You need to register your baby’s birth to get a birth certificate.
Birth certificates give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids a great start in life, in school and, in their community. Adults need them too.
A birth certificate helps you and your child access important services such as:
- Enrolling in kindergarten and school
- Centrelink and Medicare
- Opening a bank account
- Applying for a passport
- Applying for a driver’s licence and tax file number (when they’re older).
Registering a birth is free. You can buy a birth certificate when you register the birth, or later.
Who needs to register the birth?
Generally, both parents need to register a child’s birth. However, sometimes it is possible for one parent to to register a birth (for example, if the whereabouts of the other parent is unknown).
Learn more about registering a birth.
Protecting your safety
If you are concerned about letting the other parent know your address because of safety reasons, please tell us so that we can help.
We can register a birth while making sure we don’t put your safety at risk.
If you tell BDM that you fear for your safety, we won’t tell the other parent your contact details without your consent. Learn more about protecting your safety.
It’s never too late to register
Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, a birth needs to be registered late. If this is the case email bdm.koori@justice.vic.gov.au (External link) or call 1300 369 367 — we are happy to help.
Aboriginal heritage birth certificate
BDM offers a commemorative birth certificate with artwork by three of Victoria's leading Aboriginal artists, Vicki Couzens, Lee Durroch and Treahna Hamm. Each artist depicts an element of birth in a way that recognises and celebrates Victoria's Aboriginal heritage.
Commemorative certificates can’t be used as legal proof of identity documents. For that you need a standard (legal) birth certificate.
