We’d like to let you know about an important update to the Better Clinics SMS service.
Due to new regulations introduced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), businesses that wish to use alphatag sender IDs (for example, displaying a business name instead of a phone number when sending SMS messages) are now required to register their alphatag with the ACMA.
The new registration requirements also introduce additional administration, compliance responsibilities, and ongoing costs for businesses using alphatag sender IDs.
Because of this, Better Clinics will no longer support alphatag sender IDs as part of our SMS service.
What does this mean for you?
Your SMS reminders and messages will continue to send as normal through Better Clinics. However, messages will now be sent from a standard phone number instead of displaying your business name as the sender.
As this change comes into effect on 1 July 2026, we recommend reviewing your SMS reminder and notification templates to ensure your clinic or business name is included within the message content itself. This will help your clients easily identify who the message is from.
For example:
"Reminder from Better Health Clinic: You have an appointment with Jane Smith on 2 July at 10:00 AM."
No further action is required if your SMS templates already include your clinic name.
Why is this changing?
This change is being made to comply with updated ACMA regulations and to ensure continued reliable delivery of SMS communications for all clinics using Better Clinics.
Need Help?
We understand this may be an adjustment and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our support team and we’ll be happy to help.