Mel, Teresa and baby Florence are a beautiful, loving family.
But due to a petty legal hurdle, Mel can’t be listed as Florence’s ‘Other Mother’ on her birth certificate.
Mel and Teresa have been fighting for Mel to be recognised as Florence’s mum, but they feel like they are banging their heads against bureaucratic brick walls.
In Mel’s own words, this is the story of their ongoing battle to have her parental role and their loving family legally recognised…
I am Florence’s mother.
I may not have given birth to Florence but I was there for every step of the journey – from conception to the moment she came into this world.
It was an incredible experience to be the first to hold and feed her, and I was overwhelmed with happiness to welcome our gorgeous bundle of joy into our life.
But, what causes me immense sadness is that I am not listed on her birth certificate as her ‘Other Mother’ and legally I am not recognized as her family in Victoria. I can’t even adopt her as my own –Victoria’s State law makes it illegal.
I am constantly reminded that I am not viewed as her mum: when I take her for anything medical and I need to show Medicare details – I’m not on the same card; Maternal and Child Health appointments do not have me as the other mother; and I can’t include Florence on my Health Insurance.
Top Comments
That is just ridiculos! Please Mel be proud that your little girl will always know you are her mummy through your beautifully loving actions towards her. There are many children out there with parents that are not listen on birth certificates, and those children always know who are their true and loving parents.
I know this doesn't change anything.... but it might be some info to help. - You can get a medicare card with the 3 of you on it. You will need to go to the medicare office and pick up a form, its about 3 pages long, and your partner who is listed on the birth certificate needs to sign it to give 'permission' to have a family card. I know this because I have gone through the whole medicare card issues with my partner and his children (my step children). We were able to merge cards on the birth of our daughter, and take my card and his card including the step children and put it all on one card - I am not on their birth certificate, the lady we saw at medicare was very helpful and she stated its doesn't matter which parents/partners are on the card as long as the legal guardian signs the paperwork. Same for your health insurance - my step children are on the health insurance I pay for, this was actually very easy and they didn't even ask for birth certificates. I signed the whole lot up over the phone without even needing my partner to speak to anyone. Once again I know this doesn't change anything - it pisses me off I had to tell you that you need the legal guardian to sign the paperwork - but at least it would make the future drs appointments easier.
Good Luck with it all - I really hope you get a win. Xox
BH thank you sooo much! I had not idea about the Medicare card and the health insurance! We're going to check this out this week! xxx
Oh god this is just absolutely disgusting. The government makes me SO angry. I had to jump through hoops to keep my ex off my son's birth certificate and even go to centrelink when my son was like 5 days old to be exempt from getting child support. Never mind the fact that I hadn't seen or heard from the guy in months due to a restraining order for domestic violence!
I was 17 and the time and he was a 21 year old idiot alcoholic with a criminal record. Yet these adult stable women who struggled and tried so hard for a baby and did so much to have this child are now having to fight with the government to be recognised as not one but two loving mothers. Its an absolute atrocity. You poor people, I really hope this is all sorted in your favour really soon and I really hope you have the new addition you all so long for :). Good luck with everything :)