Australia runs one of the most straightforward childhood vaccination programs in the world: a fixed schedule of free vaccines from birth, funded through the National Immunisation Program (NIP). This guide lists exactly what is due at each age milestone, explains who qualifies for the free vaccines, and covers the two things new families ask about most — the link to family payments, and the “No Jab No Play” rules that apply before your child can start childcare or school. Verified 14 October 2026.
Key facts at a glance
| Program | National Immunisation Program (NIP) |
|---|---|
| Cost of NIP vaccines | Free — eligibility is linked to Medicare benefits eligibility |
| Schedule starts | At birth (hepatitis B, usually given in hospital) |
| Childhood milestones | Birth, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 4 years |
| Records | Held on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) |
| Last verified | 14 October 2026 |
The schedule, age by age
This is the routine childhood schedule. The vaccines protect against the diseases listed — a single injection often covers several diseases at once.
| Age | Vaccines (diseases covered) |
|---|---|
| Birth | Hepatitis B (usually offered in hospital) |
| 2 months (can be given from 6 weeks) | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), rotavirus, pneumococcal |
| 4 months | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, Hib, rotavirus, pneumococcal |
| 6 months | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, Hib |
| 6 months to under 5 years (annually) | Influenza (flu) |
| 12 months | Meningococcal ACWY; measles, mumps, rubella; pneumococcal |
| 18 months | Hib; measles, mumps, rubella; chickenpox (varicella); diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis |
| 4 years | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio |
A few practical notes. The 2-month vaccines can be given from 6 weeks, so you do not have to wait for the exact date. The influenza vaccine is annual and free for children from 6 months to under 5 years, which means it repeats every year rather than appearing once on the schedule. And the schedule continues beyond childhood — boosters are recommended for adolescents and adults, which is why the NIP runs “from birth to adulthood”.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is handled slightly differently. A maternal RSV vaccine is recommended and free through the NIP for women at 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, which protects the baby from birth. RSV immunisation products for infants are available through state and territory programs, so what is offered depends on where you live.
Are the vaccines really free?
Yes — every vaccine on the NIP schedule is free, but there is a condition attached. Eligibility for free vaccines under the NIP is linked to eligibility for Medicare benefits. Your health professional may also apply a consultation fee or service charge, which is separate from the cost of the vaccine itself.
That Medicare link matters if you are newly arrived. If you are not yet enrolled in Medicare, you may not be eligible for free NIP vaccines until your enrolment is sorted out. Our guide to the Medicare levy explains how Medicare works and who pays for it, and you can check enrolment eligibility through Services Australia.
The link to family payments (FTB Part A)
This is the part that catches people out. To receive family assistance payments such as Family Tax Benefit (Part A) and Child Care Subsidy (CCS), your child must be vaccinated against the diseases on the age-appropriate early childhood vaccination schedule. In other words, keeping up with the schedule is not just a health decision — it is a condition of some payments.
This requirement is set out in the Family Assistance Guide, and Services Australia checks your child’s immunisation status through the Australian Immunisation Register. For the payment side, see our guide to Family Tax Benefit. If your child is missing doses, the fix is usually to complete a catch-up schedule rather than to lose the payment.
No Jab No Play: enrolling in childcare and school
On top of the payment rules, some states and territories require a child to meet immunisation requirements — or at least provide an immunisation record — to enrol in early education and care services. This is what people mean by “No Jab No Play”.
Because these requirements are set by each state and territory rather than nationally, the rules are not identical across Australia. The Department of Health links to each jurisdiction’s own schedule, so the reliable approach is to check your state or territory’s page directly:
- ACT, NSW, NT, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia each publish their own immunisation schedule and enrolment requirements.
When a service asks for proof, what it usually wants is an immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register, or a record from your vaccination provider. Because the requirements differ by jurisdiction, check your state or territory’s page before you enrol, and make sure your child’s AIR record is complete first.
State and territory health departments also fund some additional vaccines on top of the NIP, so it is worth reading your local schedule even if you have already checked the national one.
Catch-up for children who arrive from overseas
If your child arrives in Australia partway through the schedule, they do not have to start again. Children who missed recommended vaccines in childhood can still receive them free under the NIP up until they turn 20 years old — and up to 25 for the HPV vaccine. Refugees and other humanitarian entrants of any age can receive NIP vaccines free if they did not receive them in childhood and they are still clinically recommended.
