New Registration Requirements for SMS Sender Names

To combat the rise of SMS fraud/scams, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is implementing a mandatory national SMS Sender ID Register. This change moves away from previous manual processes to a high-security, real-time verification model.

To remain compliant with these regulatory changes that affect the entire industry, our SMS provider (Twilio) will now require all alphanumeric SMS notification sender names that are configured for each brand to be registered on the ACMA Assist registry. 

The Regulatory Deadline

All Alphanumeric Sender IDs must now be registered on the ACMA Assist registry by July 1, 2026. Registration requires mandatory Government ID verification for an Authorised Representative. After this date, any message sent using an unregistered Sender ID will be automatically overwritten as "Unverified." This may cause the SMS to be blocked by the user’s mobile service provider.

To ensure we comply with the new requirements set by our SMS provider and thereby ensure SMS notifications sent by the platform are not blocked, partners with custom sender IDs will need to take action. 

Your Options

To maintain brand trust and ensure your messages reach customers, every existing Sender ID must be re-registered under one of the following two options:

Option 1: Switch to an Employment Hero Sender ID

You can transition to one of our pre-verified, generic Sender IDs immediately.

• How to update: Please update the “SMS notification sender name” field for your brand(s) via the Partner Dashboard.
• Final Step: Once updated, please reply to this email to let us know you have made the change.
• Available Generic Names:
  
  • YourPayroll
  • EHPayroll
  • Payroll
  • payroll
  • PAYROLL

Option 2: Re-register your Custom Sender ID(s)

To keep your unique brand name, you must complete the new verification process that we are building within the Partner Dashboard to make it as easy as possible for you.

• The Process: This involves submitting documentation and Government ID for an authorised person at your company. You can find a detailed breakdown of the requirements here.
• Timeline: We are currently finalising a secure, compliant registration portal. This option will be available to you shortly, ahead of the July deadline.

Next Steps

If you are already using one of Employment Hero’s Sender IDs, no action is required. 

If you are currently using a custom Sender ID and you wish to proceed with Option 1, you can do so in your Partner Dashboard today. If you prefer Option 2, no immediate action is required; we will contact you as soon as the registration portal is live with instructions on how to submit your documentation.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping keep the Australian SMS ecosystem secure and compliant.