Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
A new trial is helping parents access government payments and services more easily when having a baby.
Parents having a baby at Canberra Hospital or North Canberra Hospital can now take part in the Birth of a Child Newborn Enrolment Trial.
In partnership with Services Australia, the ACT Government is trialling an Australian-first where parents can register the birth of their baby across federal and territory government agencies using myGov.
The trial makes it easier for parents to access government services and register their baby’s birth.
By signing up to the trial, the hospital will share information with Services Australia to:
- enrol their baby in Medicare and receive a new Medicare card with their baby added
- enrol their baby in the Australian Immunisation Register
- register for their family’s Medicare Safety Net
- register their baby for a My Health Record
- let Centrelink know about the birth of their child to finalise their application for family assistance
- register their baby’s birth with ACT Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
How to access the trial
To enrol in the trial, new parents will need to ensure they:
- check their details with the hospital are up to date
- link their Medicare and Centrelink accounts to their myGov account
- complete a pre-birth claim (as early as 3 months before the baby is born)
- complete a new consent form (provided when your baby is born)
- provide the completed consent form to the hospital before being discharged.
When they agree to participate in the trial, they are agreeing to let Canberra Health Services share information about them and their baby with Services Australia.
A collaborative approach
The ACT Government is working with Services Australia to lead the trial.
The trial automates newborn enrolment and birth registration processes across the state, territory and Commonwealth government agencies.
It supports a cross-jurisdictional ‘tell us once’ approach – reducing the need for parents to re-supply information the government already holds.
When a parent agrees to participate in the trial, they agree to Canberra Health Services (CHS) sharing information about them and their baby to Services Australia.
The Birth of a Child Newborn Enrolment Trial helps remove administrative burden from parents, giving them more valuable time with their baby.
The trial is part of a range of improved maternity services initiatives in the ACT.
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