4.1 Accessing the register for the first time

On this page

If you are an entity or an entity associate, you must apply to participate in the SMS Sender ID Register and register sender IDs through your telco. After the telco submits your application, you will receive an email from the ACMA asking you to confirm the application. An account for your organisation will be created the first time your organisation accesses the register and completes the process outlined below. 

To access the register for the first time: 

  1. Click on the Sender ID register link in the ‘request to confirm your application’ email. You must use this link to go to the correct page.

You will be taken to the ACMA Assist log in page where you will need to log in using your Digital ID (myID). 

  1. Click on Log> in with Digital ID button
ACMA Assist log in page with 'Log in with Digital ID' highlighted and numbered 2

You will be taken to the Australian Government myID log in page. Follow the prompts to log in using your Digital ID. 

Note: You must have at least ‘Standard ID strength’ to access the register.
Note: For assistance logging in using your Digital ID, refer to Instructions (step 5 onwards).
Note: For assistance setting up a myID account, refer to How to set up myID

4.1.1 Verify your ABN and entity name

The first time you log in to ACMA Assist, you will be asked to verify the ABN and name of your organisation.

The next time you log in, you will be taken directly to your organisation’s account on the register.

If the ABN and entity name are correct:

  1. Check Yes.
  2. Click on the Next button.
A screenshot of the Verify your ABN screen with the yes checkbox highlighted and numbered 1 and the next button highlighted and numbered 2

4.1.2 Verify your email

Next you need to prove that you are authorised to access the register on your organisation’s behalf. In the previous section (4.1), you logged in to ACMA Assist using your myID Digital ID. The system will check your myID email address against the authorised contact and service of notice email addresses listed for your organisation on the ABR.

The next action you take will depend on which of the following 2 options applies.

  1. Check one of the options (see below for further information)
  2. Click the Next button.

 

SMS Sender ID Register access options screen with both options 1 and 2 are highlighted and labelled 1, the next button is highlighted and labelled 2

Option 1: You have access to an email listed on the Australian Business Register (ABR) Select this option if you have access to an ‘authorised contact’ or ‘service of notice’ email address listed on the ABR for your organisation. For example, your individual email address is listed on the ABR or you have access to a group email address that is listed on the ABR under one of these categories. Skip to next section

 

Option 2: You don’t have access to an email listed on the ABR. Select this option if you don’t have access to an ‘authorised contact’ or a ‘service of notice’ email address listed on the (ABR) for your organisation. Skip to next section.

Note: If you aren’t sure if your email is listed on the authorised contact list for your organisation’s ABN on the ABR, you can try option 1. The register will inform you if your email is not listed on the ABR.

Instructions: Option 1a The email address you logged in with is listed on the ABR

If the email address you used to acces ACMA Assist (using your myID) is listed as an authorised contact or service of notice on the ABR, you will be asked to agree to the terms and conditions for the register.

  1. Read the terms and conditions (SMS Sender ID Register – terms and conditions) and check the check box to agree.
  2. Click on the Next button.
A screenshot of the terms and conditions. The I agree checkbox is numbered 1 and the next button is numbered 2.

You will be taken to your organisation’s account for the register. 

To confirm your application, go to section:

To add or delete other business administrators and authorised users to ACMA Assist go to section 4.2.

Instructions: Option 1b You have an alternative email address that is listed on the ABR

If the email address you used to create your ACMA Assist account (using your myID) is not listed as an authorised contact or service of notice on the ABR, but you have another email address that is (for example, your corporate email is listed on the ABR):

  1. Enter the alternative email address that is listed on the ABR in the Email address field.
  2. Click on the Next button.
Enter your email screen with the textbox highlighted and labelled 1 and the next button highlighted and labelled 2

 

You will receive an email that contains a verification code.

  1. Enter the verification code in the text box.
  2. Click on the Next button
Confirm your email screen with the textbox highlighted and labelled 3 and the next button highlighted and labelled 4

 

If your email is listed on the ABR, you will be asked to agree to the terms and conditions for the register.

  1. Read the terms and conditions (SMS Sender ID Register – terms and conditions) and check the box to agree.
  2. Click on the Next button.
Terms and conditions screen with the checkbox highlighted and labelled 5 and the next button highlighted and labelled 6.

You will be taken to your organisation’s account for the register. 

To confirm your application, go to section:

To add or delete other business administrators and authorised users to ACMA Assist go to section 4.2.

Instructions: Option 2 You don’t have access to an email listed on the ABR

If you don’t have an email address listed as an authorised contact or service of notice for your organisation’s ABN on the ABR, you can either follow the steps below to request access from an authorised contact or update the authorised contact details on the ABR. Go to how to update your authorised contacts for instructions.

  1. Identify people who are listed as authorised contacts or in the service of notice section for your organisation’s ABN on ABR, for example a Public Officer or Director.
Note: If your organisation uses a Registered Tax or BAS Agent, they may be able to look up the current contacts for your ABN on the ABR and update them if needed.
  1. Click on the link to open an email template in your email platform. Insert the email address of the contact you identified on the ABR.
Authorisation request, next steps screen with Click here highlighted and labelled 2
  1. The template asks the contact on the ABR to create an ACMA Assist account for the organisation, and to provide you access to that account. Your name and company name will be pre-populated. You must manually populate the parts of the template highlighted below before you send it to the authorised contact.

