Within 60 days of your baby's birth, six pieces of admin need to happen. Most of them are automatic-ish — the hospital handles part, MyGov handles part — but a few need active work from you. This guide walks through each in order.
Open NestWise Having a Baby hub → Tracks every item below alongside your PPL, FTB and CCS claim dates so nothing slips. The Baby Health Journey records your baby's milestones, immunisations, and birth registration in one digital Red Book.
The 60-day punch list
| # | Task | Who does it | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birth Registration Statement (from hospital) | Hospital, you sign | Before discharge |
| 2 | Lodge birth registration with state BDM | You | 60 days |
| 3 | Add baby to your Medicare card | You via MyGov | Anytime, but ideally first 2 weeks |
| 4 | Claim Family Tax Benefit (generates Centrelink CRN) | You via MyGov | 12 months from birth (but earlier = sooner cash) |
| 5 | Order the formal birth certificate | You from BDM | When you need one (passport, schooling) |
| 6 | Australian Immunisation Register enrolment | Automatic via Medicare add | Triggered by step 3 |
1. The Birth Registration Statement (before hospital discharge)
The hospital gives you a Birth Registration Statement before you leave — sometimes called a "Pink form" (NSW), "Hospital statement" (VIC), or simply "Birth notification". It captures:
- Baby's name (chosen + spelled as you want it on the certificate)
- Date and time of birth
- Place of birth
- Both parents' details
You sign your part; the hospital signs theirs. The hospital then forwards the form to your state's Births Deaths and Marriages (BDM) office — they don't post it to you. Your job is to make sure your portion is completed accurately before you leave the hospital.
Mistakes to watch for:
- Spelling baby's name correctly. Changing the spelling later costs $20-$80 and a formal application.
- Both parents' middle names exactly as on their photo ID.
- Correct date of birth (errors do happen).
The form is your proof of birth for the next few days — keep it safe. You'll use it for Medicare, then BDM, then any application that asks "do you have proof your child was born".
2. Register the birth with your state BDM (60 days)
Each Australian state and territory has its own BDM office. Registration is free if done within 60 days; late registration may incur a $30-$80 penalty.
| State | Where to register | Cost of birth certificate |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Service NSW — Register a birth | $69 |
| VIC | Births Deaths Marriages Vic | $50 |
| QLD | Queensland Births Deaths and Marriages | $51.30 |
| WA | Births Deaths and Marriages WA | $79 |
| SA | Consumer and Business Services SA | $80 |
| TAS | Tasmanian Government BDM | $63 |
| ACT | ACT Government — Access Canberra BDM | $80 |
| NT | Births Deaths and Marriages NT | $52 |
Most states now allow online registration, which is faster than paper and gives you a tracking number. Some still require a paper form for unusual situations (overseas-born parents, complex name arrangements).
After registration, the BDM mails you the formal birth certificate within 1-3 weeks (varies by state).
3. Add baby to your Medicare card
Once you have the Birth Registration Statement, add baby to your Medicare card via MyGov.
How to add via MyGov:
- Sign into my.gov.au.
- Go to Services Australia → My Family.
- Select "Add a child".
- Upload or enter the Birth Registration Statement details.
- Submit.
Most adds are approved within 24 hours. Baby is then on your card and Medicare bulk-bills all GP visits + immunisations from there.
If you don't have MyGov set up: call Services Australia on 132 011 or visit a Centrelink service centre. The form is HW019. You can also lodge it through your treating doctor's office in some cases.
4. Claim Family Tax Benefit (generates the CRN)
The same MyGov flow lets you claim Family Tax Benefit Part A and Part B. Claiming generates the baby's Customer Reference Number (CRN) — the lifelong Centrelink identifier you'll use for every future family payment claim.
You have 12 months from birth to claim FTB — but earlier means sooner cash. Most families lodge within the first 2 weeks alongside the Medicare add.
The claim asks for:
- Family income estimate for the financial year (don't over-estimate — Centrelink reconciles at EOFY and a higher estimate means lower fortnightly payments)
- Bank account details
- Your TFN + partner's TFN
- Birth Registration Statement (proof of birth + baby's name)
See the FTB Part A guide and Part B guide for what you'll receive based on your income.
Run the NestWise FTB calculator → Plug in your family income for the year and see your exact fortnightly FTB-A and FTB-B + the EOFY supplements you'll receive.
If you're not claiming PPL (because you don't meet the work test or you're over the $180k cap), this is also when the Newborn Upfront Payment + Newborn Supplement kicks in via FTB-A. See the Newborn Supplement guide.
5. The formal birth certificate
The certificate comes 1-3 weeks after BDM registration. You'll need it for:
- Passport application (Australian Passport Office requires it)
- School enrolment (any age, including childcare in some cases)
- Some banking (opening a child savings account requires it)
- International travel paperwork
- Centrelink reviews of certain payments (rare but possible)
Order at least one copy. Most parents order two — one for the family file (digital backup recommended), one for any application that retains the original. The cost ranges $50-$85; ordering extras at the same time as the initial registration is usually cheaper than ordering them separately later.
6. Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
Adding baby to Medicare automatically enrols them in the Australian Immunisation Register. From there:
- Every immunisation your baby receives is recorded by the provider.
- The provider sends the record to AIR automatically.
- You can view the immunisation history on MyGov → Medicare → Immunisation history.
The standard immunisation schedule (free) is at Department of Health — National Immunisation Program Schedule.
For Child Care Subsidy, your child's immunisations must be up to date by the relevant age milestones. The "no jab, no pay" rule means non-up-to-date kids miss FTB-A end-of-year supplement and CCS access. Plan immunisations in line with the schedule.
Track baby's milestones in NestWise → The Baby Health Journey logs birth registration, immunisations, GP visits, feeding/sleep notes — the digital version of the Red Book, available wherever you log in.
When the timing is tighter
A few scenarios where the 60-day window matters more than usual:
- Travel plans before 60 days: Some international flights require birth registration and a passport. Allow 4-6 weeks for the birth certificate + 2-3 weeks for the passport.
- Centrelink back-payments: PPL and FTB back-pay only to the date of claim after the first 12 weeks. Lodging within the first month preserves all back-payments.
- Shared care from day 1: If parents are separated, both parents need to be named on the birth registration if both will appear on Centrelink records. This is harder to fix after the 60 days.
- Child Care Subsidy claim: Returning to work at 6 months means lodging your CCS claim around the 4-month mark. The CRN must already exist by then — another reason to claim FTB early.
A typical timeline
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0 | Baby born. Hospital provides Birth Registration Statement. |
| 1-3 | Discharge from hospital. Birth Registration Statement in hand. |
| 4-7 | Sign in to MyGov. Add baby to Medicare. Claim FTB. |
| 10-14 | Lodge birth registration with state BDM. |
| 21-35 | Birth certificate arrives in the mail. |
| 30-60 | Apply for passport if needed. Send certified copies to any application that asked for one. |