When it comes to Australian domain names, we know there is a lot of information available. We conducted a quick check of users’ top Google searches about auDA and the .au to highlight topics that are high on your ‘must know’ list.
Here are your top 10 auDA-related search queries from April 2022 – and our answers to them.
auDA WHOIS
The WHOIS service allows you to query a .au domain name to find ‘who is’ the registrant and their contact details. It makes selected registry data publicly available. Understanding who has registered a domain name, and being able to check their eligibility to hold a .au licence, supports the integrity of the .au domain. In case you’re wondering whether the WHOIS is popular, it receives more than 2 million queries per day. You can access the WHOIS here.
auDA Foundation
The auDA Foundation is a charitable trust established to promote activities that enhance the utility of the Internet for the benefit of the Australian community. The auDA Foundation recently awarded 15 grants of $40,000 to support successful applicants’ research and education initiatives. Find out more about the auDA Foundation here and hear directly from 2021 grant recipients here.
auDA .au direct
.au direct is Australia’s newest domain namespace. Launched on 24 March 2022, short, simple .au direct domain names allow Australians to register names directly before the '.au' for the first time e.g. getyour.au or pavlova.au. In under three weeks, .au direct registrations surpassed 100,000, demonstrating strong interest from Australians. Learn more about .au and what it could change for you here.
auDA .au direct Priority Status Tool
The .au direct Priority Allocation Process provides registrants priority status to apply for the .au direct match of their existing name domain name (e.g. the registrant of auda.org.au is eligible to apply for Priority Status for auda.au). The Process applies to .au domain names registered before 11am AEDT 24 March 2022. If more than one registrant is eligible to apply for the same .au direct name, allocation is based on Priority Categories.
The Priority Status Tool helps people navigate the .au direct Priority Allocation Process by allowing them to check the Priority Category of a domain name. Learn more about the Priority Allocation Process here and find the Priority Status Tool here.
auDA password recovery
If a registrant forgets their domain password, it can be easily retrieved by heading to the .au domain password recovery tool at https://pw.auda.org.au/. Your password will be sent to the email address you used to register the domain name, so ensure you keep your registration details up to date.
auDA complaints
To ensure continued trust and confidence in the .au, we are available to discuss queries or concerns about the .au, including those about registrant eligibility and registrar responsibilities.
If you have queries or concerns about a particular domain name, you can rise the matter with the registrar of record (if you are not sure who the registrar is, you can check the WHOIS tool). If you are unhappy with the registrar’s response, you raise it with auDA. Learn more about the enquiry and complaints process here.
auDA rules
The .au Licensing Rules set out the requirements under which eligible registrants may register domain names in the .au. All registrants in .au must have a validated Australian presence. The definition of an Australian presence can be found at Section 1.4 of the .au Licensing rules and includes citizens, permanent residents and organisations registered in Australia. Additionally, certain .au namespaces have eligibility rules e.g. com.au is dedicated to commercial entities and org.au is dedicated to not-for-profits and charities. Find the rules here.
auDA Terms of Endorsement
auDA is endorsed by the Federal Government to administer the .au via Terms of Endorsement. The Terms outline the core functions and principles we must fulfill:
- Ensuring a stable, secure and reliable operation of the .au domain, as part of Australia’s suite of critical infrastructure.
- Administering a licensing regime for .au domain names based in multi-stakeholder processes that is transparent, responsive, accountable, accessible and efficient.
- Advocating for, and actively participating in, multi-stakeholder Internet governance processes both domestically and internationally.
The Terms of Endorsement are regularly reviewed by the government to ensure their relevance and auDA’s performance Read more about auDA’s Terms of Endorsement here.
auDA multi-stakeholder
The Internet is governed globally via multi-stakeholder processes. The multi-stakeholder community is made up of representatives from governments, industry, the technical community and the general community who all participate on an equal footing. This model recognises the valuable contribution that all stakeholders make to Internet governance, not only governments. We wrote about auDA’s role in multi-stakeholder Internet governance here.
auDA accredited registrar
.au registrars are companies accredited by auDA to offer .au domain name services to the public, including registering and renewing domain name licences. Accredited registrars meet our strict licensing and security requirements. Only accredited registrars have direct access to update registry data. Find an accredited registrar here.
If you’d like to stay up to date with the latest information about auDA and the .au domain, become an auDA member at www.auda.org.au/join. You can also receive the latest updates by following us on Linked In, Twitter or Facebook.
