b) an outside school hours care service, a school holiday care service or any part of a service that is an outside school hours care service or a school holiday care service.\n\n[Regulation 2A inserted: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2847.]\n\n## Part 2 — Notifiable infectious diseases and related conditions\n\n##### 3. Notifiable infectious diseases\n\nThe diseases listed in the Table are declared to be notifiable infectious diseases and —\n\n(a) the diseases indicated in column 2 of the Table are declared to be urgently notifiable infectious diseases; and\n\n(b) the diseases indicated in column 3 of the Table are declared to be vaccine preventable notifiable infectious diseases.\n\nTable\n\n| **Notifiable infectious diseases** | **Urgently notifiable infectious diseases** | **Vaccine preventable notifiable infectious diseases** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Amoebic meningoencephalitis (due to free‑living amoebae, including *Naegleria*, *Balamuthia* and *Acanthamoeba* species) | 🗸 |  |\n| Anthrax | 🗸 |  |\n| Avian influenza in humans | 🗸 |  |\n| Barmah Forest virus infection |  |  |\n| Botulism | 🗸 |  |\n| Brucellosis |  |  |\n| *Campylobacter* infection |  |  |\n| *Candida auris* infection or colonisation |  |  |\n| Carbapenemase‑producing *Acinetobacter baumannii* (CPAB) infection or colonisation |  |  |\n| Carbapenemase‑producing *Enterobacterales* (CPE) infection or colonisation |  |  |\n| Carbapenemase‑producing *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* (CPPA) infection or colonisation |  |  |\n| Chancroid |  |  |\n| Chikungunya virus infection |  |  |\n| *Chlamydia trachomatis* infection (sexually acquired) |  |  |\n| Cholera | 🗸 |  |\n| Creutzfeldt‑Jakob disease (classical or variant) |  |  |\n| Cryptosporidiosis |  |  |\n| Dengue virus infection |  |  |\n| Diphtheria | 🗸 | 🗸 |\n| Donovanosis |  |  |\n| Flavivirus infection (not otherwise listed in this Table) |  |  |\n| Gastroenteritis, due to a food or water‑borne infectious disease, acquired in common with 1 or more other persons | 🗸 |  |\n| Gonococcal infection |  |  |\n| *Haemophilus influenzae* type b (Hib) infection (invasive) | 🗸 | 🗸 |\n| Hendra virus infection | 🗸 |  |\n| Hepatitis A | 🗸 | 🗸 |\n| Hepatitis B |  | 🗸 |\n| Hepatitis C |  |  |\n| Hepatitis D |  |  |\n| Hepatitis E |  |  |\n| Human coronavirus infection with pandemic potential | 🗸 |  |\n| Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection |  |  |\n| Influenza |  |  |\n| Invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS) |  |  |\n| Japanese encephalitis virus infection | 🗸 |  |\n| Legionellosis | 🗸 |  |\n| Leprosy |  |  |\n| Leptospirosis |  |  |\n| Listeriosis | 🗸 |  |\n| Lymphogranuloma venereum |  |  |\n| Lyssavirus infection (includes rabies, Australian bat lyssavirus and other lyssavirus infections) | 🗸 |  |\n| Malaria |  |  |\n| Measles | 🗸 | 🗸 |\n| Melioidosis |  |  |\n| Meningococcal infection (invasive) | 🗸 | 🗸 |\n| Methicillin resistant *Staphylococcus aureus* (MRSA) infection or colonisation |  |  |\n| Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) | 🗸 |  |\n| Monkeypox virus infection | 🗸 |  |\n| Mumps |  | 🗸 |\n| Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection | 🗸 |  |\n| Paratyphoid fever | 🗸 |  |\n| Pertussis |  | 🗸 |\n| Plague | 🗸 |  |\n| Pneumococcal infection (invasive) |  | 🗸 |\n| Poliovirus infection | 🗸 | 🗸 |\n| Psittacosis (Ornithosis) |  |  |\n| Q fever |  |  |\n| Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection |  |  |\n| Rickettsial infection (including spotted fevers and all forms of typhus fever) |  |  |\n| Ross River virus infection |  |  |\n| Rotavirus infection |  |  |\n| Rubella and congenital rubella syndrome | 🗸 | 🗸 |\n| *Salmonella* infection |  |  |\n| Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) | 🗸 |  |\n| Shiga toxin producing *E. coli* (STEC) infection |  |  |\n| Shigellosis |  |  |\n| Smallpox | 🗸 |  |\n| Syphilis – all stages and congenital |  |  |\n| Tetanus | 🗸 | 🗸 |\n| Tuberculosis |  |  |\n| Tularaemia | 🗸 |  |\n| Typhoid fever | 🗸 |  |\n| Vancomycin‑resistant enterococci (VRE) infection or colonisation |  |  |\n| Varicella‑zoster virus infection (including chickenpox and shingles) |  | 🗸 |\n| *Vibrio parahaemolyticus* infection |  |  |\n| Viral haemorrhagic fevers (including Crimean‑Congo haemorrhagic fever, Ebola virus disease, Lassa fever and Marburg disease) | 🗸 |  |\n| West Nile virus/Kunjin virus infection | 🗸 |  |\n| Yellow fever | 🗸 |  |\n| *Yersinia* infection |  |  |\n| Zika virus infection |  |  |\n\n\n[Regulation 3 amended: SL 2021/122 r. 4; SL 2023/38 r. 4; SL 2023/136 r. 4; SL 2023/151 r. 4.; SL 2025/45 r. 4]\n\n##### 4. Notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions\n\nThe following medical conditions are declared to be notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions —\n\n(a) acute post‑streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN);\n\n(b) adverse event following immunisation;\n\n(c) haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS).\n\n##### 4A. Urgently notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions\n\nThe following notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions are declared to be urgently notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions —\n\n(a) acute post‑streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN);\n\n(b) haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS).