HIPAA Compliance for Online Fax in Australia
GoFax is HIPAA compliant, ISO 27001 certified and 100% Australian owned. Send and receive patient information by fax and SMS, with technical, physical and administrative safeguards in place.
Does HIPAA apply in Australia?
HIPAA is a United States law, so it does not apply to most Australian businesses. Here, health information is covered by the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. Many Australian providers still choose a HIPAA compliant fax service, because it proves strong safeguards for patient data.
What is HIPAA compliance?
HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, a United States law that protects patient information. It covers protected health information (PHI) and its electronic form (ePHI).
It has three key rules: Privacy, Security and Breach Notification.
Anyone who stores or sends health information must have administrative, technical and physical safeguards that keep it confidential, protect it from threats and stop it being used or shared without permission.
How GoFax meets HIPAA safeguards
Each safeguard below lists the HIPAA reference your compliance team will look for, and what GoFax does to meet it.
Safeguard | How GoFax meets it | HIPAA reference |
Encryption | Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Fax by email uses TLS, with S/MIME certificates for extra protection. The portal, app and API use HTTPS. | 164.312(e)(2)(ii) |
Integrity and backups | Encrypted backups every hour and every day. Sent fax pages are kept for 90 days by default, with custom data retention for corporate accounts. | 164.312(c)(1) |
Transmission security | Auto Delete removes fax pages straight after a fax is sent or received. User permissions control who can see fax and SMS content. | 164.312(e)(1) |
User authentication | Every user has their own login. API access uses tokens. Multi-factor authentication is available. | 164.312(a)(2)(i) |
Access control | Sub users with set permissions, and allowed senders for faxing by email. | 164.312(a)(1) |
Automatic logoff | Users are logged out after 15 minutes of inactivity. | 164.312(a)(2)(iii) |
Audit controls | A full audit trail on every account, with a downloadable history of sent and received faxes. | 164.312(b) |
Facility access | Servers are in secure, restricted access data centres in Australia. | 164.310(a)(1) |
Workstations and devices | Policies for staff devices. GoFax staff only access ePHI for support. IP restrictions are available for corporate accounts. | 164.310(b), 164.310(c) |
Administrative safeguards | Contingency plans, security incident response, workforce security, staff training, activity review and sanctions. | 164.308 |
Email checks such as SPF, which confirm a fax really came from your business, are covered on our Secure Online Fax page.
Our HIPAA compliance program
GoFax runs its compliance program around seven core elements:
Written policies, procedures and standards of conduct
A designated compliance officer and compliance committee
Regular staff training and education
Clear ways for staff to raise concerns
Internal monitoring and audits
Standards enforced through published disciplinary guidelines
Fast response and corrective action when an issue is found
Trusted by healthcare providers
Hospitals and health services
Send referrals, results and discharge summaries securely between departments and providers.
Fax for healthcareGPs and specialists
Receive referrals and pathology results straight to email, with a full record of every fax.
Fax for general practiceAllied health and dental
Physiotherapists, dentists and optometrists send and receive patient documents without a fax machine.
Fax for allied healthKeep patient data in Australia
Turn on optional data sovereignty and all your fax data is routed, processed and stored in Australia. GoFax also follows the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles.
HIPAA questions
No. HIPAA is a United States law. In Australia, health information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988, the Australian Privacy Principles and some state health records laws. Always seek legal advice for your situation.
Yes. GoFax is HIPAA compliant and ISO 27001 certified, with technical, physical and administrative safeguards for health information.
The Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. Some states also have their own health records laws, such as the Health Records Act 2001 in Victoria and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 in NSW.
Fax can be HIPAA compliant when the service encrypts data, controls who can see it and keeps an audit trail. GoFax does all three.
It is not a legal requirement in Australia. Many healthcare providers still choose one, because it shows the provider meets a strict standard for protecting patient data.
Hospitals, GPs, specialists, dentists, optometrists, physiotherapists and other allied health providers.
Yes. Optional data sovereignty keeps all your fax data in Australia. It costs 10% extra.
Yes. GoFax can sign a business associate agreement (BAA) for organisations that need one, such as those sharing health information with US partners. Contact our team to arrange it.
See what GoFax customers say
4.9/5 (145 reviews) 
What an amazing experience
What an amazing experience! Jo was so patient and kind! A bargain for our needs too.
20 Sep 2023 | TrustPilot Nancy
Verified Customer
Highly recommend
Excellent service! Live chat helped me set up my account, and fax documents overseas right from my email, much faster and far less expensive than by post. Reliable and easy to use. Highly recommend.
10 May 2026 | TrustPilot Rose Lloyd
Verified Customer
Worked well for us for years!
Top stars for a top service: worked well for us for years!
25th February, 2026 | Google Adrian T
Verified Customer
We have used GoFax for years
We have used GoFax for years and they are so affordable for a small business. I cannot fault their service. They keep in regular contact regarding network outages, etc. We are now increasing our business with them and once again, I cannot fault the simplicity of service and the product offering for a small business. Thanks GoFax - Go Well!
