Personal information and contact details
Keeping your contact details up to date
It is important that your contact details in your USI account are current and accurate. Contact details options include:
- email address
- mobile phone number
- home phone number
- mailing address.
You must provide your country of residence.
If you use a mailing address as your preferred contact method, you will still need access to a computer to activate your USI account or change your password.
Reasons we might contact you
The USI team may contact you to:
- send a link to activate your USI account
- advise if there have been changes to your USI account
- reset and advise a new password if you request one
- provide your USI if you forget it
- respond to your enquiries and help requests.
Once your USI is created, it will display on your screen. Write it down for safekeeping. We will send your USI to one of the following contact channels, depending on the details you provided:
- mobile phone
- mailing address (a post office box, locked bag address or home address).
Use your personal email
- Use your personal email address as your User ID for logging into the USI Portal.
- Avoid using a training or work email address.
- For privacy reasons, an email address cannot be used for more than one USI account.
Ensure your personal details match your identification
The personal details you provide must match those shown on your identification document (ID):
- enter your name into the first, middle and last name sections as shown on your ID
- you must enter your middle name/s if shown on your form of ID
- do not use nicknames or abbreviated names.
Preferred name
In the preferred name field, enter the name in which you prefer to be known (this includes a nickname, abbreviated name, or any other name not shown on your form of ID).
If you have only one name on your ID
If only one name is shown on your form of ID, when creating a USI select 'No, I only have one name’.
Country of birth
Enter your country of birth as the country where you were born. If the name of your country of birth has changed, enter the current name.
Town/city of birth
Enter your town/city of birth as the town/city where you were born. If the name of your town/city of birth has changed, enter the current name.
Updating your details
- Update your contact details promptly if they change.
- A new form of ID is required to update personal details, but no proof of ID is needed to update contact information or gender.
- Education or training providers can update your details in the USI Portal if you have provided them with permission and a copy of your ID.
- If you have updated your personal details against your USI, update your Tax File Number and myGov account also using the same ID. Not doing so may create problems for students accessing Commonwealth financial assistance.
Hiding your contact details
Select 'Hide Contact Details' to hide details from the providers you have given permission to view and update your USI account.
Training organisations and your USI
Notifications about your USI
You may receive notifications when:
- a training organisation accesses your USI
- your USI account details are updated (if permission has been granted)
- your account is created.
These notifications include the relevant RTO number and the training organisation’s "trading" name as registered on training.gov.au.
Verifying your USI
Training organisations must verify your USI before issuing qualifications. This ensures the information you provided matches your USI account details.
USI search by Training Organisations
Training organisations:
- Must have your permission to search or locate your USI.
- Can only view your USI number, not your personal or contact details.
Privacy assurance
All communications from the USI are designed to ensure your privacy. Notifications include key details, such as the RTO number and trading name.
Reporting suspicious or unauthorised activity
If you notice suspicious or unauthorised activity related to your USI account, contact us immediately for support.