\n\n[Regulation 4A inserted: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2847.]\n\n##### 5. Notification of notifiable infectious diseases and notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions: information not required\n\nFor the purposes of section 94(5)(b) of the Act —\n\n(a) a notification of a notifiable infectious disease or notifiable infectious disease‑related condition need not include the email address of the patient or the patient’s medical practitioner or nurse practitioner; and\n\n(b) a notification of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) need not include the telephone number of the patient or the email address of the patient or the patient’s medical practitioner or nurse practitioner.\n\n##### 6. Notification of notifiable infectious diseases and notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions: information prescribed\n\n(1) This regulation has effect for the purposes of section 94(5)(c) of the Act.\n\n(2) The following information, in relation to the patient or deceased person, is prescribed in respect of all notifiable infectious diseases and notifiable infectious disease‑related conditions, other than adverse events following immunisation and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection —\n\n(a) country of birth;\n\n(b) language spoken at home;\n\n(c) Indigenous status;\n\n(d) name of occupation (where relevant);\n\n(e) name of school, community kindergarten, child care service or educational institution attended (where relevant);\n\n(f) date of onset of the disease or condition;\n\n(g) date of death (where relevant);\n\n(h) likely place (that is, country or Australian jurisdiction) of acquisition of the disease or condition;\n\n(i) details of the basis for diagnosis of the disease or condition;\n\n(j) details of symptoms and signs relating to, and treatment of, the disease or condition;\n\n(k) whether the patient or deceased person attended a hospital in relation to the disease or condition.\n\n(3) The following information, in relation to the patient or deceased person, is prescribed in respect of adverse events following immunisation —\n\n(a) Indigenous status;\n\n(b) details of underlying medical conditions (if any);\n\n(c) details of previous reactions (if any) to vaccines;\n\n(d) details of the vaccine or vaccines administered;\n\n(e) time elapsed between vaccination and onset of symptoms;\n\n(f) duration of symptoms;\n\n(g) details of the adverse event;\n\n(h) details of the management of the adverse event;\n\n(i) details of the provider of the vaccine and the clinical setting in which it was provided;\n\n(j) details of the person reporting the adverse event.\n\n(4) The information required by the HIV infection notification form is prescribed in respect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.\n\n(5) In subregulation (4) —\n\nHIV infection notification form means the approved form of that name accessible on the website maintained by or on behalf of the Department.\n\n[Regulation 6 amended: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2847; SL 2021/47 r. 4.]\n\n##### 7. Authorised officers may request further information\n\n(1) This regulation applies if a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or responsible pathologist notifies the Chief Health Officer under section 94 of the Act of a notifiable infectious disease or notifiable infectious disease‑related condition in relation to a patient or deceased person.\n\n(2) An authorised officer may request the practitioner or pathologist to give further information necessary to assist in preventing, controlling or abating a public health risk that might foreseeably arise from the disease or condition.\n\n(3) Information requested under subregulation (2) may, without limitation, include or relate to —\n\n(a) the clinical details, and treatment and medical history, of the patient or deceased person;\n\n(b) the progress or outcome of the disease or condition;\n\n(c) the relevant vaccination status of the patient or deceased person;\n\n(d) information necessary to identify a source of the disease, including details of interstate and overseas travel;\n\n(e) the patient’s behavioural and other risk factors;\n\n(f) the hospitalisation of the patient or deceased person;\n\n(g) laboratory testing, including testing for organism antimicrobial sensitivity and characterisation by typing and subtyping methods;\n\n(h) information covered by section 94(5) of the Act, if the practitioner or pathologist has not given the information.\n\n##### 8. Protection from liability\n\n(1) This regulation applies if a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or responsible pathologist, in notifying the Chief Health Officer under section 94 of the Act, gives additional information relating to the disease or condition and patient or deceased person (that is, information other than information given in compliance with section 94(5)).\n\n(2) This regulation applies if a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or responsible pathologist, who has notified the Chief Health Officer under section 94 of the Act, gives further information relating to the disease or condition and patient or deceased person, whether or not in response to a request under regulation 7.