How to change your gender status on formal documents in South Australia

What is this resource?

This resource is for trans and gender diverse young people and their families in South Australia.

This fact sheet answers some common questions trans and gender diverse young people, and their families, have about self-identification on formal documents.

Choices around self-identification should be respected. By reading this resource you will get a better understanding of the options in South Australia.

It includes:

• changing your birth certificate
• changing your passport, Centrelink and Medicare records
• changing your driver’s licence

Can you change your gender status on formal documents?

In most formal documents, yes. However different documents have different requirements and different gender identity options.

Unfortunately some trans and gender diverse people may have limited ability to change their gender status on some formal documents.

What steps are involved with making a change?

The steps for applying to change your gender status on formal documents differs depending on whether the document you would like to change is issued by:

1. a state or territory government organisation
   
   OR
   
   
2. a federal government organisation

See how you can change key documents below

How to change the gender on your birth certificate

Birth certificates are issued and regulated at a state and territory level. This means that the approach to changing your birth certificate to match your gender identity will be different depending on which state or territory your certificate was issued in. In SA, this is managed by the SA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

However, there is a general requirement that clinical treatment of some kind must have occurred in order to change the legal sex on your birth certificate. In SA, gender affirming surgery is not required.

In SA, you can apply to ‘record a change of sex’ if:

• you are aged 18 years or older, or your parent/s or guardian are applying on your behalf
• your birth is registered in SA, or you were born overseas and are a resident of SA
• you have undergone “clinical treatment”, which may include or be constituted by counselling and need not involve gender affirming medical treatment.

How can you apply?

• Filling out the required form, currently on the Registry website at ‘SA.GOV.AU – Corrections to certificates’
• Including a statement by a medical practitioner or psychologist certifying that you have undertaken appropriate “clinical treatment”
• Paying the required fees. Check current fees at SA.GOV.AU – Corrections to certificates

What if you are under 18 years old? 

• Filling out the required form, currently on the Registry website at ‘SA.GOV.AU – Corrections to certificates’

See ‘Where to Get Help and Information’ for more details.

• Federal departments and agencies must take all reasonable steps to correct the gender information in their records to make sure it is accurate, up-to-date, and not misleading

AND

• You can apply to federal agencies, such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Services Australia, directly to change your gender on your personal record, or as shown on your passport

Do you need to provide supporting documentation?

Under the Australian Government Guidelines, you need to provide one of the following with your request for a change of your recorded gender:

• A statement from a registered medical practitioner or registered psychologist which specifies your gender
• A state or territory gender recognition certificate or recognised details certificate showing a change in sex
• A valid Australian government travel document, such as a valid passport, which specifies your gender
• A state or territory birth certificate which specifies your gender, or a document from an Australian Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages recognising a change of gender.

Will every application and outcome be the same?

No. The different departments may have different application forms and therefore varied outcomes around changing your gender identification.

What’s an example?

Services Australia can update your gender as male or female for their personal records system. If you identify as non-binary, they can only add a note on your personal record about this. You can also tell them you prefer not to use a courtesy title such as Miss, Mr or Ms.

Whereas…

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides for the recognition of your gender as M (male), F (female), or X (indeterminate/intersex/unspecified) on your passport. However, the Department notes that those travelling with a passport showing ‘X’ may encounter difficulties when crossing borders due to its infrequent use. In more conservative countries or areas you may become the focus of unwanted attention.

How to change the gender on your driver’s licence

The steps involved with changing your driver’s licence will vary depending on the state or territory that you live in.

What you need to do in South Australia

In SA, you can register or amend your gender without changing your name you will need to visit a Services SA service centre and provide:

• a valid federal government travel document such as passport with your preferred gender; or
• an amended state or territory birth certificate, which specifies your preferred gender; or
• a Recognised Details Certificate issued by SA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (or equivalent Australian authority) that states your gender; or
• a statement from a registered medical practitioner or registered psychologist

Where to get help and more information

• Visit the Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender.
• The Department of Foreign Affairs offers travel advice for LGBTI travellers on its Smart Traveller website.
• The Attorney-General’s Department provides guidance on what constitutes a statutory declaration in SA.
• Parents of Gender Diverse Children provides peer support nationally to parents and those parenting trans and gender diverse children.
• The Carrousel Club of South Australia offers a wide range of services to people with gender issues, their partners, family members and friends in South Australia. This includes assistance with changing gender status.
• Shine SA provides primary care services and education for sexual and relationship wellbeing.
• Trans Health SA offer the South Australian gender diverse community a resource operated, and influenced, BY the community.
• Uniting Communities provides mental health support & counselling to the LGBTIQA+ community.