This page is for organisations who support carers of children in care arrangements. This includes informal or court-ordered care. It has information to support carers to:
- Register the child’s birth, and
- Get the child’s birth certificate.
We are here to help ensure that every person born in Victoria has access to their birth certificate. Birth certificates are primary identity documents in Australia. They are a universal human right.
This page has information to support carers of children in care arrangements.
The importance of birth registration
All babies born in Victoria need to be registered with us within 60 days. However, we understand that sometimes a birth needs to be registered later in life.
If a carer needs the birth certificate for the child in their care, the child’s birth first needs to be registered.
Learn who can register a child’s birth and apply for their birth certificate. This will depend on the child’s care arrangement.
There is no fee for registering a birth.
When registering a birth, they may also choose to purchase a birth certificate.
Birth certificates give children a great start in life. They help carers exercise their rights and responsibilities as a carer.
They may also help carers to:
- Enrol the child in kinder and school
- Access benefits like Centrelink and Medicare.
Who can register the birth of a child in their care?
A carer may be able to register the birth of the child in their care, depending on their care arrangement. Types of care arrangements include the following:
- The carer is caring for the child in an informal care arrangement. This 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.
- The carer is the court or tribunal appointed administrator or guardian for the child
- The child is subject to a permanent care order or another type of child protection order. Examples include orders from the Children’s Court, Family Court or Federal Circuit Court.
If in doubt, please contact us.
Learn more about how carers of Aboriginal children can register a birth.
Informal care arrangements
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.
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.
We will assess the evidence on a case-by-case basis.
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
Learn more about how to register the birth of a child protection client.
If you need to help a carer through the birth registration process, we can provide extra support.
The importance of birth certificates
A birth certificate is an important personal document. It's proof of identity for many purposes, such as accessing government benefits, enrolling in school and applying for a passport or driver licence.
Before carers can get a child’s birth certificate, the child’s birth needs to be registered. See Register a birth.
A birth certificate can be purchased during the registration process, or later.
Who can apply for a birth certificate of a child in their care?
A carer may be able to apply for the birth certificate of the child in their care. Types of care arrangements include the following:
- The carer is caring for the child in an informal care arrangement. This 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.
- The carer is the court or tribunal appointed administrator or guardian for the child.
- The child is subject to a permanent care order or another type of child protection order. Examples include orders from the Children’s Court, Family Court or Federal Circuit Court.
If in doubt, please contact us.
Learn more about how carers of Aboriginal children can apply for a birth certificate.
Informal care arrangements
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.
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 birth certificate.
- An identity card from an agency like Medicare or Centrelink.
We will assess the evidence on a case-by-case basis.
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
Carers may need to get a birth certificate for a child under a Children’s Court order with the child protection program.
You can learn more about this process and how the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) can assist.
How can I help parents access extra support?
Learn how to support carers who:
- Need help with fees
- Need help proving identity
- Are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons
- Are experiencing disadvantage, including homelessness.
Proof of identity
In most cases, customers need to prove their identity to get certificates from us. Most people prove their identity by providing certified copies of identity documents.
For customers who can’t meet our standard proof of identity requirements, we have a proof of identity exception policy. The policy supports carers who don’t have the standard documents. It provides guidance on what documents to provide. To request more information, email bdmapplicationmanagement@justice.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)
Support for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander carers
Our Marguk-bulok koolin-ik Team (Aboriginal Outreach) provide culturally-appropriate support for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander carers to access our services.
Our Aboriginal services section has information on:
- The importance of birth registration and birth certificates, and
- How we deliver culturally-sensitive services.
It is never too late to register a birth.
You don't need to wait until you have applied for a certificate before you can contact the team.
To get in touch, please email bdm.koori@justice.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)
If you’re an organisation working with the Victorian Aboriginal community, you can also download and share resources. These include fact sheets and posters to help you support your clients.
Contact us
We are here to help! If in doubt, contact us to discuss. It’s important you have the right information.
You and your clients can contact us for help or advice by:
- Emailing bdmbirths@justice.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)
- Calling 1300 369 367 (8am to 2pm, Monday to Friday)
Contact our Marguk-bulok koolin-ik Team (Aboriginal Outreach)
To get in touch, email the team at bdm.koori@justice.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)
You can also learn more about our Aboriginal Services.
Updated