\n\n(3) If the practitioner or pathologist gives the information in good faith —\n\n(a) no civil or criminal liability is incurred as a result of giving the information; and\n\n(b) giving the information is not to be regarded as —\n\n(i) a breach of any duty of confidentiality or secrecy imposed by law; or\n\n(ii) a breach of professional ethics, professional standards or any principles of conduct applicable to the person’s employment; or\n\n(iii) unprofessional conduct.\n\n##### 9. Disclosure and use of information\n\n(1) Information covered by regulation 8 may be disclosed or used in accordance with the provisions of section 298 of the Act as if that section applied to the information.\n\n(2) If information referred to in subregulation (1) is disclosed or used, in good faith, in accordance with subregulation (1) —\n\n(a) no civil or criminal liability is incurred in respect of the disclosure or use; and\n\n(b) the disclosure or use is not to be regarded as —\n\n(i) a breach of any duty of confidentiality or secrecy imposed by law; or\n\n(ii) a breach of professional ethics, professional standards or any principles of conduct applicable to the person’s employment; or\n\n(iii) unprofessional conduct.\n\n##### 10. Recognition of interstate public health orders\n\nFor the purposes of the definition of ***corresponding law*** in section 129(1) of the Act, the following laws are prescribed —\n\n(a) the *Public Health Act 1997* (Australian Capital Territory);\n\n(b) the *Public Health Act 2010* (New South Wales);\n\n(c) the *Notifiable Diseases Act* (Northern Territory);\n\n(d) the *Public Health Act 2005* (Queensland);\n\n(e) the *South Australian Public Health Act 2011* (South Australia);\n\n(f) the *Public Health Act 1997* (Tasmania);\n\n(g) the *Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008* (Victoria).\n\n## Part 2A — Immunisation status of children\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 7 Dec 2018 p. 4663‑4; amended: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2847.]\n\n##### 10A. Terms used\n\n(1) In this Part —\n\nAustralian Immunisation Handbook means the Australian Immunisation Handbook approved as guidelines under the *National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992* (Commonwealth) section 14A;\n\ngovernment school has the meaning given in the *School Education Act 1999* section 4;\n\nNational Health and Medical Research Council means the National Health and Medical Research Council established by the *National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992* (Commonwealth) section 5B;\n\nrecognised immunisation provider means a recognised vaccination provider as defined in the *Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015* (Commonwealth) section 4;\n\nrelevant person, in relation to a school, means each of the following —\n\n(a) the person in charge of the school;\n\n(b) if the school is a government school, the chief executive officer as defined in the *School Education Act 1999* section 229.\n\n(2) Terms used in this Part that are defined in section 141A of the Act have the same meaning in this Part as they have in that section.\n\n[Regulation 10A inserted: Gazette 7 Dec 2018 p. 4663‑4; amended: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2848.]\n\n##### 10AA. Period prescribed for definition of *current*\n\nFor the purposes of the definition of ***current*** in section 141A of the Act, the prescribed period is 2 months.\n\n[Regulation 10AA inserted: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2848.]\n\n##### 10AB. Exempt children\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\nVeterans’ Affairs Department means the Department of State of the Commonwealth assisting in the administration of the *Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986* (Commonwealth).\n\n(2) For the purposes of the definition of ***exempt child*** in section 141A of the Act, the classes of children specified in column 1 of the Table to subregulation (3) are prescribed.\n\n(3) A child belongs to a class of children specified in column 1 of the Table if, at the time of the enrolment of the child, the child meets the description specified opposite the class in column 2 of the Table.\n\nTable\n\n| **Column 1**<br>**Name of class** | **Column 2**<br>**Description of child in class** |\n| --- | --- |\n| Aboriginal children | An Aboriginal child as defined in the *Children and Community Services Act 2004* section 3. |\n| Torres Strait Islander children | A Torres Strait Islander child as defined in the *Children and Community Services Act 2004* section 3. |\n| Children in need of protection | A child who is in need of protection as defined in the *Children and Community Services Act 2004* section 28(2). |\n| Children living in crisis accommodation | A child who is living in crisis or emergency accommodation because of —<br> (a) family violence or a risk of family violence; or<br> (b) homelessness. |\n| Evacuated children | A child who has been evacuated from their ordinary place of residence because it is in an area of the State to which a declaration made under the *Emergency Management Act 2005* section 56 applies. |\n| Children in care of adult other than parent or guardian | A child who is in the care of an adult, other than their parent or guardian, because of exceptional circumstances (for