From 1 July 2026, organisations sending one-way branded SMS messages in Australia must register their Sender ID with ACMA. Here is what Altura SMS customers need to know.
From 1 July 2026, the way organisations send branded SMS messages within Australia is changing.
If you want your one-way SMS messages to display your organisation name as the sender, known as a branded Sender ID, that Sender ID must be registered with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
If your organisation uses two-way SMS messages where patients can reply, or if you do not use a branded Sender ID, this page may not apply to you.
If your organisation sends one-way SMS messages and wants those messages to display a branded Sender ID, please read the information below.
About the SMS Sender ID Register
Part 24B of the Telecommunications Act provides for the establishment of the SMS Sender ID Register.
The Register is an Australian Government initiative designed to:
- reduce SMS scams
- protect consumer trust
- help legitimate businesses and organisations remain clearly identifiable when sending SMS messages
From 1 July 2026, if an SMS message is sent using a Sender ID that is not registered in the Register, the Sender ID will be labelled as "Unverified" instead of displaying your organisation name.
Messages labelled as "Unverified" may also be grouped with other unverified messages, including scam messages.
Who needs to register?
Your organisation needs to register its Sender ID if:
- you send one-way SMS messages;
- your messages display your organisation name, brand name, trading name, or another custom Sender ID; and
- you want that branded Sender ID to continue appearing on SMS messages from 1 July 2026.
If you do not use a branded Sender ID, or your SMS messages are sent from a phone number, you may not need to register a Sender ID.
Requirement to use a participating provider
To send SMS messages using a branded Sender ID, your organisation must:
- register the Sender ID in the SMS Sender ID Register; and
- ensure that the messages are sent using one or more participating telecommunications providers.
A list of participating telecommunications providers that are originating telecommunications providers will be made available on the ACMA website. Altura Health, along with our partner SMS providers, is registered as an originating telco.
Who can apply to register a Sender ID?
The following types of entities can be approved to apply to register Sender IDs:
- individuals
- body corporates / companies
- corporations sole
- bodies politic
- government entities
- partnerships
- unincorporated associations or bodies of persons
- trusts
- superannuation funds
To have a Sender ID registered, the entity must be able to demonstrate a valid use case for the Sender ID.
Examples of valid healthcare-related use cases may include:
- appointment reminders
- admission or discharge information
- patient administration updates
- billing or account notifications
- hospital or clinic operational messages
Entities with an ABN
If your organisation has an Australian Business Number (ABN), it can apply to register a Sender ID through a participating telecommunications provider that is an originating telecommunications provider, or through a partner of a participating telecommunications provider.
To proceed, the person making the request for your organisation must:
- be listed as an authorised contact for the entity on the Australian Business Register (ABR), or otherwise be authorised by the entity;
- pass an identification check; and
- agree to the Register's terms of use.
Before starting, please confirm who in your organisation is listed as an authorised contact in the ABR.
The most common reason registrations are delayed is because the authorised ABR contact, such as a Director, CFO, CEO, Practice Manager, or authorised administrator, is not involved early in the process.
If this is not you, please ensure the appropriate person within your organisation reviews this page before starting the process.
What happens after the application is submitted?
Once the application is submitted on behalf of your organisation, the person making the request will receive instructions from ACMA about how to access the Register.
Once your organisation is approved by ACMA, your organisation will be able to confirm the registration of the Sender ID.
After your Sender ID is registered, your organisation can authorise other participating telecommunications providers to send messages using that registered Sender ID.
Entities without an ABN
If your organisation does not have an ABN, you can only apply to register a Sender ID through:
- a certified telecommunications provider; or
- a partner of a certified telecommunications provider.
The provider or partner will conduct checks similar to those required for entities with an ABN.
Entities without an ABN that apply through this pathway will not be able to access the Register directly.
Costs
Altura does not currently charge an additional fee for Sender ID registration. Standard SMS usage charges still apply.
Ready to get started?
Once you have confirmed who the authorised ABR contact is for your organisation, contact Altura and we will provide the next steps for Sender ID registration.
Email us about Sender ID: sales@alturahealth.com.au