Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015
No. 138, 2015
Compilation No. 7
Compilation date: 5 December 2025
Includes amendments: Act No. 73, 2025
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 5 December 2025 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au).
Application, saving and transitional provisions
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Presentational changes
The Legislation Act 2003 provides for First Parliamentary Counsel to make presentational changes to a compilation. Presentational changes are applied to give a more consistent look and feel to legislation published on the Register, and enable the user to more easily navigate those documents.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. Any modifications affecting the law are accessible on the Register.
Self‑repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Short title
2 Commencement
3 Simplified outline of this Act
4 Definitions
5 Meaning of commercial‑in‑confidence
5A Meaning of provider identification information
5B Meaning of healthcare identifier information
6 Act binds the Crown
Part 2—Australian Immunisation Register
Division 1—Simplified outline
7 Simplified outline of this Part
Division 2—Establishment, contents and purposes
8 Establishment of the register
9 Contents of the register
10 Purposes of the register
Division 2A—Reporting obligation etc.
10A Requirement to report information relating to certain relevant vaccinations
10B Secretary may require recognised vaccination provider to give information
10C Secretary may give formal warning to recognised vaccination provider
Division 3—Requests about personal information in the register
11 Requests about personal information in the register
Division 4—Payments relating to the register
12 Payments relating to vaccinations
Division 5—Alternative constitutional bases
13 Alternative constitutional bases
Part 4—Dealing with protected information in the register
21 Simplified outline of this Part
22 Authorised dealings with protected information
23 Offence relating to protected information
24 Exception for use in good faith
25 Exception if unaware information is commercial‑in‑confidence
26
Overview
The Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 (Cth) was enacted to address the need for a centralised and comprehensive record-keeping system for vaccinations in Australia. The Act was introduced to facilitate better management and monitoring of vaccination programs, enhance public health efforts, and ensure that individuals receive appropriate vaccinations. The Act was enacted by the Parliament of Australia and its primary policy objective is to establish and maintain an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) that supports the country's vaccination programs. The AIR is intended to serve as a central repository of information related to vaccinations, enabling more effective tracking, analysis, and reporting of vaccination coverage and effectiveness across Australia.
Scope and Application
The Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 establishes the Australian Immunisation Register, which is a register that holds information about vaccinations of individuals. The Act applies to recognised vaccination providers, which are general practitioners and individuals or bodies endorsed to administer vaccines in Australia. The Act has a Commonwealth jurisdiction and applies across Australia. There are no exclusions or exemptions specified in the Act. The Act can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as rules made under section 31. The Act binds the Crown but does not make the Crown liable to a pecuniary penalty or prosecution for an offence.
Key Provisions
- The Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 (the Act) establishes and governs the Australian Immunisation Register (the AI register). The Act requires recognised vaccination providers to report information about relevant vaccinations they administer to the AI register. Recognised vaccination providers include general practitioners and bodies endorsed to administer vaccines in Australia by the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory. The information that must be reported includes the date of the vaccination, information about the vaccine administered, and the name and contact details of the provider. The Act outlines the purposes of the AI register, including facilitating the collection, analysis, and publication of vaccination statistics and monitoring vaccination coverage to support Australian vaccination programs.
- The Act imposes obligations on recognised vaccination providers to report information about relevant vaccinations in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed period. It also gives the Secretary the authority to require a recognised vaccination provider to provide information about non-compliance with the reporting requirement, or issue a formal warning if non-compliance is suspected. Additionally, the Act allows individuals to opt out from receiving certain information from the register and request that their information not be disclosed for certain purposes. The Commonwealth may make payments to recognised vaccination providers for administrative costs incurred in reporting information and for identifying and administering vaccinations.
- Breach of the reporting requirement is subject to a civil penalty of 30 penalty units. The Act also criminalises unauthorised disclosure or use of protected information, with a maximum penalty of imprisonment for 2 years or 120 penalty units, or both, for each offence. Protected information includes personal information, relevant identifying information, and information that is commercial-in-confidence obtained or derived from the AI register. However, there are exceptions for authorised dealings with the information, such as for the purposes of the AI register, in good faith, or with the consent of the person to whom the information relates. The Act also outlines rules for approved forms, delegation of functions, and making rules under the Act.
- Area of Law
- Health Law
- Regulatory Law
- Public Health Law
- Instrument
- Act
- Concepts
- Definitions & Interpretation
- Commencement Provisions
- Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
- Enforcement Powers
- Civil Penalty Provisions
- Protected Information