That ICPA(Aust) advocate to the Ministers of Health, Disability & Aged Care and Social Services; along with the Department of Health and Services Australia for the age at which children have sole access to their Medicare records to be increased from 14 to 16 years.
Parents of children in rural and regional areas often face significant challenges when their children turn 14, the current age at which they gain sole access to their Medicare records.
In one example, a boarding family struggled to manage school immunisation records and medical correspondence while their daughter was seriously ill at school, highlighting the practical difficulties of remote management. The legal requirement for a 14-year-old to have total authority over their medical needs can create safety and logistical issues, as teenagers are generally not developmentally ready to make complex health decisions independently. Increasing the age of sole access to 16 would better align with developmental readiness and allow parents to support their children in managing health needs, particularly for rural families who often must coordinate care from a distance.
In another example, even when children are home from boarding school, the current system creates barriers for parents. A parent could not access their son’s immunisation details after he injured his hand on rusty wire during school holidays. The parent was not permitted to speak directly to Medicare and the child had to set himself up in myGov and request permissions — despite the parent being responsible for care. The parent was also unaware that the Medicare access age was 14, highlighting a systemic communication failure.
