UNICEF calls for Federal Government to embed universal birth registrations into strategy

UNICEF is calling on the Federal government to embed universal birth registrations into its Early Years strategy 2024-2034 document.

The Early Years strategy was launched by Federal Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth and Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, Dr Anne Aly, in May this year, with a vision of supporting all children in Australia to thrive in the early years of life. 

The strategy outlines how over the next decade the government will prioritise the support of child-centred policy development and target investment in early years supports and services, however UNICEF is concerned that an ongoing issue for First Nations children living in remote areas has not been included in the plan.

UNICEF is currently in a partnership with the Pathfinders National Aboriginal Birth Certificate Program and has asked the Government to work with the states and territories to improve the accessibility and affordability of gaining birth registration and certification for families in remote areas. 

Pathfinders

The Pathfinders National Aboriginal Birth Certificate Program is a not-for-profit organisation funded by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to provide free birth certificates for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people between birth and 21 years of age.

Not having a birth certificate is proven to be an obstacle for children growing up when it comes to enrolling in school, playing competitive sports, applying for a driver’s licence, and gaining employment for the first time.

For some vulnerable parents, gaining a birth certificate has been a constant struggle, the National Indigenous Times reports.

Monique, a mother of three living in Queensland, has been attempting to gain her eldest daughter’s birth registered for nearly 10 years.

Without identification of the children’s father’s or possessing her own birth certificate, she found the process “beyond difficult.”

“It’s been a real struggle to get any of their birth certificates (of her children) and it’s held us back with childcare,” she shared in a UNICEF Australia video.

Pathfinders National Birth Certificate coordinator, Ron Naden concurred, saying he has seen the difficulties that families have faced including language barriers, the cost of birth certificates and, at times, the complicated registration processes.

Birth certificates cost between $50-$70 per child depending on the state or territory in which they are registered, and the requirements for registration can cause difficulty for parents who may be separated, may be an informal kinship guardian or simply who do not hold enough identification themselves.

“In the earlier years, a lot of people didn’t have (supporting documentation) and we’d have to get them to go to a local organisation that their family is known by,” Mr Naden said.

“That way they can establish their identity to get over the line to get a birth certificate.”

Certify hope

According to UNICEF Australia’s latest report Certify Hope: Rights from the Start every year an average of a little more than 12,500 Australian children are not registered at birth.

Parents are more likely not to register the birth of a baby if the mother is under the age of 25 years, of First Nations origin, lives in a remote area or is experiencing genuine disadvantage, the report notes.

Babies in the most disadvantaged areas of Australia were over three times more likely to not have their birth registered against those living in more advantaged areas.

Data in the UNICEF report has also revealed more than 75,000 Australian babies, from 2017 until 2022, were not registered within one year after their birth.

2024 is the first time unregistered births have been measured and analysed nationally, with UNICEF Australia working to ensure every child has the right to “a brighter future”.

“Making sure young children get early education and care is one of the most effective ways to ensure that they develop and thrive in the future,” UNICEF Australia’s Head of Policy and Advocacy Katie Maskiell said.

For some children, not having a birth certificate has been the prime barrier to early education as a birth certificate is often required for enrolments.

“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,” Ms Maskiell said.

Access the report here, or see here for the original coverage of this story.