Learn what updates we’ve made to the jeweller program starter kit (starter kit) and the steps you need to take to keep your program current. 

If you customised the starter kit to build your anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) program, you must review these updates and decide if they should be incorporated into your program.

How we update the starter kit

We update the starter kit when: 

  • new money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing risks (we refer to these as ML/TF risks) are identified
  • existing risks or obligations change
  • small businesses in your sector change how they operate. 

We use these versions to let you know how substantial changes are:

  • Patch version (v1.1.1): small corrections (for example, typos, formatting fixes, minor clarifications). 
  • Minor version (v1.1, v1.2): additions or meaningful improvements (for example, new sections, expanded guidance). 
  • Major version (v2.0, v3.0): significant changes affecting meaning, structure or workflows. 

Summary of what’s changed in the latest release 

Release version: 1.1
Release date: 10 June 2026
Change type: Minor 

This release updates multiple documents within the starter kit to reflect:

  • updated annual compliance reporting timeframes from calendar year to financial year
  • strengthened risk assessment practices, including to clarify that indicators of unusual or criminal behaviour apply during initial customer onboarding
  • included details on how to enrol in AUSTRAC Online, noting enrolment started on 31 March 2026
  • provided additional flexibility to complete the first independent evaluation of the AML/CTF program
  • updated risk information published as part of the 2026 annual updates to our national risk assessments.

The changes also improve clarity and consistency across: 

  • customer onboarding
  • risk assessment 
  • reporting processes. 

Read the change register for details of the sections updated in each document. 

The changes ensure alignment with updated AML/CTF regulatory requirements under the:

What you need to do

There are 3 things you need to do with this update:

  • Apply this release across all affected documents within the starter kit.
  • Ensure onboarding, risk assessment and reporting processes reflect the updated requirements.
  • Replace or retire superseded document versions to prevent reliance on outdated obligations.

Change register

The following table details the changes in this release. 

Change type definitions:

  • Added: new information, obligations or process steps.
  • Updated: changes to existing obligations or process steps.
  • Fixed: correction or clarification with no change to compliance intent.

Document

Section / Step

Change type

Change summary

Reason for update
Process document – Annual compliance report Step 1 Updated Reporting reference updated from calendar year to financial year Alignment with financial reporting cycle
Process document – Annual compliance report Step 2 Updated Reporting start date changed from 1 January to 1 July Alignment with financial reporting cycle
Process document – Annual compliance report Step 4 Updated Completion date changed from 31 March to on or before 30 September Alignment with financial reporting cycle
Risk assessment – Designated services New and emerging technologies Added Added new risk information about artificial intelligence from the 2026 national risk assessment updates Alignment with current AUSTRAC risk information
Risk assessment - Common ML/TF methods   Added Added new risk information about DeFi and offshore VASPs from the 2026 national risk assessment updates Alignment with current AUSTRAC risk information
Risk assessment – Indicators of unusual or criminal behaviour Section Updated Clarified that indicators of unusual or criminal behaviour apply during initial CDD Earlier risk identification
Risk assessment – Indicators of unusual or criminal behaviour Introduction and all tables Updated Expanded “another party” definition to include counterparties and persons acting on behalf of customers, standardised terminology amongst all tables Broader risk coverage and consistent language
Risk assessment – Indicators of unusual or criminal behaviour Customer profile table Added New indicator under “Adverse information or suspected criminal links” to include where a person is engaged in criminal activity with a prohibited hate group AML/CTF Rules alignment
Risk assessment – Risk assessment sources   Added Added the 2026 national risk assessment updates as a source for the risk assessment Alignment with current AUSTRAC risk information
Policy document 5.2(2.2) Updated Updated name of form used to maintain enrolment details Alignment with AUSTRAC systems
Process document – AUSTRAC enrolment process Update AUSTRAC enrolment details Updated Updated name of form used to maintain enrolment details Alignment with AUSTRAC systems
Policy document 6 Added Added section: first independent evaluation AML/CTF Transitional Rules alignment

Version history

The following superseded documents contain track changes. They’re available as read-only files. To view all tracked changes, open the Review tab in Microsoft Word and select All Markup from the Display for Review menu.

The program starter kits are intended to be used as a complete package and have been designed for use by those reporting entities who satisfy certain suitability criteria. That suitability criteria is set out in the ‘Getting Started’ web page under the heading “Who the starter kit is for” in each program starter kit. In particular, those newly regulated entities who, from 1 July 2026, are for the first time subject to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing legislation (AML/CTF).

 The program starter kits have been designed for the purpose of providing practical guidance to those reporting entities to assist them to build their own AML/CTF programs. The program starter kits represent AUSTRAC’s interpretation and application of the law to the eligible reporting entities only and are not intended to represent an interpretation and application of the law in all circumstances. The program starter kits are not a substitute for legal advice about any reporting entity’s AML/CTF compliance obligations. Australian courts are ultimately responsible for interpreting the AML/CTF legislation and determining if any provision of these laws are contravened.

This guidance sets out how we interpret certain Australian legislation, along with associated Rules and regulations. Australian courts are ultimately responsible for interpreting these laws and determining if any provisions of these laws are contravened. 

The examples and scenarios in this guidance are meant to help explain our interpretation of these laws. They’re not exhaustive or meant to cover every possible scenario.

This guidance provides general information and isn't a substitute for legal advice. This guidance avoids legal language wherever possible and it might include generalisations about the application of the law. Some provisions of the law referred to have exceptions or important qualifications. In most cases your particular circumstances must be taken into account when determining how the law applies to you.

Last updated: 20 Aug 2026

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