Voluntary Indigenous Identifier

When applying for services or payments, people may be asked if they are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian.

If you are applying for services or payments, you may be asked if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian. This includes being asked on Centrelink, Child Support or Medicare forms.

You can choose to answer this Voluntary Indigenous Identifier question. There is no obligation to do so.

By answering this question, however, you will be giving helpful information which the government can use for many things, including to:

• help more Indigenous people use the programs and services available to them
• find out what other programs and services Indigenous people would find helpful
• help Indigenous people get money and benefits
• help the government plan for the future

When you identify yourself as an Indigenous Australian, the information is confidential and your name and other information is kept private. It is protected by the Government’s privacy rules and held securely.