example, illness or incapacity of their parent or guardian). |\n| Children in care of holders of certain cards under Commonwealth law | A child who is in the care of a responsible person who holds any of the following —<br> (a) an automatic issue health care card issued under the *Social Security Act 1991* (Commonwealth) section 1061ZS;<br> (b) a pensioner concession card issued under the *Social Security Act 1991* (Commonwealth) section 1061ZF;<br> (c) a Gold Card issued by the Veterans’ Affairs Department in relation to the person’s entitlement for treatment under the *Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986* (Commonwealth); |\n|  | (d) a White Card issued by the Veterans’ Affairs Department in relation to the person’s entitlement for treatment under the *Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986* (Commonwealth). |\n| Humanitarian visa children | A child who first entered Australia not more than 6 months before the time of enrolment and who holds, or whose parent holds, a visa (as defined in the *Migration Act 1958* (Commonwealth) section 5(1)) of one of the following subclasses —<br> (a) 200 (Refugee);<br> (b) 201 (In‑country Special Humanitarian);<br> (c) 202 (Global Special Humanitarian);<br> (d) 203 (Emergency Rescue); |\n|  | (e) 204 (Woman at Risk);<br> (f) 785 (Temporary Protection);<br> (g) 790 (Safe Haven Enterprise);<br> (h) 866 (Protection). |\n\n\n[Regulation 10AB inserted: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2848-51.]\n\n##### 10AC. Circumstances in which Chief Health Officer may issue a certificate\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\nscheduled vaccinations, in relation to a child, means the vaccinations that would, if given to the child, result in the child’s immunisation status being up-to-date.\n\n(2) For the purposes of section 141C(1)(a)(i) of the Act, the circumstances in the Table are prescribed.\n\nTable\n\n| **Circumstance** | **Description of circumstance** |\n| --- | --- |\n| Temporary unavailability of vaccine | A scheduled vaccination that a child has not received at a particular age is temporarily unavailable (or all of the vaccines for that vaccination are temporarily unavailable), due to a shortage advised to the Department in writing by the person who occupies, or is acting in, the position of Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer. |\n| Child vaccinated overseas | A child has not received one or more scheduled vaccinations in Australia, but the child has received one or more vaccinations while outside Australia that have provided the child with the same level of immunisation that the child would have acquired if the child had been vaccinated with those scheduled vaccinations, as certified in writing by a recognised immunisation provider. |\n| Child part of approved vaccine study | A child is part of a vaccine study approved by a Human Research Ethics Committee registered with the National Health and Medical Research Council, as certified in writing by the researchers conducting the study. |\n\n\n[Regulation 10AC inserted: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2851-2.]\n\n##### 10AD. Immunisation catch‑up schedule\n\nFor the purposes of section 141D(2)(d) of the Act, a catch‑up schedule is prescribed if it is planned by a recognised immunisation provider in accordance with the Australian Immunisation Handbook.\n\n[Regulation 10AD inserted: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2852.]\n\n[**10B.** Deleted: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2852.]\n\n##### 10C. Relevant person or person in charge to give report on immunisation status\n\n(1) The Chief Health Officer may direct the relevant person in relation to a school or the person in charge of a community kindergarten or child care service to give to the Chief Health Officer a report, in an approved form, in respect of information given to the person about the immunisation status of —\n\n(a) a child enrolled at the school, community kindergarten or child care service; or\n\n(b) children enrolled at the school, community kindergarten or child care service.\n\n(2) A person given a direction under subregulation (1) must comply with the direction.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $1 000.\n\n[Regulation 10C inserted: Gazette 7 Dec 2018 p. 4664; amended: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2852.]\n\n##### 10D. Person in charge to give report on contracted disease\n\n(1) The Chief Health Officer may direct the person in charge of a school, community kindergarten or child care service to give to the Chief Health Officer a report, in an approved form, in respect of a child enrolled at the school, community kindergarten or child care service who has, or who is reasonably believed to have, contracted a vaccine preventable notifiable infectious disease.\n\n(2) The report must specify the vaccine preventable notifiable infectious disease that the child has, or is reasonably believed to have, contracted.\n\n(3) A person given a direction under subregulation (1) must comply with the direction.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $1 000.\n\n[Regulation 10D inserted: Gazette 7 Dec 2018 p. 4664; amended: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2853.]