InFocus August 2026 - Volume 35 Issue 7

ASIC releases new tools, guidance and learning resources for small business company directors

ASIC has launched the small business director essentials hub, bringing together practical tools, guidance and learning resources in one place to help small business company directors understand and meet their obligations, and navigate key stages of the company life cycle.

Resources include:

• A small business director roadmap to help directors navigate what they need to do when planning, setting up, running and closing a company, and understand the legal obligations that apply as a director throughout.
• Practical guidance on key topics, including:
  • Becoming a director
  • Managing their director obligations
  • Experiencing financial difficulty
• Free online learning modules that help directors build and apply their knowledge through interactive activities, knowledge checks and scenario-based learning. Topics include:
  • Becoming a company director
  • Managing your director obligations

The hub is designed to support directors of small companies at every stage of their company journey, whether they are considering becoming a director, are new to the role, or have years of experience.

ASIC will be continuing to refine the material and will be releasing new content later this year, including an online learning module focussed on financial difficulty.

The new resources are key initiatives under ASIC's refreshed small business strategy, which sets out how ASIC aims to support and protect small businesses through practical education, simpler interactions, stronger engagement and targeted enforcement.

Visit small business director essentials | ASIC to explore the small business director essentials hub to access practical tools, guidance and learning resources designed to help small business company directors understand and meet their obligations with confidence.

Industry funding annual returns now available — submit yours by September 2026

The Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) for the 2025–26 financial year has been released.  Regulated entities are required to submit their business activity metrics for the 2025-26FY through the ASIC Regulatory Portal between 23 July and 24 September 2026.

If your entity has industry funding obligations, you should have received correspondence with instructions on how to submit your annual return. To complete your return, log in to your ASIC Regulatory Portal account and submit the requested information by 24 September 2026.

If you do not yet have an ASIC Regulatory Portal account, ASIC will send correspondence to your registered office address, including a unique security key required to register.

If you do not receive your correspondence during July or August, refer to the FAQs in the ASIC Regulatory Portal for alternative registration and login options.

Learn more about industry funding and your annual return obligations on our website.

Reminder: Lodge sustainability reports separately

As we begin to receive lodgements for Form 398 Copy of sustainability report and auditor’s report, reporting entities are reminded that this form completed and lodged separately from Form 388 Copy of financial statements and reports, which is used to lodge the annual financial report.

Form 398 must lodged separately even where the sustainability report is included in the annual report. This helps us capture the information effectively.

Sustainability reports lodged with us are available on the public register through ASIC Connect using the company name search under Organisation & Business Names.

To learn more about sustainability reporting requirements, see our Educational modules. For information on how and when to lodge sustainability reports, visit the sustainability reporting webpage.

Registered agents: Supporting you to meet your obligations

ASIC registered agents are authorised by Australian companies to lodge documents on their behalf. You may receive notifications for your clients and provide other administrative services.

As a registered agent, you play an important role in maintaining public confidence in the accuracy and reliability of the information on our registers, and in supporting the effective management of these registers.

All registered agents must comply with ASIC’s Registered Agent Terms and Conditions. We continually monitor for potential non-compliance and may take appropriate regulatory action where concerns are identified, including suspending or cancelling a registration for serious or repeated breaches.

To support you in meeting your obligations, we encourage you to review the Registered Agent T&Cs and ensure you understand the requirements applicable to you.

Learn more about registered agents’ obligations on our website.

Stay secure: Keep your account safe and up to date

Protecting your ASIC online services access starts with a few simple steps. We encourage all registered agents and online users to regularly: 

• Change your password and use a strong, unique password. 

• Review and update your contact details. 

• Remove or update access for staff who no longer require it. 

• Check that your account information remains current and accurate. 

Regular password updates and accurate account details help reduce the risk of unauthorised access, protect sensitive information, and support the integrity of Registry services. 

Stay secure. Keep your details current. Protect your Registry access. 

Learn more about registered agent obligations on our website. 

Help companies act early on financial difficulty

Financial trouble can affect businesses of any size. If you or someone you know is struggling with business finances, contact the Small Business Debt Helpline to speak with a small business financial counsellor. They provide free, independent and confidential advice.

Call 1800 413 828 between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm (AEDT), Monday to Friday, or visit the Small Business Debt Helpline website.

Registered agents are often well placed to help companies recognise the warning signs of financial difficulty and encourage them to take action before problems become more serious.

A company may be experiencing financial difficulty if it has:

• poor cash flow
• ongoing losses
• difficulty obtaining finance

If you notice any of these warning signs, encourage the company to seek professional accounting and legal advice as soon as possible Taking action early can help company officeholders to understand their options, manage risks and meet their obligations.

You can also direct companies to our website to learn what to do if your company is experiencing financial difficulty.

Spotlight article from other Government departments or industries

Introducing AI.gov.au A new Australian Government website, AI.gov.au, is now live. AI.gov.au is the government’s front door for AI, bringing together trusted, practical guidance to help organisations understand AI, plan for its use and adopt it responsibly. Designed with input from businesses, it provides clear starting points, tools and real-world examples. Explore the site at AI.gov.au.