Minister for Business and Regulatory Services Gordon Ramsay has launched Access Canberra’s online birth registration form. The form will offer greater convenience and significantly reduce waiting times for documentation for parents of newborns. Minister Ramsay encouraged parents to take advantage of the new online birth registration tool – which is free and easy to use. “Parents are quick to announce the birth of their little one on social media and now they can visit the Access Canberra website immediately afterwards to formally register the birth,” Minister Ramsay commented “The online birth registration form allows parents to register their newborn’s birth from the comfort of their home, using a smartphone, tablet or computer. The process can be completed in under 10 minutes.”

Between 1 January and 30 August 2018, Access Canberra has registered 3,406 births via its paper-based system. Minister Ramsay said in the coming year it was expected the majority of births would registered online.
“Registering a birth online will ensure more accurate information on birth certificates by reducing the possibility of misinterpreting handwriting,” Minister Ramsay commented “The online method also speeds up the registration process significantly and reduces the waiting time for a birth certificate. With more than 300 services now available online, this is just another one of the ways Access Canberra is making it easier and simpler to transact with government. The paper-based system will still available for those parents who don’t have access to the online form.”
Parents should be reminded that birth registrations need to be submitted within six months of the newborn’s birth, and parents can also apply for a birth certificate at the same time as completing the online birth registration form. Those who register their baby’s birth online will receive the birth certificate in the post.