Queensland Health updates ‘Time Out’ resources for contagious conditions

Queensland Health has updated its Time Out resources, providing refreshed guidance on exclusion periods for children and staff with contagious conditions in early childhood education and care services and schools.

The updated suite includes a Time Out poster, parent brochure and contagious conditions fact sheet, all available through Queensland Health’s disease prevention in education and care services page. The page was last updated on 1 April 2026. 

Queensland Health notes that disease outbreaks are more common in early childhood education and care services and schools because children spend time playing and learning in close contact. Services play an important role in limiting the spread of contagious conditions by excluding unwell children who may be infectious, maintaining hygiene standards and educating staff, families and children. 

The updated Time Out poster provides a quick-reference guide to the recommended minimum exclusion periods for common contagious conditions, while the brochure gives parents and carers information about contagious conditions and exclusion periods in Queensland education and care settings. 

The accompanying fact sheet outlines the responsibilities of early childhood education and care services and schools under the Public Health Act 2005 and Public Health Regulation 2018. 

Queensland Health also advises services to contact their local public health unit when a contagious condition is suspected or confirmed and further advice is required. 

For early childhood services, the updated resources provide an opportunity to review illness and exclusion procedures, refresh staff guidance, update family communications and ensure current exclusion advice is clearly displayed.

The resources also support services’ obligations under Quality Area 2 of the National Quality Standard, which focuses on children’s health and safety, including effective illness and injury management.

Services can access the updated resources through Queensland Health’s disease prevention in education and care services page here.