Year of the Dragon takes flight with new Commemorative Birth Certificates

The NSW Government is helping families and parents of newborns celebrate their good fortune this Lunar New Year with a special ‘Year of the Dragon’ Chinese Zodiac commemorative birth certificate.

The dragon, which represents luck, strength and wealth, is the third Chinese Zodiac to feature in the popular line of commemorative birth certificates offered by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Designed by Australian-Chinese contemporary brush painter Lucy Wang, the bespoke artwork depicts two mythological dragons against the backdrop of Bombo Headland, Kiama.

The Chinese Zodiac Commemorative Birth Certificates have been popular since the series was released two years ago, with a total of 6,000 certificates sold across the ‘Year of the Tiger’ (2022) and ‘Year of the Rabbit’ (2023).

A further 10 Chinese Zodiac Birth Certificates have been planned up to the 2033 Lunar Year, with the ‘Year of the Snake’, ‘Year of the Rooster’ and ‘Year of the Monkey’ among the Zodiacs set to be portrayed in a recognisable NSW location like the Mungo National Park, Mudgee, and Lord Howe Island.

Commemorative birth certificates do not hold any legal status, with NSW residents still requiring an official birth certificate for proof of identity.

The Registry has nine commemorative birth certificate series now available, including three Bluey Certificates, as well as the new celebratory Blinky Bill anniversary design. All commemorative certificates are offered to people of any age born or adopted in NSW.

All the Chinese Zodiac commemorative certificates are designed by Lucy Wang.
More information on birth certificates, including how to order a commemorative certificate, can be found online here.

Quotes to be attributed to Theresa Fairman, Registrar NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages:

“The Registry is proud to be able to offer these unique and iconic certificate designs which bring together Chinese culture and NSW landscapes.”

“The ‘Year of the Dragon’ certificate gives families an opportunity to commemorate an important year on the Chinese calendar, mixing the powerful and lucky Chinese Dragon with the majestic and iconic Bombo Headland.”

Quotes to be attributed to Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib:

“Lunar New Year is a widely celebrated event among the thousands of people in NSW with backgrounds including Chinese, Vietnamese and Malaysian, and is an important opportunity for these families to commemorate an important date in the calendar.”

“We listened when the people of NSW voted highly for a Zodiac Birth Certificate series, and we are very happy to be offering new designs up to 2033, while the Registry’s other designs, such as Indigenous Art, Rugby League and the recent Bluey series continuing to be popular among families across the state.”

Quotes to be attributed to Lucy Wang: 

“The Dragon is the most powerful Chinese Zodiac symbolising success, prosperity and power. They are the Gods of the sea in ancient Chinese folklore, as they leap from the depth of the ocean and fly high in the sky to deliver rain to the people.”

“The Bombo Headland is the perfect setting for the Dragon to appear amongst the impressive coastal basalt columns smashed by powerful crashing waves.”

“Babies born during the ‘Year of the Dragon’ may not know how special a time it was, but this certificate can be a reminder to them later in life how lucky they are to be born within the auspicious year of this powerful and transformative Chinese Zodiac.”

“I've spent the last year travelling across the State, being inspired by the incredible flora and fauna of our iconic destinations merging this with the distinct visual elements of Chinese culture to create these unique birth certificates.”

MEDIA: media@customerservice.nsw.gov.au | 0438 108 797