Two lives,
one piece of paper
Discover how a birth certificate can change the course of a child’s life - and why improving access could deliver strong social and economic returns for children, their families and government.
Child with a birth certificate
Child without a birth certificate
Newborn
For most families, registering their child’s birth and applying for a birth certificate happens in the first months of life, supporting a child to progress smoothly through life’s early stages and gain opportunities along the way.
But this process doesn’t work for all families. On average, 12,600 births go unregistered each year in Australia, with delays more common for babies born in remote areas and areas of socioeconomic disadvantage, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies, and babies born to mothers under the age of 25.
Without a birth certificate, a child can face delays in accessing education, sport in their communities and specialised healthcare, slowing their progress from the very start.
With a birth certificate
- Provides proof of legal identity
- Timely access to specialised healthcare and support services
Without a birth certificate
- No proof of legal identity
- Potential delays accessing specialised healthcare and other services
Barriers to birth registration
Delays in registering a child’s birth and obtaining a certificate are rarely the result of a single factor. They are often caused by structural and systemic barriers, including:
- Cost of the birth certificate (approx. $55-75)
- Complexity of the process
- Carers lack the required identity documents
- Language and literacy barriers
- Fear or distrust in government institutions
Early Learning
Timely access to early childhood education and care (ECEC) supports children’s development and school readiness, while helping families connect to services and engage in the workforce.
Because a birth certificate is often required for ECEC enrolment, its absence can create barriers that delay this critical early start.
With a birth certificate
- Timely enrolment in ECEC
- Improved learning
- Increased school readiness
Without a birth certificate
- Potential delays in enrolment in ECEC
- Missed learning opportunities
- Increased caring responsibilities for families
We’ve spoken to families who had faced challenges obtaining a birth certificate. This is what they told us:
“It’s been a real struggle to get any of their birth certificates and it’s held us back with childcare. I haven’t been able to get my son into most of our local early education centres and my youngest daughter has been unable to attend one too.”
Mother of three children, QLD
“When we came across applications for schools, kindergartens, medical and didn’t have ID. They think you might come with someone else’s kid. I don’t know what they think but they don’t accept it.”
Father, QLD
“Getting a birth certificate hadn’t crossed my mind, because cost was an issue for us, and we didn’t need them straight up. But it’s because of my kid’s childcare, I realised birth certificates are needed.”
Mother of three children, NSW
Starting School
Starting school is a major milestone in a child’s life. Schools typically require a birth certificate to confirm a child’s age and identity.
Some schools continue to request a birth certificate, even when alternatives are permitted under state policies. A difficult start can affect a child’s confidence, learning and sense of belonging.
With a birth certificate
- Timely enrolment in school
- Improved education outcomes
- Improved wellbeing and mental health outcomes
Without a birth certificate
- Potential delays in school enrolment
- Missed learning opportunities
- Added stress and administrative burden on families
We’ve spoken to families who had faced challenges obtaining a birth certificate. This is what they told us:
“[Having a birth certificate to be able to access] school doesn’t start them off being on the back foot. It gives an opportunity for our kids and our mob to be equal with all the other kids and not feel like they’re being left out from the start because it’s a starting point and just continues to roll. So, it’s good for them to feel equal from the word dot.”
Father of two children, NSW
“The school’s talking about…we have to provide it by a certain date for him to continue to keep going there”
Father of two children, NSW
“I was really worried about how I’d be able to afford the birth certificates in time to enrol him in primary school. It should be really easy to go and register your children. Unfortunately, at the moment, it feels like it’s sometimes more of an effort than it’s worth because it just takes so much time to get it done.”
Mother of three children, QLD
Community
Taking part in extra-curricular sport and activities supports a child’s physical health, mental wellbeing and sense of belonging in their community.
A birth certificate is often required to join club-based sports and activities. With a certificate, a child can more easily join teams, make friends and stay active.
