This guide includes information on payments and parental leave, as well as the things you'll need to do after the birth of your baby.
Before the birth
Before your baby is born it's a good idea to check the various payments that are available to help with the cost of having a baby. Some of them can be claimed 3 months before the baby is due.
Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement
Centrelink provides a handy tool to help you find the payments that you might be eligible for.
Birth registration
Register a birth
All babies born in NSW need to be registered within 8 weeks of the birth – the hospital doesn't do this for you. The parents of the baby can register the birth online.
Register a birth after 60 days
Registering a birth after 60 days requires more proof of the child's identification and can result in the application taking longer to process.
Apply to add a father's details to a birth registration
The biological parents of a child are able to add a father's details to a birth registered in NSW.
Apply to add a mother's details to a birth registration
Where a woman is in a married or same-sex de facto relationship, the other mother can be added to the birth registration.
Birth certificates
Apply for a birth certificate
Before you can apply for a birth certificate, the birth needs to have been registered.
Apply for recognition of early pregnancy loss
The Recognition of Early Pregnancy Loss certificate is not a legal document but can be used to commemorate a loss.
Resume your online birth certificate application
Check the status of your online birth certificate application
After the birth
Unpaid parental leave
All employees, including casual employees, are entitled to 12 months of unpaid parental leave.