People Under 18 Years of Age

See also information on Registration; and Carers and Dependants.

People under 18 years of age will have the same access to health benefits and services under the new access card as they do under the current Centrelink and Medicare systems.

Currently, young people who need to have a separate Medicare card can have one. For example, a student at a boarding school, or a young person living with a grandparent, may be able to get an access card.

People under 18 years of age will fall into three categories:

• those who are recorded on their parents’ or guardians’ cards;
• those who are aged between 15 and 18 and have their own card; and
• those who are under 15 and have their own card.

People under 18 recorded on parents' or guardians' cards

As with the existing Medicare card, most people under the age of 18 will be recorded on their parents’ or guardians’ cards. No information about them will be recorded on the surface of their parents’ or guardians’ cards. People in this category will have their own record in the access card Register, but this information will only be included in the chip of their parents’ or guardians’ cards. Their signature and photograph will not be taken or stored on the Register. (See information on Carers and Dependants.)

Registration: Parents or guardians of children, who are entitled to a health benefit or service, wishing to register children under the age of 18 will be required to provide evidence of their identity, such as their birth certificate, passport, a certified maternity hospital family assistance record, guardianship order or other legal orders.

Registration of children from blended families: Parents may wish to have their children linked to a card that is not their own, for example, grandparents, carers or new spouses. In these cases, the children can be linked to another card holder, with the consent of a parent and that card holder.

People aged between 15 and 18 who have a card of their own

Consistent with existing practice, people aged between 15 and 18 years of age can be issued with their own access card, without seeking their parents’ permission. People aged between 15 and 18 who need to get their own card will have their photograph, signature and number on the surface of the card, along with their name, expiry date and date of birth (optional).

Registration: People aged between 15 and 18 who need a card of their own will follow the same processes as an adult registering for their own card, and will need to provide proof of their identity. (See information on Registration.)

In cases where they have problems providing sufficient evidence of identity to satisfy the guidelines, they will receive special assistance to register for an access card and will not be denied access to benefits or services. For example, Centrelink currently works with young people to help them obtain documentation such as birth certificates. This practice will continue with the introduction of the access card.

People under 15 who have a card of their own

Consistent with exisiting practice, people aged under 15 can be issued with their own access card with the consent of a parent or guardian. A person under 15 years of age may also be issued with their own access card without seeking the permission of a parent or guardian where:

1. the person is in foster care or a ward of the state;
2. other personal circumstances warrant the issue of their own card; or
3. the person is in receipt of, or entitled to receive, Commonwealth payments in their own right. Documentation required with parent or guardian consent: Parents or guardians will be required to provide appropriate documentation to prove the identity of their child.

Registration with parent or guardian consent: A parent or guardian will be able to apply for an access card on their child’s behalf. It is proposed that people under 15 years of age will be generally exempt from having their photograph taken, their signature recorded or having to attend an interview.

Documentation required without parent or guardian consent: Documentation supporting the circumstances for an under 15 year old to have their own card without parental consent will be required from people, such as teachers, social workers, medical practitioners, youth refuge workers, police, members of the legal profession or someone from welfare, religious or charitable organisations.

Registration without parent or guardian consent: People such as teachers, social workers, medical practitioners, youth refuge workers, police, members of the legal profession or someone from a welfare, religious or charitable organisation can apply for an access card on behalf of a person aged under 15 years of age.

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