- How do I register a birth?
- Who needs to register the birth?
- Family violence concerns
- Registering a birth later in life
- Who can get a birth certificate?
- Aboriginal commemorative birth certificate
Has your boorai’s birth been registered? Does your boorai have a birth certificate?
It's never too late to register.
You will need to provide a birth certificate when you:
- Enrol your boorai in kinder and school.
- Access benefits like Centrelink and Medicare.
Your growing boorai may need their birth certificate when they apply for a:
- Bank account
- Driver's licence
- Passport
- Tax file number.
On this page
How do I register a birth?
It's never too late to register a birth.
Registering a birth is free. You can register online. It takes about 30 minutes.
The hospital doesn’t do this for you.
Who needs to register the birth?
Usually, both parents need to register a birth.
It’s sometimes possible for one parent to register.
It’s also sometimes possible for a carer to register a birth, depending on the care arrangement (see below).
If you need help, please email our Marguk-bulok koolin-ik Team (Aboriginal Outreach) at bdm.koori@justice.vic.gov.au (External link).
Learn more about registering a birth.
Information for carers who want to register a birth
Kinship care arrangement
On this page a ‘kinship care arrangement’ means care that:
- Has been arranged and agreed within a family, but
- Is not subject to a guardianship or administration order.
An example is when the parent informally agrees for a child to live with grandparents.
To register the child’s birth, the carer should:
- Attach evidence of their carer relationship to the child. For example, this might be:
- An identity card from an agency like Medicare or Centrelink.
The card must show both the carer’s and child’s names. This tells us that the carer has a legal right to register the birth, instead of the child’s parents.
OR - Letter of support from an organisation involved in the child’s care. For example, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) or the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA).
The letter must outline:- The time the organisation has known the carer
- The length of time the care arrangement is in place for; and
- The organisation’s support for the carer to register the child’s birth.
- An identity card from an agency like Medicare or Centrelink.
If in doubt, please email us (External link).
Court or tribunal appointed administrators and guardians
To register the child’s birth, the carer should:
- Attach evidence of their carer relationship to the child, such as a court order. This tells us that they have a legal right to register the birth.
Permanent care orders and other child protection arrangements
Only Aboriginal Child Care Organisations (ACCOs) delivering the Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care (ACAC) program can register a birth. Currently these organisations are:
- VACCA (Nugel program)
- Mutjang Bupuwingarrak Mukman program (Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC)).
Family violence concerns
When registering birth, our priority is the safety of you and your family.
If you have concerns about your safety, please let our Marguk-bulok koolin-ik Team (Aboriginal Outreach) know. Email bdm.koori@justice.vic.gov.au (External link).
If you tell us that you have concerns for your safety, we can protect your information.
For example, we don’t have to tell the other parent your address or contact details without your consent.
We may ask you to provide some documents to support your concerns.
Learn more about how we can protect your safety when registering a birth.
Registering a birth later in life
Sometimes, a birth needs to be registered at a later stage of life. If this is the case, email bdm.koori@justice.vic.gov.au (External link) for support from our Marguk-bulok koolin-ik Team (Aboriginal Outreach).
Who can get a birth certificate?
Either parent can access their child’s birth certificate.
It’s sometimes possible for a carer to get a child’s birth certificate. This depends on the care arrangement (see below).
Information for carers who want to get a child’s birth certificate
Kinship care arrangements
On this page a ‘kinship care arrangement’ means care that:
- Has been arranged and agreed within a family, but
- Is not subject to a guardianship or administration order.
An example is when the parent informally agrees for a child to live with grandparents.
To get the child’s birth certificate, the carer should:
- Attach evidence of their carer relationship to the child. For example, this might be:
- An identity card from an agency like Medicare or Centrelink.
The card must show both the carer’s and child’s names. This tells us that the carer has a legal right to the certificate.
OR - Letter of support from an organisation involved in the child’s care. For example, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) or the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA).
The letter must outline:- The time the organisation has known the carer
- The length of time the care arrangement is in place for; and
- The organisation’s support for the carer to access the child’s certificate.
- An identity card from an agency like Medicare or Centrelink.
If in doubt, please email us (External link).
Learn more about applying for birth certificates or information on someone’s behalf.
Court or tribunal appointed administrators and guardians
To get the child’s birth certificate, the carer should:
- Attach evidence of their carer relationship to the child, such as a court order. This tells us that they have a legal right to the certificate.
Learn more about applying for birth certificates or information on someone’s behalf.
Permanent care orders and other child protection arrangements
Only ACCOs delivering the Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care (ACAC) program can get a birth certificate. Currently these organisations are:
- VACCA (Nugel program)
- Mutjang Bupuwingarrak Mukman program (Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC)
Aboriginal commemorative birth certificate
BDM also offers an Aboriginal commemorative birth certificate. It combines artwork by three of Victoria's well-known Aboriginal artists:
- Vicki Couzens
- Lee Durroch
- Treahna Hamm.
Each artist depicts an element of birth in a way that recognises and celebrates Victoria's Aboriginal heritage.
You can apply for the Aboriginal commemorative birth certificate at the same time as your legal birth certificate.
You can’t use the Aboriginal commemorative birth certificate as:
- Legal proof of identity, or
- Confirmation of Aboriginality.
To prove your identity, you will need your legal birth certificate.
BDM does not provide Confirmation of Aboriginality. If you need one, contact your relevant:
- Aboriginal Land Council
- Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation.
They are responsible for providing Confirmation of Aboriginality.