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My Health Record
My Health Record is an online summary of your key health information that lets you control your own health information securely, in one place. This means important health information is available when and where it is needed, including in an emergency. You can ask your healthcare providers to add your new information to the My Health Record for ease of access at ongoing appointments.
There are important benefits of creating a My Health Record as a carer. Some are below:
- Fast access to key health information in an emergency
- Secure and convenient access to health information
- Safer, faster more efficient care for the person you care for
- Less need for you, as a carer, to remember key aspects of medical history and medications
- Improved management of health information
- Informed self-management of health conditions
Do I have a My Health Record?
Most Australians have a My Health Record. Information to set up My Health Record can be found here. To access your My Health Record, you need to have a myGov account.
If you don’t have a My Health Record, you can register for one at any time. This includes if you have previously opted out or cancelled your record. You can register for a My Health Record through myGov or by completing an application form.
My Health Record and Carers
As a carer, My Health Record can help you support the person you are caring for. You can be set up in My Health Record as a nominated representative or an authorised representative.
Should I be a nominated representative or an authorised representative?
A nominated representative can view or help manage another person's My Health Record. As a nominated representative, you can help the person you care for manage their health information, see previous tests and prescribed medicines. If you have full access, you can upload documents such as advance care planning documents.
The person you care for (the record owner) can invite you to become a nominated representative and they will choose the access you can have. The levels of access include general access, restricted access or full access.
A nominated representative must act in accordance with the will and preferences of the person being cared for.
An authorised representative is a person who is responsible for managing someone's record if they are not able to make decisions for themselves. An authorised representative has complete access and control over the record, as if it were their own. They must act according to the will and preferences of the person they represent.
An authorised representative can:
- view, remove and add information
- choose whether Medicare information is uploaded to the record
- choose which healthcare provider organisations can access the record
- add or remove nominated representatives
- view other authorised representatives
- cancel the record in order to permanently delete it
Helpful points on becoming a nominated representative
You will need to be invited by the person you care for to be a nominated representative as they are the record owner.
There are three levels of access which include General Access, Restricted Access, and Full Access. The level of access they wish to grant you will be selected by the person you care for and there can be more than one nominated representative if needed.
Find instructions on this process here.
Helpful points on becoming authorised representative
You can find the application to become an authorised representative here.
Authorised representatives have complete access and control over the person's record, as if it were their own, so 100 points of Identification is required when applying. This information is on page 6-8 of the application.
What about My Health Record for children?
You can set up a record for your child online if they are on the same Medicare card as you and they are under the age of 14. This will allow you to access your child’s record as an authorised representative until they turn 14. There can be more than one authorised representative for your child’s My Health Record.
When a child turns 14, all representatives will be removed from their record. If they choose to, they can give their parent or guardian access as a nominated representative.
COVID Dashboard
Your COVID-19 vaccination dashboard in My Health Record will have all your information about your COVID‑19 vaccinations, boosters, test results uploaded, and related health information.
Find more information of you Covid-19 dashboard and how to access it here.
Visit digitalhealth.gov.au for frequently asked questions.
Uploading advance care planning documents to My Health Record
People can make their wishes known when they cannot speak for themselves. Their authorised representative or nominated representative (with full access) can upload their advance care planning documents to My Health Record. It is important that advance care planning information is available to health professionals.
For more information on how to upload advance care planning information to the My Health Record for yourself or someone you care for:
- Visit the Australian Digital Health Agency
- Call the My Health Record Help line on 1800 723 471 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)