\n\n##### 10E. Person in charge to prevent attendance of non‑immunised child\n\n(1) The Chief Health Officer may direct the person in charge of a school, community kindergarten or child care service not to permit a child to attend, or participate in an educational programme of, the school, community kindergarten or child care service if the child has not been immunised against a vaccine preventable notifiable infectious disease.\n\n(2) The direction must —\n\n(a) be in writing; and\n\n(b) specify the vaccine preventable notifiable infectious disease that the child has not been immunised against; and\n\n(c) specify the period of time during which the child is not permitted to attend, or participate in an educational programme of, the school, community kindergarten or child care service.\n\n(3) A person given a direction under subregulation (1) must comply with the direction.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $1 000.\n\n(4) If the Chief Health Officer directs that a child is not permitted to attend, or participate in an educational programme of, a school, community kindergarten or child care service under subregulation (1), the person in charge of the school, community kindergarten or child care service or an authorised officer must give written notice to the responsible person for the child that the child is not permitted to attend, or participate in an educational programme of, the school, community kindergarten or child care service.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $1 000.\n\n(5) The notice must specify —\n\n(a) the vaccine preventable notifiable infectious disease that the child has not been immunised against; and\n\n(b) the period of time during which the child is not permitted to attend, or participate in an educational programme of, the school, community kindergarten or child care service.\n\n[Regulation 10E inserted: Gazette 7 Dec 2018 p. 4665; amended: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2853-4.]\n\n##### 10F. Closure of whole or part of school, community kindergarten or child care service\n\n(1) The Chief Health Officer may direct the person in charge of a school, community kindergarten or child care service to close the whole, or a part, of the school, community kindergarten or child care service if the Chief Health Officer considers it reasonably necessary to limit or prevent the spread of a vaccine preventable notifiable infectious disease.\n\n(2) The direction must —\n\n(a) be in writing; and\n\n(b) specify the period of time during which the whole or part of the school, community kindergarten or child care service is to remain closed.\n\n(3) A person given a direction under subregulation (1) must comply with the direction.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $1 000.\n\n[Regulation 10F inserted: Gazette 7 Dec 2018 p. 4665‑6; amended: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2854.]\n\n##### 10G. Chief Health Officer may request further information\n\n(1) This regulation applies if the Chief Health Officer directs a person to give a report to the Chief Health Officer under regulation 10C(1).\n\n(2) The Chief Health Officer may, when giving the direction or at a later time, request the person to give to the Chief Health Officer further information necessary to assist in preventing, controlling or abating a public health risk that might foreseeably arise from a child or children in respect of whom the report is given not being immunised against a vaccine preventable notifiable infectious disease.\n\n(3) Information requested under subregulation (2) may, without limitation, include —\n\n(a) the name or names, and other identifying information, of a child who has not, or children who have not, been immunised against a vaccine preventable notifiable infectious disease; and\n\n(b) the name and contact details of the responsible person for the child or children.\n\n(4) A person who receives a request under subregulation (2) must comply with the request.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $1 000.\n\n[Regulation 10G inserted: Gazette 7 Dec 2018 p. 4666; amended: Gazette 19 Jul 2019 p. 2854.]\n\n## Part 3 — Public health emergencies\n\n##### 11. Relevant information\n\nFor the purpose of the definition of ***relevant information*** in section 188(1) of the Act, each of the following kinds of information is prescribed —\n\n(a) information about the loss suffered by a person, the assistance requested by a person and the assistance provided to or approved for a person;\n\n(b) information about the owner or occupier of real property;\n\n(c) information relating to a person’s finances or insurance.\n\n##### 12. Disclosure of relevant information\n\n(1) For emergency management purposes an emergency officer may disclose relevant information to a person or body engaged by a public authority to provide welfare services.\n\n(2) A public authority, person or body to which or whom relevant information is disclosed under section 188(2) of the Act must not further disclose that information unless it is reasonably necessary to do so for an emergency management purpose.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $1 000.\n\n##### 13. Keeping disclosed relevant information secure\n\nA public authority, person or body to which or whom relevant information is disclosed under section 188(2) of the Act must ensure that that information is kept in a secure manner so far as it is reasonably practicable to do so.