Families and Marriage Publications

Minutes from the Attorney-General’s Department and Marriage Celebrant Associations/Networks Meeting on Tuesday 5 May 2020.

These instructions are for persons wishing to apply to the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants for registration as a marriage celebrant under Part IV, Division 1, Subdivision C of the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) (Marriage Act).

Sets out a number of general principles the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants may consider when taking into account a person’s criminal history record as part of their application to become a Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrant.

As a Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrant, you must complete compulsory OPD every calendar year (January to December). This includes religious marriage celebrants. We will provide further information shortly on requirements for the 2022 OPD year.

Fact sheet about how to apply to become accredited as an FDR practitioner.

Following the National Apology for Forced Adoptions in 2013, motions of apology were moved in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.

A parentage testing procedure must be performed at a laboratory accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA).  Download the list of laboratories and nominated reporters currently accredited by NATA.

A criminal history check is conducted with your informed consent to determine your suitability for employment, a position of trust or as required by legislation. It contains your personal information, and any relevant police information about you, according to the purpose of your criminal history check.

Information and resources for parents returning their child or children to Australia, either voluntarily or following a court order.

The department assesses and recommends to the Attorney-General whether to ask the Governor-General to declare a religious organisation to be a recognised denomination under Section 26 of the Marriage Act 1961.

Under section 57 of the Marriage Regulations 2017, Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants can apply for an exemption from their annual Ongoing Professional Development requirements.

This fact sheet provides guidance to associations/networks and conference organisers on the criteria the Registrar will look for when assessing whether a conference is to be characterised as an OPD activity for the year.

You can use this form to make a complaint about a Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrant to the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants.

List of Marriage Celebrant Associations and Networks including contact details and website links.

Minutes from the Attorney-General’s Department and Marriage Celebrant Associations/Networks Meeting on Monday 28 October 2019.

This report provides a summary of survey results based on the 2,203 responses received during the Marriage Celebrants Program Review survey.

List of counselling organisations (Updated January 2023) (definition of Family Counsellor) Designation.

Template to be used for printing a Certificate of Marriage for Civil Ceremonies.

Template to be used for printing a Certificate of Marriage for Religious Ceremonies.

A sample document showing what a Certificate of Marriage for civil ceremonies looks like.