A community law
reform project
Merrin Mason
CEO
Victorian Law Reform
Commission
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VLRC background
 VLRC is an independent statutory body
 8 commissioners who decide on the conclusions
and recommendations contained in our reports
 VLRC major function – to provide reports to the
State Attorney-General on matters referred to us
for investigation
 additional function – reporting to the AttorneyGeneral on community law reform matters which
we identify ourselves
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VLRC process
 Reports are based on:
– Research, submissions and consultations
 Reports contain:
– outline of findings, conclusions and recommendations
for reform
 Completed reports are:
– delivered to the Attorney-General
– no advocacy role for VLRC or any follow-up on
implementation of recommendations
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Consultations
Discussions with:
 Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
 Department of Justice
33 community consultations with:
 maternal child health nurses
 hospitals
 community groups
 Indigenous and CALD groups
 new parents groups, including young parents/teens.
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Community consultations
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Context of project
 75,000 births/year in Victoria – the vast majority
are registered
 More than 2,000/year not registered six months
later
 Without a birth certificate, it is difficult if not
impossible, to access full civil citizenship rights
 We looked at ways to improve processes for
disadvantaged/vulnerable groups, particularly
culturally and linguistically diverse groups.
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Report structure
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

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Birth notification
Birth registration
Birth certificates
Fees
Vulnerable groups
Awareness and access
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Birth registration
recommendations
 Registration of a birth where the applicant is at
risk of family violence
 Identification of what information taken from the
registration form will appear on the birth
certificate
 Commonwealth Department of Human Services
data-matching of birth registration information
 Confirmation of birth registration
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Birth certificate
recommendations
 Proof of identity requirements
 Standard birth certificate as the only document
that can be used for official purposes
 Fee exemption for concession card holders
 Registrar power to grant a fee waiver in
appropriate cases
 Indigenous Access Fund
 payment methods for birth certificate fee
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Vulnerable groups
recommendations
 Stolen Generations and other Indigenous
peoples’ records
 Translation and interpreter service information
 Birth registration statement in community
languages
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Awareness and access
recommendations
 Information about the obligation to register a
birth and the benefits of obtaining a birth
certificate
 Online registration of births
 Awareness of the Indigenous Access Team
 Phone contact point for service providers
 Availability of assistance with paperwork
 Expansion of application lodgement venues
 Act amended to mandate the promotion of public
awareness
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