Secure message help
On this pageBrowser requirements
When you send a secure message to Centrelink, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption protects your message from interception. This helps to protect your privacy. For SSL encryption to work you must use a modern browser such as:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Mozilla Firefox.
Find out about free programs that may help you to use the web.
Cookies are small files that a website leaves on your computer hard drive. The information stays on your computer after your internet session until the cookie expires. This service uses cookies that do not contain personal information. Most Internet browsers are pre-set to accept cookies.
The Secure Message Forms service uses 'cookies' in three ways. A cookie is used to:
- check if your computer has support for cookies turned on. If cookies are turned off, Centrelink will notify you to enable cookies so you can use the service
- manage the time needed to complete your transaction. It contains the start time of your transaction
- note the session identifier to allow our web server to manage your session.
Your browser preferences must be set to support JavaScript. JavaScript is a programming language that runs the interactive features of the Secure Message Forms service. Some older browsers may not support JavaScript.
If you have problems contact Centrelink:
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Encryption
All messages between the browser running on your computer, and Centrelink's computers, use 40bit encryption.
Once you choose a secure contact option, submit the form to send your message to Centrelink, or you may decide not to send a message.
To further protect your privacy, you can only exit from these forms by selecting the 'Cancel and return to menu' option, or one of the 'Cancel' or 'Submit' buttons.
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Completing your message
- Choose the message type that you want to send to Centrelink.
- Fill in the required fields of your message form with your details.
- Use 'Quick tips' for more help, if you are not sure what to do.
- Select the 'Send message' button when you have entered your details. Select 'Cancel' if you want to stop your message.
- Return to your form to make further changes, if you entered information incorrectly or missed required details.
- If there are no errors in your form, check your information from the 'Message confirmation' screen.
- Print your message for your own records by pressing Ctrl-P.
- Select the 'Send message' button if the information is correct. Select the 'Change message' button to re-enter your details.
Note: Do not use your browser's Back button or you will lose all of your information.
- Select the Cancel and return option (top of the window), if you do not want to send the form.
- If you choose Send message the Message receipt screen will appear. Note the receipt number and select the Finish button.
- To protect your privacy, when you send your message all information will be cleared from your browser.
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After Centrelink gets your message
Your message is sent to the appropriate area within Centrelink. If you changed your personal details or made a Request for Service, to help protect your identity a Centrelink Customer Service Adviser will call you to confirm your changes.
If we have problems contacting you by phone we will send you an email (if we have your email address.) We will not send any personal details by email.