As we close out another financial year in Australia, there is plenty for our sector to recognise and celebrate. Year-end processes are largely complete, and Payday Super has commenced, with impressively few issues. This outcome reflects the significant effort, capability and collaboration of DSPs, advisers and businesses.

Major changes of this scale do not happen without careful preparation. Across the sector, teams have worked through complex technical, operational and regulatory requirements while continuing to support their customers and maintain critical services. The way the industry has responded is a strong reminder of the expertise, resilience and commitment that exists across our sector.

It also demonstrates what can be achieved when government, regulators, software providers, advisers and businesses engage early and work towards a shared outcome.

The Progress Made

The year ahead presents another important opportunity to build on this momentum.

Bedding down Payday Super will remain a priority. While the initial transition has been positive, ongoing collaboration will be important as businesses adapt their processes, customers become familiar with the new arrangements and implementation issues emerge.

Beyond Payday Super, modern payments, Digital ID and regulatory efficiency will continue to shape the next wave of digital transformation. We will continue to advocate for approaches that recognise those realities and enable digital service providers to contribute their expertise early and meaningfully

Each of these areas has the potential to lift productivity, reduce administrative friction and strengthen trust across the economy. They also offer an opportunity to make it easier for businesses and individuals to interact securely with government and essential services.

Realising those benefits will depend on implementation that is practical, collaborative and grounded in the realities faced by software providers and their customers. Good policy intent must be supported by clear requirements, realistic timeframes and meaningful engagement with the people responsible for delivering the technology.

DSPANZ will continue to bring the experience of DSPs into these discussions. Practical feedback from the businesses responsible for turning policy into working software is essential to identifying friction early and ensuring new requirements can operate effectively in the real world.

Behind the Scenes 

This is also an exciting and important time for DSPANZ.

we are creating a sharper and more member-focused organisation. This means establishing clearer priorities, strengthening engagement and bringing a more disciplined approach to advocacy, events, working groups and service delivery.

Our objective is to ensure that DSPANZ is concentrating its efforts where it can provide the greatest value to members and the wider business software sector.

That includes creating useful opportunities for members to exchange knowledge, contributing practical industry expertise to policy development and ensuring the voice of digital service providers is heard as new regulatory and technology initiatives take shape.

We also want to make it easier for members to understand where DSPANZ is focusing, how they can contribute and what progress is being made. Stronger engagement will help us draw on the depth of expertise across our membership and represent the sector with greater clarity and impact.

Looking Ahead

There is a great deal still to do, but the opportunity is significant.

The next phase of digital and regulatory change will create both opportunities and challenges for software providers and their customers. DSPANZ has an important role to play in helping the sector navigate that change, encouraging practical implementation and building constructive relationships across industry and government.

I look forward to working with members to strengthen DSPANZ’s influence and support the business software sector across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Thank you to our members and the wider sector for the expertise, collaboration and commitment you continue to bring to this work.