On Thursday 11 June 2026, more than 700 conveyancers joined triSearch for a live, hands-on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) workshop ahead of the 1 July deadline.
Richard Storey, Risk Consulting Partner at Grant Thornton Australia, led the compliance guidance, with live platform demonstrations from triSearch Major Account Manager Mark Pinto. The workshop was championed by Jennie Tonner, President of the AICNSW and Board member of REI NSW, who saw a clear gap between the compliance deadline and enrolment numbers across the profession, and decided to do something about it.
Over three and a half hours, attendees didn’t just learn about AML/CTF, they built their programs in real time. Here’s what we covered, and the answers to the questions that came up most.
Key takeaways
- You don’t need to be perfect by 1 July. AUSTRAC’s expectation is a genuine effort: a program in place, staff trained, and the right questions being asked of clients.
- AUSTRAC enrolment and your AML/CTF program are separate steps. You can build your program first and enrol with AUSTRAC later. You have until 29 July 2026 to complete enrolment.
- The triSearch Compliance Centre guides you through each step. The guided risk assessment, policy builder, and staff onboarding tools are all built from the digitised AUSTRAC Starter Kit, so what you build inside it is aligned with AUSTRAC requirements.
- VOI is not enough on its own. Client onboarding under AML/CTF also requires PEP, sanctions, and adverse media screening, plus a Know Your Customer (KYC) form and a client risk assessment.
- Not every client trigger enhanced due diligence. Source of funds checks and additional scrutiny apply to high-risk scenarios. For standard conveyancing matters, the initial checks are clear and consistent.
The AUSTRAC Enrolment Walkthrough
Watching the AUSTRAC enrolment process live was one of the most valuable parts of the session. The system has a few places where conveyancers commonly get stuck.
The biggest one: conveyancing doesn’t appear as a standalone industry category. You need to select Business and Professional Services first, then the conveyancing subcategory becomes visible. This tripped up many attendees before the session, so it’s worth knowing before you start.
Other things to have on hand when enrolling (if you are unsure with any of the below, we recommend consulting with your accountant to confirm these details prior to commencing the AUSTRAC enrolment process):
- Your ABN and ACN
- Director identification numbers (mandatory for all directors)
- Details of any beneficial owners or controlling parties
- The name of your nominated AML compliance officer
- Your AML/CTF program must be in place by 1 July 2026.
- You have until 29 July 2026 to complete your AUSTRAC enrolment. That’s 28 days from the date you first provide a designated service.
Building the risk assessment and policy
The firm risk assessment is the foundation of your AML/CTF program. It shapes everything: the policies your firm operates under, the procedures your staff follow, and the due diligence you apply to clients.
Inside the triSearch Compliance Centre, the risk assessment is built through a guided builder that digitises the AUSTRAC Starter Kit for conveyancing practices with 15 or fewer staff. You answer structured questions across four risk vectors:
- Client types: who are your clients? Individuals, companies, trusts, partnerships, or charities?
- Delivery channels: how do you interact with them? In-person, online, or remote?
- Country risk: do you act for clients from higher-risk countries? The Compliance Centre checks this automatically against the Basel Index.
See the AUSTRAC User Guide for additional support.
For each risk factor, you decide whether your firm will accept that risk. If you say no, you document how you’ll prevent it. Once complete, the Compliance Centre generates your policy and procedure document automatically. You’ll have a compliant AML/CTF program, built in the time it took to answer the questions.
FAQs from the session
- Do my staff also need to register with AUSTRAC?
No. Only the business owner registers with AUSTRAC. Staff don’t need their own enrolment. - Which staff need police checks?
Police checks and bankruptcy register searches are mandatory for the AML compliance officer. Senior managers and governing body members should also expect more thorough due diligence. For general client-facing staff, the obligation covers identity verification and an AML/CTF watchlist screening. - Can I have more than one compliance officer?
AUSTRAC recognises one compliance officer per enrolled entity. However, the triSearch Compliance Centre lets you nominate multiple compliance officers with system access for delegation purposes. - What order do I onboard my staff?
The governing body onboards first, then the compliance officer (if different), then the rest of the team. - Do I need to complete AML/CTF checks on existing clients if their matters settle after 1 July?
Yes. From 1 July, obligations apply to all active designated services, including matters already underway. - Does VOI alone satisfy my AML/CTF obligations?
No. You also need to run a politically exposed persons (PEP), sanctions, and adverse media screening, collect a Know Your Customer (KYC) form, and complete a risk assessment for each client. triSearch’s triVOI connects directly into this workflow inside the Compliance Centre. - Do I need to check source of funds for every client?
No. High-risk scenarios trigger source of funds checks, not standard matters. Where a client does carry high risk, enhanced client due diligence applies, including requesting bank statements and financial documentation. - Can I update my AUSTRAC enrolment after it’s submitted?
Yes. Log back into AUSTRAC Online and update your enrolment if your designated services or business details change. Keep a record of any updates alongside your AML/CTF program documentation.
What you need to do before 1 July
AUSTRAC’s expectation isn’t perfection. What they expect is a genuine effort: a program in place, staff trained, and the right questions being asked of clients. The three things to prioritise are:
- Complete your AML/CTF program in the triSearch Compliance Centre (risk assessment, policy, and procedure)
- Onboard your governing body and compliance officer through personnel due diligence
- Ensure all staff complete their AML/CTF training and pass the quiz before 1 July
Client-facing obligations take effect from 1 July. Getting your program and team ready now puts you in the best position to meet them from day one.
What's coming next
Please see the full recording of the workshop below.
To access the triSearch Compliance Centre or book a demonstration, visit the AML/CTF Compliance Centre page.
For access issues, please submit a ticket here.