The Department publishes a catch-up calculator that a health professional can use to build a schedule for children aged 0 to 10, and the Australian Immunisation Handbook has the clinical detail. The practical step is to bring any overseas immunisation records to a GP or immunisation clinic, so they can map what your child has had against the Australian schedule and work out what is still needed.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
As well as the routine childhood vaccines, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can receive extra vaccines free of charge: additional doses of pneumococcal vaccine, meningococcal B vaccine, hepatitis A vaccine for children living in WA, NT, SA and Queensland, and annual influenza vaccine each year from 6 months of age.
The schedule doesn’t stop at childhood
The NIP runs from birth through to adulthood, so the 4-year milestone is not the end of it. Free routine vaccinations are provided for pregnant women, infants and children, adolescents, and adults, and there are extra vaccines funded for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and for people with certain medical risk conditions that put them at greater risk of disease.
Some vaccines are recommended but not funded — for example, vaccines for women planning a pregnancy, for people in certain jobs and industries, and for travel to particular countries. Those you may need to buy privately. If you are unsure whether a vaccine is free or paid, the Department’s “when to get vaccinated” page breaks it down by group, and your GP can confirm what applies to you.
How your child’s records work
Every vaccination given in Australia is recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), a national register run by the Department of Health. That record is what Services Australia uses to check whether your child meets the immunisation requirements for family payments, and it is also what a childcare or school may ask to see.
You can check your child’s immunisation history and request an immunisation history statement through the AIR. If you have just arrived from overseas, getting any prior vaccinations onto the record matters: without a documented history, a GP has no way to credit doses your child has already received, and the catch-up schedule will start from a lower base than it needs to.
Step-by-step: getting your child up to date
- Enrol in Medicare if you are eligible — the free NIP vaccines are linked to Medicare eligibility.
- Gather any overseas immunisation records and have them translated if needed.
- Book a GP or immunisation clinic appointment and ask them to map your child’s history against the NIP schedule.
- Agree a catch-up schedule for any missed doses — free up to age 20.
- Keep the AIR record current. Vaccinations are recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register; you can check your child’s history and request an immunisation history statement.
- Check your state or territory schedule for extra vaccines and for the enrolment requirements that apply where you live.
Common mistakes
- Assuming “free” means no cost at all. The vaccine is free, but your clinic may charge a consultation fee.
- Not enrolling in Medicare first. NIP eligibility is linked to Medicare benefits eligibility.
- Missing the FTB Part A connection. Immunisation status feeds into Family Tax Benefit Part A and Child Care Subsidy.
- Treating No Jab No Play as one national rule. Enrolment requirements are set by each state and territory.
- Starting the schedule again from scratch. Missed doses are caught up, not restarted.
- Leaving overseas records at home. Without them, a GP cannot credit the doses your child has already had.
FAQ
Is the childhood vaccination schedule free in Australia?
Yes. All vaccines on the National Immunisation Program schedule are free, and eligibility is linked to Medicare benefits eligibility. Your health professional may still charge a consultation or service fee, which is separate from the vaccine.
What vaccines are given at 2 months?
At 2 months (which can be given from 6 weeks), children receive vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), rotavirus and pneumococcal disease.
What is given at 12 and 18 months?
At 12 months: meningococcal ACWY, measles-mumps-rubella, and pneumococcal. At 18 months: Hib, measles-mumps-rubella, chickenpox (varicella), and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis.
Do I need to vaccinate to get Family Tax Benefit Part A?
To receive family assistance payments such as Family Tax Benefit (Part A) and Child Care Subsidy, your child must meet the immunisation requirements on the age-appropriate early childhood schedule. Completing a catch-up schedule is normally how you resolve a gap.
Can my child catch up on missed vaccines?
Yes. Children who missed recommended vaccines can receive them free under the NIP up until they turn 20 (25 for HPV). Refugees and humanitarian entrants of any age may also be eligible for free catch-up vaccines.
Do I need vaccinations to enrol my child in childcare or school?
It depends on your state or territory. Some jurisdictions require children to meet immunisation requirements, or to provide an immunisation record, to enrol in early education and care services. Check your local state or territory schedule.
Official sources
- National Immunisation Program schedule — Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Immunisation for children — Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- When to get vaccinated — Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Catch-up immunisations — Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Immunisations for access to family assistance payments and early childhood services — Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Australian Immunisation Handbook — Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
AU0061 publishes general information, not personal migration advice. Visa rules and fees change, and eligibility depends on your individual circumstances. Always confirm the current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs or a MARA-registered migration agent before you act on anything in this guide.