When your baby arrives checklist

You need to register your baby’s birth with your state and territory government. You can do this online on most state or territory government websites. Registering your baby’s birth is different from ordering a birth certificate. You may need to order a birth certificate separately. 

 These links will take you away from myGov.

• ACT – Birth registration
• NSW – Register a birth
• NT – Register a birth
• Qld – Register a birth
• SA – Register a birth
• Tas – Register your newborn
• Vic  – Register a birth
• WA – Register a birth

If you’ve had a baby and you’re either a permanent resident or on a visa, you’ll need to tell the Department of Home Affairs. Visit the Department of Home Affairs website to find out what to do if you had a baby.

You may be eligible for Parental Leave Pay or Family Tax Benefit if you’ve recently had a baby. These payments can help you with the cost of caring for a newborn or recently adopted child.

Complete your claim if you started it early

If you started your claim for a payment before your baby arrived, you’ll need to complete it. You’ll need proof of birth to complete your claim. This could be:

• your Newborn Child Declaration form
• a birth certificate or certified extract
• another Australian Government document that verifies the child’s name and date of birth.

You can submit your proof of birth online if your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov.

If you don’t have a myGov account, find out how to create one and link Centrelink.

Learn about payments if your baby was stillborn or died

If your baby was stillborn or died shortly after birth, you may get a payment to help. Find out about payments if your baby was stillborn or died shortly after birth on the Services Australia website.

If you are struggling with the loss of your baby and need someone to talk to, there is help available. Find out about getting mental health support.

You need a Newborn Child Declaration form to prove your baby’s birth to enrol them in Medicare.

The form will be inside the Parent Pack you get at the hospital after giving birth. Make sure a doctor or your midwife has signed the form before leaving the hospital. If you misplace the form, you’ll need their birth certificate to enrol them in Medicare.

If you’re adopting you can add your child to your Medicare card when their adoption is final. Find the steps on how to enrol your baby in Medicare or how to enrol your child if they are adopted on the Services Australia website.

Your baby needs vaccinations to protect them against serious childhood infectious diseases. They need to be vaccinated at:

• 2 months (can be given from 6 weeks)
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12 months
• 18 months
• 4 years.

Your doctor or Maternal Childhood Health Nurse can give vaccinations. Find out more about immunisation for children on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Regular checks with a Maternal Child Health Nurse or doctor can help track your baby’s development. They may also be able to recommend baby education classes.

Your state or territory government has more information about health checks. These links will take you away from myGov.

• ACT – MACH Health Checks
• NSW – Getting regular health checks
• NT – Baby and child screening and assessment clinics
• Qld – Health checks
• SA – Health and Development Checks
• Tas – Growth and Development Assessments
• Vic – Maternal and Child Health Services
• WA – Child Health

The first few weeks with a newborn can be tricky to navigate. It’s important to take care of yourself and get support when you need it. If you’ve given birth, your body will need some time to heal.

Make sure that you prioritise postnatal health care and get as much rest as you can. Find out more about your body after having a baby on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.

If you or your partner are struggling with mental health, there’s support for new parents on the PANDA website.

You can also speak to your doctor and ask for a mental health treatment plan to access professional mental health support. Find out about seeking professional help for mental health.

If you need child care for your baby, find child care services on the StartingBlocks website.

Apply for Child Care Subsidy

You may be eligible for Child Care Subsidy to help you with the cost of child care.

Get your child’s immunisation history statement

You may need your child’s immunisation history statement to enrol them in child care.

If your Medicare online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to get your child’s immunisation history statement.

If you don’t have a myGov account, find out how to create one and link to Medicare.

Find out more about how to get your child’s proof of vaccinations.