Making every Australian child count

Every parent wants the best for their children. They want their little ones to have a future where they’re educated, enjoying sports and activities, and ultimately, thriving. 

Yet, for some parents in Australia, this dream is within arm's reach by the challenges of registering their children’s birth. 

Monique, a mother of three, from Queensland has been trying to get her eldest daughter’s birth registered for nearly ten years. Without the children’s father’s ID or her own birth certificate, she found the process difficult and could not apply for one.  

"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. To be able to get a birth certificate, you need a birth certificate, which is a bit complicated,” explains Monique.  

Thanks to the additional support offered by UNICEF Australia’s community partner, Pathfinders, Monique has been able to register her children’s births and receive her own birth certificate. 

©UNICEF Australia/2024/Moran

An unlikely country where birth registration issues occur

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Birth registration in Australia and why it matters

According to our new 'Certify Hope: Rights from the Start’ report, every year an average of 12,600 Australian children are not registered at birth. This is the first-time unregistered births have been measured and analysed nationally and this staggering statistic is one that UNICEF Australia is working to change, along with our partners to ensure that every child has the right to a brighter future. 

Birth registration is a fundamental right of every child worldwide and helps ensure that every child has access to basic services like education, healthcare and protection. Yet, even in places like Australia you are more likely not to register your baby's birth if you are a mother under 25, First Nations, live in a remote area or are experiencing disadvantage.

Learn about the current situation in Australia and the case for change: 

In partnership with Pathfinders, UNICEF Australia is working to raise awareness on this key issue through the Pathfinders National Aboriginal Birth Certificate Program and helping eliminate the barriers people face when obtaining a birth certificate or registering a birth.  

Ron, Pathfinders National Birth Certificate Coordinator, has seen the difficulties families have faced, from language barriers, cost of birth certificates to complicated registration processes. 

©UNICEF Australia/2024/Andres

Unlocking barriers for every child 

For over 30 years, UNICEF has been a key global player in birth registration. We’ve been working with governments and communities worldwide to register over 16 million births and issue birth certificates to over 13 million people.    

“Making sure young children get early education and care is one of the most effective ways to ensure they develop and thrive in the future,” says UNICEF Australia’s Head of Policy and Advocacy Katie Maskiell. “Unfortunately for some children, not having a birth certificate is a barrier to early education and care, as a birth certificate is normally needed to enrol in these programs.” 

"The data [in the Certify Hope report] shows this includes some children who are already experiencing disadvantage, and not having a birth certificate can keep creating barriers and exacerbate disadvantage into the future. Taking the simple step of making sure every Australian child has a birth certificate will ensure families have better access to services and supports they may need.” 

We’re calling on the Australian Federal Government to: 

• Commit to universal birth registration by embedding birth registration rates in the Early Years Strategy 2024-2034. 
• Work with States and Territories to improve accessibility and affordability of birth registration and certification for families. 

Birth registration can change a child’s life, but for parents like Monique, change must occur to make the birth registration process more accessible.  

Our aim in Australia is to achieve universal birth registration for every child, no matter what. 

 ^{*Data in the Certify Hope Rights from the Start report was collected from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Births Deaths and Marriages for the period 2017-2022.}