Civil registration in Australia of births, deaths and marriages as well other life events (such as changes of name, registration of relationships, adoption or surrogacy arrangements, changes of sex) is carried out and maintained by each state and territory in Australia, in an office called a Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. It is compulsory in each jurisdiction, though the procedures and information recorded varies between jurisdictions. Access to information on the register is restricted by period or relationship, and is usually provided at a fee (which may be waived) in the form of certificates. Nowadays, certificates can also be ordered online, and will be posted to the applicant, often with some delay.
History
Before the commencement of civil registration in each colony, records of baptisms, marriages and burials were kept by individual churches. Because early civil registration often involved the churches, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish whether early records are civil or church records.
Centralised compulsory civil registration was introduced in the Australian colonies in the 19th century, as follows: Tasmania in 1838, Western Australia in 1841, South Australia in 1842, Victoria in 1853, Queensland in 1856, New South Wales in 1856, Northern Territory in 1870, and Australian Capital Territory in 1911. Civil registration was carried out by government employees independent of the churches.
Current legislation
Victoria — Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996.
Name of government registry offices
Today, the names of government registry offices are generally titled "Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages" or similar.
In Victoria, the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages maintains records of all births, deaths, marriages, stillbirths, adoptions, legitimations and instruments of paternity which have occurred in Victoria since 1853. It now also has responsibility for the early church records from 1837 to 1853 which are the only source of births and deaths information for that period.
Registration of births
Births in Australia are required to be registered in the state or territory in which the birth takes place. If a baby is born in a hospital, the hospital will prepare a "Birth Registration Statement" or similar, which is signed by an appropriately licensed and authorized health professional, and forwards the statement to the appropriate state or territory registry office. If the baby is born at home, a statement is required from a registered midwife, doctor or two other witnesses other than the parent(s). Some states require a baby of an unplanned birth to be taken to a hospital within 24 hours. Some states also require still-births to be registered in the same way as regular births.
Birth certificates
Once registered, a separate application (which sometimes can be done along with the Birth Registration Statement) can be made for an official birth certificate, generally at a fee. The person(s) named or the parent(s) can apply for a certificate at any time. Generally, there is no restriction on re-applying for a certificate at a later date, so it could be possible to legally hold multiple original copies.
The state or territory issued birth certificate is a secure A4 paper document, generally listing: Full name at birth, sex at birth, parent(s) and occupation(s), older sibling(s), address(es), date and place of birth, name of the registrar, date of registration, date of issue of certificate, a registration number, with the signature of the registrar and seal of the registry printed and/or embossed.
Most states allow for stillbirths to be issued a birth certificate. Some states issue early pregnancy loss certificates (without legal significance if before 20 weeks). Depending on the state or territory, amendments on the certificate are allowed to correct an entry, add ascendant, recognize same-sex relationship, and changing the sex of the holder is possible in all states and territories.
The full birth certificate in Australia is an officially recognized identity document generally in the highest category. The birth certificate assists in establishing citizenship. Shorter and/or commemorative birth certificates are available; however, they are not generally acceptable for identification purposes.