Having a baby in Australia: the complete guide

Medicare, midwives, Centrelink, the Newborn Child Declaration: every step of having a baby in Australia, in the order you will need it, from official sources.

Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026

In short

In Australia, see a GP or midwife before 10 weeks, choose public or private care (public hospital care is covered by Medicare), and claim Parental Leave Pay up to 3 months before the birth. For babies born from 1 July 2026, families can get up to 130 days, paid at $200.94 a day before tax (as of October 2026).

Your journey at a glance

Having a baby in Australia means dealing with three systems at once: your maternity care (Medicare, public or private), your leave and pay (your employer and Services Australia), and the paperwork after birth (your state registry and Medicare). Here is the order that saves the most stress.

When	What to do	Read
As soon as you know	See a GP or midwife (ideally 6 to 8 weeks, before 10 weeks); check your Medicare card and any private cover	Antenatal care in Australia
First trimester	Choose your model of care: public hospital, GP shared care, midwifery group practice, birth centre or private	Public vs private maternity care
Second trimester	Check the Parental Leave Pay work and income tests; talk to your employer	Who can get Paid Parental Leave
At least 10 weeks before leave	Give your employer written notice of unpaid parental leave	Maternity leave in Australia
From 3 months before the birth	Claim Parental Leave Pay through myGov	Parental Leave Pay 2026
After the birth	"Add Newborn" in Centrelink, enrol your baby in Medicare, register the birth (usually within 60 days)	Register a birth

Pregnancy care and Medicare

Medicare covers free treatment and accommodation for public patients in public hospitals and birth centres, and free or subsidised visits, routine ultrasounds and blood tests. It does not cover private hospital stays, private gap fees or non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). If you want private care through your health fund, check the waiting period: most policies have a 12-month wait for pregnancy and birth. The full comparison is in public vs private maternity care.

Money: Parental Leave Pay and other payments

As of October 2026, Parental Leave Pay is the main government payment for working parents: up to 130 days for the family for a child born or adopted from 1 July 2026, with 20 days reserved for a partner, paid at $200.94 a day before tax for days taken in 2026-27, plus a superannuation contribution paid later by the ATO. If you do not qualify, the Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement may help, through Family Tax Benefit.

After the birth

Before you leave hospital, make sure the midwife or doctor has signed your Newborn Child Declaration (in the Parent Pack). It is your proof of birth for Medicare and Centrelink. Then enrol your baby in Medicare and register the birth with your state's Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. A child health nurse usually contacts you for a first visit 1 to 4 weeks after the birth.

Numbers to save now

Who	Number
Emergency	000
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (maternal child health nurse)	1800 882 436
healthdirect (registered nurse)	1800 022 222
PANDA (perinatal anxiety and depression)	1300 726 306
Centrelink families line	136 150

All our Australia guides

Parental Leave Pay 2026: how much you get and how the days workThe 2026 rate, the 130 days, the partner's reserved days, superannuation and worked examples.Maternity leave in Australia: your leave, your pay, your noticeUnpaid parental leave, the notice to give, flexible days, employer-funded pay and returning to work.Do I qualify for Paid Parental Leave? The three tests explainedThe individual and family income limits, the 330-hour work test, what counts as work, residence and exceptions.Parental Leave Pay through your employer or Centrelink, and how to claimThe five conditions for employer payment, the myGov claim steps, the 3-month, 56-day, 14-week and 52-week deadlines.Paternity and partner leave in Australia: what dads and co-parents getThe 20 reserved days, sharing and approval, taking days together, unpaid leave and what changed in 2023.Newborn Upfront Payment, Newborn Supplement and other family paymentsThe Newborn Upfront Payment, the Newborn Supplement, Family Tax Benefit, Parenting Payment, Child Care Subsidy and no jab no pay.How to register a birth in Australia, state by stateTime limits by state, registration vs birth certificate, home births and what registration unlocks.How to add your newborn to your Medicare cardThe Newborn Child Declaration, three ways to enrol, the card's timing, My Health Record and two-card families.Public or private maternity care in Australia: what Medicare covers and how to chooseThe models of care side by side, what Medicare does and does not pay, private insurance waiting periods and questions to ask.Antenatal care in Australia: your appointments, scans and testsFirst visit, number of appointments, the full test timetable, free vaccines and what each test costs.

Questions parents ask

Is having a baby free in Australia?

If you have a Medicare card and give birth as a public patient in a public hospital, birth centre or publicly funded homebirth program, most costs are covered by Medicare. Private care, private hospital stays and some tests such as NIPT bring out-of-pocket costs.

How much is Parental Leave Pay in 2026?

For days taken in the 2026-27 financial year, Services Australia pays $200.94 a day before tax, or $1,004.70 per 5-day week. A family can get up to 130 days for a child born or adopted from 1 July 2026.

When should I see a doctor after a positive test?

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby advises a first antenatal visit before 10 weeks, ideally at about 6 to 8 weeks, with your GP or a midwife.

Who do I call for pregnancy advice in Australia?

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 (a maternal child health nurse, 7 am to midnight AET, 7 days a week). In an emergency, call 000.

Sources

Services Australia — How much Parental Leave Pay you can get (rate, days, superannuation) checked October 13, 2026
Services Australia — How to claim Parental Leave Pay checked October 13, 2026
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby — Your first antenatal visit checked October 13, 2026
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby — Medicare during pregnancy checked October 13, 2026
Services Australia — Enrolling your baby in Medicare checked October 13, 2026

Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.