With a birth certificate
- Greater access to club-based sports
- Improved physical health
- Improved wellbeing and mental health
Without a birth certificate
- Barriers to club-based sports
- Reduced physical activity
- Increased risk of social isolation
We’ve spoken to families who had faced challenges obtaining a birth certificate. This is what they told us:
“They’re at an age now where they were wanting to play sports, so the sports clubs won’t take them without certificates. It’s very important because they’re at that growth where they want to do it with their friends and stuff.”
Father of two children, NSW
“She can’t sign up to football at the moment, she hasn’t been able to do sports or any of that sort of stuff. So it’s held her back in some aspects of life. She’s been wanting to play sports for years.”
Mother of two children, QLD
“They won’t let the kids register [in sport]. They won’t allow them to register in their team until the certificate is produced. They go down when the games is being played on Saturday and you want to see their faces. And then you have our local secretary of touch footy and she’s pretty involved in rugby league too and she’ll really advocate on the kid’s behalf and literally has gone and taken that parent and paid for a birth certificate out of her own pocket just to help.”
Grandmother, NSW
High School
As a child moves into adolescence, schools and support systems increasingly rely on formal records and identification.
Having a birth certificate helps young people stay connected to education and services, access support when needed, and navigate this critical transition.
With a birth certificate
- Continuity in education and support service
- Increased likelihood of further education
- Stronger qualifications and employment pathways
Without a birth certificate
- Disengagement from education and support services
- Missed learning and training opportunities
- Reduced qualifications and employment pathways
We’ve spoken to families who had faced challenges obtaining a birth certificate. This is what they told us:
“I recently tried to apply for a birth certificate online for my eldest son. He’s just started at a new school and I needed his birth certificate. I tried to apply online and it was really, really difficult for me, I just found that there was so many different photo ID documents that they wanted me to supply. Things that I just didn’t have. He’s been off school for three months, so yes quite an amount of time off school.”
Mother of two children, QLD.
Entering the Workforce
As young people move toward adulthood, having the right identification opens doors to further opportunities.
A birth certificate is often needed to start work, open a bank account, and obtain a driver’s license or passport. It allows young people to participate fully in society and build pathways to stable income and independence.
With a birth certificate
- Improved access to employment and training
- Increased earning potential
- Greater financial independence
Without a birth certificate
- Barriers to full time employment and training
- Lower income potential
- Greater dependence on health and welfare systems
We’ve spoken to families who had faced challenges obtaining a birth certificate. This is what they told us:
“My 16-year old couldn’t get a white card [Note: this is a general construction induction card required for anyone working on or entering a construction site in Australia], bank card or first aid course until he has a birth certificate.”
Mother of three children, NSW
“My 19-year-old needed his and my birth certificate to apply for the Army.”
Mother of five children, QLD
Why this matters
A birth certificate is more than just a piece of paper. It enables a child to access education, fully participate in their communities, access specialised health and to start work - unlocking lifelong opportunities and strong economic and social returns.
Opportunities a child gains with a birth certificate
- Improved education outcomes
- Improved physical health
- Improved mental health and wellbeing
- Increased earning potential and financial independence
- Reduced reliance on health and welfare systems
A smart investment
Investing in increasing birth registration and certification could generate $67 million in social and economic return for children, their families and the government.
What action
is needed?
Universal birth registration and certification is achievable with the right investments.
UNICEF Australia is calling on the Federal Government to work with State and Territory Governments to:
1. Introduce free first birth certificates for babies facing the greatest barriers – those born in remote areas, areas of socioeconomic disadvantage, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies, and babies born to mothers under the age of 25.
2. Increase investments in targeted outreach for families who face the greatest barriers delivered by Registries of Births, Deaths and Marriages and community-based organisations.
3. Strengthen systems integration and embed birth registration processes more fully within health and education systems.
4. Position universal birth registration as a core commitment within the Early Years Strategy 2024–2034’s Outcomes Framework and action plans.
$M
targeted investment needed
$M
in social and economic value generated
Every $1 invested could generate an estimated $6.10 of social and economic value