公证还是认证，在澳洲境内与在澳洲境外的不同。在澳洲境外的不同国家处理方式也有不同。
移民部对材料要求的目标只有一个：证明提交的资料是真实有效的。
当然，如果不是英文的必须要有对应的英文翻译，不然移民官看不懂。
对香港地区的资料，如果是英文的就提供 Certified documents ，也就是权威机构（例如学校，警察局）出具的原件和复印件相辅（一致）的认证证明。
非英文的资料，首先要翻译（要求提供翻译员的详细信息），其次要认证翻译的内容和原件相同，实际操作中提供涉外公证就可以同时满足这两项要求了。
在澳洲的话有 Statutory declarations 这种形式。
下面内容网上看到的：
香港的法定聲明(Statutory Declaration)與公證職能
獲授權監理法定聲明及誓章的人法定聲明或誓章可按下述方式作出和簽署
1.在香港：在任何監誓官、公證人或其他任何獲香港法律授權為任何法律程序的目的而監誓的人的席前作出和簽署 (規則第 80(1)(a)條 )。《法律執業者條例》 (第 159 章 )第 7A 條容許任何持有現行執業證書的律師行使監誓員的所有權力。
2.在香港以外：在任何法院、法官、太平紳士、公證人、法律公證人、領事或其他任何獲當地法律授權為任何法律程序行使公證職能或監誓的人的席前作出和簽署。在台灣僅有公證人(非一般律師)有此公證職能，台灣公證人依《公證法》相關規定可以對香港地區使用之一切法定聲明公證(認證)。(註:其他大英國協國家如紐西蘭 、澳大利亞、加拿大、馬來西亞、新加坡 等之法定聲明在台灣亦同樣僅能由公證人辦理)
香港现在一国两制，不太确定这种英联邦方式郁闷澳洲过程中是否继续适用。
下面是澳洲官方对材料认证，公证，翻译的说明。
Certified documents
Every visa application requires various supporting documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, proof of identity etc.
Unless asked to do otherwise, you should provide ‘certified copies’ of original documents, rather than the original documents.
‘Certified copies’ have been authorised (or stamped) as being true copies of originals, by a person or agency recognised by the law of the country in which you live. All departmental offices outside Australia have a person who can certify or witness documents. You may have to pay for this service.
Police certificates are the exception. You must provide original police certificates with your application.
Statutory declarations
Only certain people may witness Commonwealth statutory declarations. All departmental offices outside Australia have a person who can witness statutory declarations.
Translating documents into English
Any document in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
- A translator in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
- A translator outside Australia does not need to be accredited, but they must endorse the translation with their full name, address, telephone number, and details of their qualifications and experience in the language being translated.