Dear [INSERT NAME], 

I am contacting you about the SMS Sender ID Register because you are listed as an authorised contact for Best Bean CAFE on the Australian Business Register (ABR).  An authorised contact is required to:

  • set up an SMS Sender ID Register account for Best Bean CAFE 
  • to grant other users access to that register account. I require access to the register so I can [INCLUDE AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, FOR EXAMPLE, PROGRESS APPLICATIONS TO REGISTER SENDER IDS]

The register is run by the Australian Communications and Media Authority and is available via the ACMA's online portal, ACMA Assist. You can read more about the SMS Sender ID Register here: SMS Sender ID Register | ACMA. 

What you need to do

Step 1: Log in to ACMA Assist 

a) Follow this unique link ACMA Assist unique link with ABN

b) Follow these instructions to log in: https://www.acma.gov.au/instructions, starting from “5. Click on the Sign up or log in button”

Step 2: Set up Best Bean CAFE's register account 

a) After you have successfully logged in to ACMA Assist, you will be asked to confirm Best Bean CAFE's ABN. You will also be asked to confirm your email address. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete this process. 

Step 3: Authorise other users to access Best Bean CAFE's SMS Sender ID Register account 

a) You will then be directed to the 'Authorised users' section. 

b) Click on ‘invite user’ and enter [INSERT YOUR WORK EMAIL] as the email address. 

c) Enter my name: John Citizen [MAKE SURE YOUR NAME IS ENTERED EXACTLY THE SAME AS FOR YOUR myID ACCOUNT]

d) Enter a message to me in the message field, for example, confirming that you have authorised me to access the SMS Sender ID Register. 

e) Assign an access level. You can choose one of the following access levels. 

  • Business administrator: To grant me full administrative access, select "Yes" to the question: "Do you want the user to be a business administrator?" If you select yes, this will enable me to undertake all register functions for Best Bean CAFÉ. Business administrators can also grant other users access to Best Bean CAFE's register account.
  • Authorised user: If you prefer to assign me specific permissions, please manually select the relevant options, for example: 

a) Confirm/revoke sender IDs: I will have the ability to confirm or revoke sender ID registration requests 

b) Apply to register sender IDs: I will have the ability to register sender IDs

The availability of permissions may vary depending on the role of the entity. 

Optional: The Start Date and End Date fields are optional. Use these only if you wish to limit my access to Best Bean CAFE's register account to a specific timeframe.

If you have any questions, please contact me on [INSERT WORK PHONE NUMBER] 

Regards, 
John Citizen

If the authorised contact listed on the ABR for your organisation grants you access, you will receive an email advising that access has been granted that contains a link to ACMA Assist. 

  1. You will receive an email once you have been granted access. Click on the unique link in that email.
Note: The link will expire in 24 hours. If you do not action the link within 24 hours, you will need to ask the authorised contact to grant you access again.
  1. Click on the Continue button.
A screenshot of the verification screen with the continue button numbered 7.

 

You will now be a business administrator or authorised user for your organisation and will be taken to the ACMA Assist homepage.  

  1. Click on the SMS Sender ID Register tile to access the register. 
A screenshot of the ACMA Assist screen with the SMS Sender ID Register tile numbered 8

To confirm your application, go to section:

To add or delete other business administrators and authorised users to ACMA Assist go to section 4.2.

Key terms

ABN (Australian Business Number) 

Has the meaning given by section 41 of the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999.

ABN entity

An entity with an Australian Business Number (ABN) as listed on the Australian Business Register (ABR).

ABR (Australian Business Register) 

The register established under section 24 of the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999.

ACMA Assist

ACMA Assist is the online portal for the ACMA.

Customer

An entity that has a contractual arrangement with their telco relating to the sending of sender ID messages.

Entity

One of the following who uses or proposes to use sender ID messages:

  1. an individual
  2. a body corporate
  3. a corporation sole
  4. a body politic
  5. a government entity (within the meaning of the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999)
  6. a partnership
  7. any other unincorporated association or body of persons
  8. a trust
  9. a superannuation fund (within the meaning of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993).

Entity associate 

An entity that is authorised to send messages using a sender ID that belongs to another entity (the sender ID owner). For example, you are an entity associate if you are:

  • a research company that has been engaged by a bank to send messages for the bank, using its sender ID
  • a sports club that is authorised to send messages, using a sender ID that is owned by a sports league
  • an advertising or marketing agency engaged by a business to run advertising and promotional campaigns, using a sender ID owned by that business. 

If you are an entity associate for another entity, the application process consists of 2 parts.

The telco that you contact to apply must:

  • submit an application for you to participate in the register
  • submit an application to register the sender ID which belongs to the sender ID owner. This includes confirmation that the sender ID owner agrees to register the sender ID and gives you permission to use that sender ID.  

See Appendix A for more information.

Telecommunications provider (telco)

Any of the following:

  • a carrier
  • a carriage service provider
  • an electronic messaging service provider.

This means any telco or message provider that sends SMS or MMS messages for you.

Next up: 4.2 Add or delete other business administrators and authorised users to ACMA Assist chevron_right
Last updated: 30 July 2026
print Print this page
 
Online Enquiry