NSW testing new Digital Photo Card

The NSW Government has announced that Digital Photo Card holders will be given access to an upgraded digital identity document from this month.

Commencing as a pilot project, people will have a more secure way to prove their identity and age, with the upgrade to existing NSW Digital Photo Cards allowing users to share only their required information via a digital ‘handshake’.

The pilot has been initially operating in three Service NSW Centres at Auburn, Blacktown and Parramatta from 9 April.

Unlike the existing digital ‘copy’ of a customer’s Photo Card stored inside their Service NSW app, the upgraded card will enable people to digitally share information needed for a transaction via QR code without handing over their phone or identity document.

The upgraded card is the first government verifiable photo credential in Australia to be built to international standards. The new security standards will make it harder for people to misuse the credentials or steal people’s information by keeping information more secure. It will allow people to share their ID and qualifications for a range of tasks and transactions safely and conveniently, while ensuring personal information and privacy are better protected, according to the state government.

The pilot project is testing the technology platform that will enable digital credentials such as driver’s licences, trade qualifications and Working with Children Checks to be securely stored inside the new digital wallet on the Service NSW app.

These future upgrades will enable people to selectively disclose their information — for example, only providing confirmation that you are over 18 — preventing unnecessary sharing of personal details and avoiding the need to hand over your physical documents or phone.

In the pilot phase, users completing eligible transactions will present their upgraded Digital Photo Card at the Service NSW counter, where staff will use a device to verify the credential in real time. This process will test verification of the card and the digital sharing of information with customer’s consent.

“This pilot of Australia’s first government-issued digital photo credential is an exciting step towards a digital future for NSW where people have greater control over their digital identity and security,” said Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib. “It paves the way for more credentials to be rebuilt to the new international security standard, allowing people to only share the information they choose and creating easier access to essential documents, including in an emergency.

“Upgrading this credential means that over time, more than one million NSW residents who have a Photo Card instead of a driver licence can also benefit from these security and privacy enhancements, including people who are vulnerable, elderly, disabled or new migrants.”

Successful testing of the upgraded credential paves the way for ongoing rollout of the Digital ID and Wallet program which could see a range of licences upgraded to the new credential standard.

Further legislation is required to enable wider use of NSW Digital IDs across government and accredited commercial partners, with consultation planned in late 2025.

The pilot builds on the recent success of online Working with Children Check renewals and the First Aid Certificate trial with St John Ambulance.

Citizens who have an existing NSW Digital Photo Card can voluntarily participate in the pilot, and upgrading their card will only take a matter of minutes.

Image credit: iStock.com/da-kuk