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $1 000.\n\n##### 13A. Fee prescribed for cost of hotel quarantine (Act s. 202H(1))\n\nFor the purposes of section 202H(1) of the Act, the prescribed fee is —\n\n(a) for a person not in shared accommodation — $180 per day (including meals);\n\n(b) for persons in shared accommodation —\n\n(i) for the first person — $180 per day (including meals);\n\n(ii) for each additional person over the age of 6 years — $60 per day (including meals).\n\n[Regulation 13A inserted: SL 2020/154 r. 4.]\n\n##### 13B. Payment by instalments (Act s. 202L)\n\n(1) A person may apply to the Chief Health Officer in writing to pay by instalments the fee payable under section 202H(1).\n\n(2) On an application under subregulation (1), the Chief Health Officer may by notice in writing allow the applicant to pay the fee in weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments in accordance with this regulation.\n\n(3) If an instalment is not paid on or before the date specified in the notice, the whole of the unpaid fee, together with interest, becomes due and payable.\n\n[Regulation 13B inserted: SL 2020/154 r. 4.]\n\n## Part 3A — Abortion\n\n[Heading inserted: SL 2024/20 r. 9.]\n\n##### 13C. Prescribing practitioner\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\nendorsed midwife means a person registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the midwifery profession whose registration is endorsed under section 94 of that Law.\n\n(2) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of ***prescribing practitioner*** in section 202MD(1) of the Act, the following classes of registered health practitioners are prescribed —\n\n(a) endorsed midwife;\n\n(b) nurse practitioner.\n\n[Regulation 13C inserted: SL 2024/20 r. 9.]\n\n## Part 4 — Inquiries\n\n##### 14. Allowances and expenses of a person required to attend\n\nFor the purposes of section 232(3) of the Act, the allowances and expenses payable to a person required to attend a place for the purposes of an inquiry are the allowances and expenses payable as if the person were a witness in proceedings before the State Administrative Tribunal.\n\n## Part 5 — Miscellaneous\n\n##### 15. Disclosure and use of information provided under Part 9 or 10 of the Act\n\nA public health official may disclose or use specified information under section 298 of the Act in the course of duty.\n\n##### 16. Regulations repealed\n\nThese regulations are repealed —\n\n(a) the *Health (Immunisation by Local Governments) Regulations 2000*;\n\n(b) the *Health (Notification of Adverse Event After Immunization) Regulations 1995*;\n\n(c) the *Health (Notification of Intussusception) Regulations 2007*;\n\n(d) the *Health (Venereal Diseases) Regulations 1973*.\n\n## Part 6 — Transitional provisions\n\n##### 17. Inquiries or investigations under the *Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911* section 13\n\nAn inquiry or investigation under the *Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911* section 13 commenced but not completed before the *Public Health (Consequential Provisions) Act 2016* section 212 comes into operation may be completed under the *Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911* as if the *Public Health (Consequential Provisions) Act 2016* section 212 had not come into operation.\n\n![]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Public Health Regulations 2017* and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation see the compilation table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Published** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *Public Health Regulations 2017* | 19 Sep 2017 p. 4909‑29 | Pt. 1: 19 Sep 2017 (see r. 2(a));   Pt. 2‑6: 20 Sep 2017 (see r. 2(b) and *Gazette* 19 Sep 2017 p. 4879) |\n| *Public Health Amendment Regulations 2018* | 7 Dec 2018 p. 4663‑6 | r. 1 and 2: 7 Dec 2018 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jan 2019 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Public Health Amendment Regulations 2019* | 19 Jul 2019 p. 2846-54 | r. 1 and 2: 19 Jul 2019 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 22 Jul 2019 (see r. 2(b) and *Gazette* 19 Jul 2019 p. 2841) |\n| *Public Health Amendment Regulations 2020* | SL 2020/154 11 Sep 2020 | r. 1 and 2: 11 Sep 2020 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 12 Sep 2020 (see r. 2(b) and SL 2020/153 cl. 2) |\n| *Public Health Amendment Regulations 2021* | SL 2021/47 7 May 2021 | r. 1 and 2: 7 May 2021 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 8 May 2021 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Public Health Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2021* | SL 2021/122 16 Jul 2021 | r. 1 and 2: 16 Jul 2021 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Aug 2021 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Public Health Amendment Regulations 2023* | SL 2023/38 5 May 2023 | r. 1 and 2: 5 May 2023 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 29 May 2023 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Public Health Amendment Regulations (No. 3) 2023* | SL 2023/136 23 Aug 2023 | r. 1 and 2: 23 Aug 2023 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 24 Aug 2023 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Public Health Amendment