I, CHRISTIAN PORTER, Minister for Social Services, make this Determination under section 4 of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999.

Dated: 24 November 2015         

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Name of Determination

This Determination is the Family Assistance (Vaccination Schedules) (DSS) Determination 2015.

2 Commencement

This Determination commences on 1 January 2016.

3 Revocation

 The following determinations are revoked:

(a)       Family Assistance (Vaccination Schedules) (FaHCSIA) Determination 2008; and

(b)       Family Assistance (Vaccination Schedules) (FaHCSIA) Determination 2012.

4 Definitions

In this Determination:

National Health and Medical Research Council means the council established by section 5B of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992.

Australian Immunisation Handbook means the 10th edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook, published by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Note:   As of 30 September 2015, the Australian Immunisation Handbook can be found at:

http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/Handbook10-home.

Hib means Haemophilis influenza type b.

5 Application

(1) This Determination applies to FTB Part A supplement.

(2) This Determination applies in relation to working out whether FTB Part A supplement is to be added, in working out an individual’s Part A rate of family tax benefit, for a day on or after 1 January 2016.

Part 2 Vaccination schedules

6 Standard vaccination schedule

(1) For paragraph (a) of the definition of immunised in subsection 3(1) of the Act, the standard vaccination schedule for a child is determined by the following table.

(2) The following paragraphs form part of the standard vaccination schedules mentioned in subsection (1):

(a) a child must receive a vaccination against each antigen or disease mentioned in column 3 of an item of the standard vaccination schedule for the child within one month of reaching the age mentioned in column 2 for that item; and

(b) the vaccine for the vaccination against each antigen or disease mentioned in the standard vaccination schedule for a child must be, if the child receives the vaccination in Australia:

(i) administered to the child by a recognised immunisation provider; and

(ii) registered as a vaccine on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.

7 Catch up vaccination schedule

 For paragraph (b) of the definition of immunised in subsection 3(1) of the Act, the catch up vaccination schedule for a child is the catch up vaccination schedule for the child determined in accordance with section 2.1.5 of the Australian Immunisation Handbook, to the extent that the schedule relates to the antigens and diseases mentioned in column 3 of Schedules 1 to 4 to this Determination (relevant antigens and diseases).

Note:   It is intended that the timing of catch up vaccinations will be individual to the particular child after appropriate consideration by the recognised immunisation provider of any diseases or antigens the child may already have been vaccinated against.

Schedule 1 Standard vaccination schedule – child born before
1 May 1998

Note: To meet the immunisation requirements for FTB Part A supplement for each income year, a child must have received vaccinations against each disease or antigen listed in items 1 to 5.

Schedule 2 Standard vaccination schedule – child born on or after 1 May 1998 and before 1 July 2012

* Hepatitis B is required for a child born on or after 1 May 2000.

Note 1: To meet the immunisation requirements for FTB Part A supplement for the income year in  which a child turned 1, the child must have received vaccinations against each disease or antigen listed in items 1 to 3.

Note 2: To meet the immunisation requirements for FTB Part A supplement for the income year in which a child turned 2 or 3, the child must have received vaccinations against each disease or antigen listed in items 1 to 4.

Note 3:  To meet the immunisation requirements for FTB Part A supplement for the income year in which a child turned 4 and in each subsequent income year, the child must have received vaccinations against each disease or antigen listed in items 1 to 5.

Schedule 3 Standard vaccination schedule – child born on or after 1 July 2012 and before 1 October 2014

Note 1: To meet the immunisation requirements for FTB Part A supplement for the income year in which a child turned 1, the child must have received vaccinations against each disease or antigen listed in items 1 to 3.

Note 2: To meet the immunisation requirements for FTB Part A supplement for the income year in which a child turned 2 or 3, the child must have received vaccinations against each disease or antigen listed in items 1 to 5.

Note 3:  To meet the immunisation requirements for FTB Part A supplement for the income year in which a child turned 4 and in each subsequent income year, the child must have received vaccinations against each disease or antigen listed in items 1 to 6

Schedule 4 Standard vaccination schedule – child born on or after 1 October 2014

Note 1: To meet the immunisation requirements for FTB Part A supplement for the income year in which a child turned 1, the child must have received vaccinations against each disease or antigen listed in items 1 to 3.

Note 2: To meet the immunisation requirements for FTB Part A supplement for the income year in which a child turned 2 or 3, the child must have received vaccinations against each disease or antigen listed in items 1 to 5.

Note 3:  To meet the immunisation requirements for FTB Part A supplement for the income year in which a child turned 4 and in each subsequent income year, the child must have received vaccinations against each disease or antigen listed in items 1 to 6.