No more rifling through files looking for your birth certificate. Or calling your parents to see if they have stashed your birth document in a safe place.
In an Australian first, people born in NSW who are aged 16 to 21 have the option to set up a Digital Birth Certificate using the Service NSW app.
The first group of people to be eligible to apply are 16 to 21-year-olds born in NSW, who hold a NSW photo card or driver licence.
From today, Tuesday, March 17, young adults will be able to use their Digital Birth Certificate to verify their identity and apply for a range of licences and certifications needed to start a job including Responsible Service of Alcohol, Responsible Conduct of Gambling, as well as other workforce licences.
Service NSW and the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages are looking at ways to make it easier to register and apply for the services people need using the new digital tool such as in schools, sports clubs and other places.
Minister for Customer Services and Digital Government Jihad Dib said the digital birth certificate was convenient.
“Young people across the state can carry their birth certificate securely on their phone – instead of having to rummage through drawers or call mum and dad,” he said.
“For young people living away from home for work and study, this digital document provides instant convenience when they need their birth certificate to apply for certifications and licences – making it easier to apply for jobs.”
Service NSW managing director Greg Wells said using the Digital Birth Certificate was completely optional and can be easily downloaded on the Service NSW app.
“Losing birth certificates will be a thing of the past, with the Service NSW app allowing customers to store their certificates in one place,” Mr Wells said.
“During natural disasters when people need documents like these the most, we often help people whose birth certificates and other documents have been destroyed; a digital version provides a solution for those who need to verify their identity quickly to access services.”
For more information or to opt in, visit the Service NSW website.
This information was provided by the NSW Government.