Regulations (No. 4) 2023* | SL 2023/151 4 Oct 2023 | r. 1 and 2: 4 Oct 2023 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 5 Oct 2023 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Health Regulations Amendment (Abortion Legislation Reform) Regulations 2024* Pt. 4 | SL 2024/20 21 Feb 2024 | 27 Mar 2024 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Public Health Amendment Regulations 2025* | SL 2025/45 19 Mar 2025 | r. 1 and 2: 19 Mar 2025 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 20 Mar 2025 (see r. 2(b)) |\n\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nAustralian Immunisation Handbook 10A(1)\n\nendorsed midwife 13C(1)\n\ngovernment school 10A(1)\n\nHIV infection notification form 6(5)\n\nNational Health and Medical Research Council 10A(1)\n\nrecognised immunisation provider 10A(1)\n\nrelevant person 10A(1)\n\nscheduled vaccinations 10AC(1)\n\nVeterans’ Affairs Department 10AB(1)\n\n© State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). To view relevant information and for a link to a copy of the licence, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.\n\nAttribute work as: © State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nBy Authority: GEOFF O. LAWN, Government Printer\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations have grown significantly beyond their original 2017 scope. Originally focused on disease notification and immunisation, they have expanded to include: hotel quarantine fee structures (2020, responding to COVID-19), expanded abortion prescribing powers (2024), and increasingly detailed immunisation exemption categories. The disease notification table has been amended multiple times (2021, 2023, 2025) to add new conditions like Candida auris, carbapenemase-producing organisms, and respiratory syncytial virus. The instrument has become a catch-all for various public health operational matters rather than maintaining a narrow focus."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple distinct regulatory schemes in one instrument (disease notification, immunisation, emergency management, abortion)","Extensive cross-referencing to Commonwealth legislation (Australian Immunisation Register Act, Social Security Act, Veterans' Entitlements Act, Migration Act, National Health and Medical Research Council Act)","Detailed tabular schedules for disease classification (urgently notifiable vs vaccine-preventable) and exempt child categories","Nested conditional logic in immunisation exemptions (e.g., humanitarian visa children defined by specific visa subclasses 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 785, 790, 866)","Multiple penalty provisions ($1,000 fines) scattered throughout Part 2A","Frequent amendments (9 amendment instruments since 2017) creating fragmented legislative history","Deleted regulation (10B) indicating evolving structure","Specific technical definitions tied to external documents (Australian Immunisation Handbook, approved forms on Department websites)"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out the practical rules for how Western Australia's Public Health Act 2016 works day-to-day. They cover four main areas:\n\n**1. Disease Tracking and Reporting**\n- Lists exactly which infectious diseases must be reported to the Chief Health Officer (from common ones like salmonella to serious ones like anthrax and Ebola)\n- Some diseases must be reported urgently (marked with 🗸 in the table)\n- Some are vaccine-preventable (also marked)\n- Specifies what information doctors must provide when reporting (patient's country of birth, language, Indigenous status, occupation, school details, etc.)\n- Protects doctors from being sued when they report diseases in good faith, even if they breach patient confidentiality to do so\n\n**2. Child Immunisation Requirements**\n- Sets rules for \"No Jab, No Play\" policies in schools, kindergartens and childcare centres\n- Defines which children are exempt from immunisation requirements (Aboriginal children, Torres Strait Islander children, children in crisis accommodation, humanitarian visa holders, children in care of pensioners/veterans, etc.)\n- Allows the Chief Health Officer to issue certificates if vaccines are temporarily unavailable, if a child was vaccinated overseas, or if the child is in an approved vaccine study\n- Lets the Chief Health Officer direct schools to exclude unvaccinated children during disease outbreaks, or even close entire facilities\n- Requires schools and childcare centres to report on children's immunisation status when asked\n\n**3. Public Health Emergencies**\n- Allows sharing of personal information (financial details, property ownership, assistance received) between emergency services and welfare organisations during emergencies\n- Sets fees for hotel quarantine ($180/day for individuals, reduced rates for shared rooms)\n- Allows payment by instalments for quarantine fees\n\n**4. Abortion Access**\n- Expands who can prescribe abortion medication to include endorsed midwives and nurse practitioners (not just doctors)\n\n**Who it affects:** Doctors, nurses, pathologists, schools, childcare centres, parents, people entering WA during health emergencies, and women seeking abortion care.