Certificate pre-application checklist

The purpose of this checklist is to provide information about what you need to do before applying for a certificate.

Medicare Australia issues digital certificates to health professionals enabling them to undertake secure electronic transactions using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). A digital certificate encrypts the messages transmitted online and provides a digital signature, which is used to sign messages electronically.

Before applying for a certificate you need to -

• Consider the type of certificate(s) your business requires. If you’re not sure, ask the people you are doing business with what they require for those specific transactions. For more information about certificates please contact the Medicare Australia eBusiness Service Centre on 1800 700 199.
• Familiarise yourself with the certificate policy and terms and conditions relevant to the type of certificate you are applying for to understand your obligations and responsibilities as a certificate subscriber. You can download the policy documents for registration authority.

Site certificate

Site certificates allow a number of people at the same location to sign and encrypt messages exchanged between healthcare professionals on behalf of the site. This certificate provides confidentiality, authentication and integrity of the information that is transmitted.

If you have not previously registered your site with Medicare Australia you will need to supply the following:

• Your business ABN certificate to validate the identity of your business. If you do not have an ABN, you can use your current passport and driver’s licence to validate your identity.
• An email address for the certificate *.

Please have an acceptable referee certify any evidence of identity documents you submit. The acceptable referee who certifies these documents must complete the Acceptable Referee Identification Form (ARIF).

You can download an Acceptable Referee Identification Form from the registration forms for online business page.

Individual/provider certificate

Individual certificates are used to transfer encrypted and/or digitally signed documents. Individual certificates provide authentication, confidentiality, integrity and do not allow the sender to later dispute they sent the message (non-repudiation).

If you have not previously registered as an individual/provider with Medicare Australia you will need to supply the following:

• Medicare Australia identifier e.g. provider number; or
• If you do not have a Medicare Australia identifier, 100 points of identification such as a current passport and driver’s licence. You will need to supply a deed poll or marriage certificate if there are name differences between any documents.
• Your email address.

Please have an acceptable referee certify any evidence of identity documents you submit. The acceptable referee who certifies these documents must complete the Acceptable Referee Identification Form (ARIF).

You can download an Acceptable Referee Identification Form from the registration forms for online business.

Note:  When registering for a certificate for the first time, Medicare Australia requires originals or photocopies of all documentation where an acceptable referee has signed the originals and certified the copies. The person who certifies any proof of identity documents as true copies must also sign as the referee on the application forms.

Apply for your certificate.

For further information please contact the Medicare Australia eBusiness Service Centre on 1800 700 199.

* This will be the email address for the certificate

Last updated: 20 August, 2010

Explore Medicare