\n\n**Why it matters:** These regulations give health authorities the power to track dangerous diseases, prevent outbreaks in schools, manage quarantine during pandemics, and ensure safe abortion access—all while balancing privacy protections and practical exemptions for vulnerable families."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Since initial compilation, the regulations have been extended and detailed by amendments that add or modify discrete operational regimes. Notable scope additions in the text include: a detailed immunisation‑status regime for children with specific exempt classes and Chief Health Officer powers to require reports, exclude non‑immunised children and close institutions (r. 10A–10G); prescribed hotel quarantine fees and an instalment payment process (r. 13A–13B); prescription of classes of prescribing practitioners for abortion‑related provisions (r. 13C); and recurring updates to the list of notifiable diseases (r. 3). These amendments add operational duties on schools, child care services, health practitioners and quarantined persons, and increase the instances where the Chief Health Officer or authorised officers exercise discretionary authority (r. 7, r. 10C–10G, r. 13B)."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive enumerated list of notifiable diseases with subsets labelled 'urgently notifiable' and 'vaccine preventable' (r. 3) increases operational detail and decision points","Multiple cross‑references to the Public Health Act and to other Commonwealth or national instruments (Act sections, Australian Immunisation Handbook, Australian Immunisation Register Act) require legal and administrative cross‑checking (r. 10A, r. 6)","Detailed prescribed data fields for notifications and different requirements for particular conditions (HIV, adverse events) add complexity to reporting workflows (r. 5–6)","Discretionary powers concentrated in the Chief Health Officer and in authorised officers (requests for information, directions to exclude or close, fee instalment decisions) create single‑point decision complexity and case‑by‑case application (r. 7, r. 10C–10G, r. 13B)","Multiple compliance obligations and small fixed penalties (notably $1,000 fines) for institutions and individuals create practical enforcement and administrative load (r. 10C–10G, r. 12–13)","Interlocking exemptions and special classes (exempt children table) and certificate/catch‑up mechanisms require factual assessment and documentation (r. 10AB–10AD)","Information sharing rules for emergency management balance permitted disclosure and security obligations, introducing rules for third‑party recipients and storage (r. 11–13)","Regulations have been amended multiple times and contain transitional and repeal provisions, meaning administrators must track historical changes (compilation table, r. 16–17)","Diverse subject matter across Parts (notifications, immunisation, quarantine fees, abortion prescribing, inquiries) raises the number of distinct operational regimes to administer (Parts 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 4)"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations implement the Public Health Act 2016 in Western Australia by prescribing which diseases must be notified, the personal and clinical data to be provided, and powers for authorised officers and the Chief Health Officer to request information, exclude or close educational/child‑care settings, and manage quarantine (including prescribed fees).  \n\nThey affect medical and lab reporters, school and child‑care managers, parents of children with incomplete immunisation, and people in hotel quarantine, and include legal protections for good‑faith reporting and limits on further disclosure."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed — the actual legislative text was not provided. Only a broken link/error page was submitted for analysis."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative content was present in the provided text — only a webpage error message was supplied","Unable to assess complexity of the actual instrument without its text","Score of 1 reflects the simplicity of the error page itself, not the underlying legislation"],"plain_english_summary":"## ⚠️ Content Unavailable\n\nThe text provided does not contain the actual **Public Health Regulations 2017 (WA)**. Instead, it shows an error page indicating that the legislation page is no longer available at its original web address due to system and security upgrades.\n\n**What this means for you:** No substantive legal content could be retrieved or analysed. To find the actual regulations, you should:\n- Visit the [Western Australian legislation website](https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au) directly\n- Use the site's search or menu to locate the *Public Health Regulations 2017*\n- Contact the Parliamentary Counsel's Office Helpdesk if you continue to have difficulty\n\nNo legal analysis can be provided based on the content supplied."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/public-health-regulations-2017","history":"/api/acts/public-health-regulations-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/public-health-regulations-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/public-health-regulations-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/public-health-regulations-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/public-health-regulations-2017/documents"}}