23 July 2025 | Google Monique Piwonka
Verified Customer
GoFax was easy to set-up and use
GoFax was easy to set-up and use. I needed to fax tax documents to the US from NZ. GoFax did the trick. It took me less than 40 minutes from researching online fax software to getting my fax sent confirmations. 100 pages for A$15, highly recommended and great value, only problem now is what to do with remaining 96 pages!
10 July 2026 | TrustPilot Donald Purdie
Verified Customer
Support was fabulous!
Joseph was a huge help in assisting me to learn how to navigate GoFax and use it to its maximum utility for me in my professional role. He also helped me to edit my Settings on GoFax to avoid unnecessary charges for Notification services I simply don't need. He was fabulous at walking me through step by step way using accessible language for an older generation user of these kinds of technologies!
7 July 2024 | TrustPilot Jan
Verified Customer
Simple and highly recommended
When I needed to fax documents to the US, and with the demise of fax serviuces from Aust Post and Office Works, I used GoFax. Very simple, from my laptop, very economical. Highly recommended for occasional users like myself.
13 October 2023 | TrustPilot John Renzenbrink
Verified Customer
Wonderful customer service
Joe was very personable and incredibly helpful in guiding me through setting up the service with my third party sender, and teaching me bits and pieces I didn't know I could utilise. Very please with my decision to join up!
25 July 2023 | TrustPilot In Balance Psychology Clinic
Verified Customer
Extremely efficient
We have been using GoFax for a few months now and find it an extremely efficient method of sending and receiving faxes. It is particularly convenient for staff who are working remotely. I would highly recommend.
20 June 2023 | TrustPilot Sandra Brandt
Verified Customer
Excellent service
Excellent service! Live chat helped me set up my account, and fax documents overseas right from my email, much faster and far less expensive than by post. Reliable and easy to use. Highly recommend.
01 June 2026 | Google Rose Lloyd
Verified Customer
The best service
Top stars for top service, worked well for us for years.
01 February 2026 | Google Adrian T
Verified Customer
Simple and affordable service
We have used GoFax for years and they are so affordable for a small business. I cannot fault their service. They keep in regular contact regarding network outages, etc. We are now increasing our business with them and once again, I cannot fault the simplicity of service and the product offering for a small business.
23 July 2025 | Google Monica Piwonka
Verified Customer
Great experience
The team are always pleasant to deal with and happy to help. A great experience!
12 February 2025 | Google Kimberly Daniels
Verified Customer
Amazing service
10 stars! Amazing service from Joseph! He called me and explained everything and guided me through the 4 simple steps, even hunted us a fax number closer to match what we needed. I can't speak highly enough of the service that was provided, he went above and beyond to make sure I was happy with everything and what a simple process everything was!
Paide McGregor
Verified Customer
Great Australian company
I can't recommend this organisation enough, if you are looking at going to a digital fax service. Everyone I have spoken to have been so helpful in assisting me through the whole process. Great Australian company.
24 July 2024 | Google Rose Avenue Medical Practice
Verified Customer
Simple process and easy set-up
I don’t normally provide reviews but in this case I was more than willing. I couldn’t believe how simple the process was to set up and the support and customer service provided by GoFax was next level.
02 October 2024 | Google Karen Wheeler
Verified Customer
Outstanding service
Outstanding service from Joseph! He called me twice to explain everything and guided me through it all like a true professional. I can't speak highly enough of the service Joseph provided, he went above and beyond the call of duty. Without question, the best service I've ever received!
28 November 2023 | Google Peter Gillard
Verified Customer
Gofax, an industry leader!
We've been with GoFax for multiple years at this stage and have never experienced any down-time. Their services are easy to use and understand. Our account manager, along with their support team is phenomenal. GoFax allows us to leverage our pre-existing infrastructure and have worked alongside us to streamline our business solutions. I look forward to the years to come!
12 June 2023 | TrustPilot Will Sillajew
Verified Customer
Reliable and affordable
I am so glad that such a reliable and affordable service is available in Australia.
14 September 2025 | Google QT
Verified Customer
Excellent after sales assistance
I needed to provide documents to the IRS (USA) to secure a tax return. they woud only accept faxes or express courier mail. GoFax came to my rescue - easy to use (just like sending an email), low cost, and a confirmation receipt provided. Excellent after sales assistance too. highly recommeneded for all faxes.
06 November 2023 | Google John Renzenbrink
Verified Customer
Great, friendly service
Service on both days from Joseph was helpful and very prompt. Teams service was excellent as it gave Joseph an opportunity to try to replicate the problem I was having yesterday. Joseph also provided me with an alternative to send Faxes by using send.gofax.com.au. This made my bulk work quicker and less frustrating. Great work Joseph and GoFax company for following up with me in a timely manner.
5 April 2023 | TrustPilot Christine
Verified Customer
Excellent service
I had started to apply for a fax number, and I received a call to assist in the process without any prompting. The person assisting was amazing and it was all done very efficiently. Very happy with the service and manner of the GoFax employee. Thank you.
11 April 2023 | TrustPilot Julie-Anne Rogers
Verified Customer
Amazing service
Administation is easy - was able to create an email group, populate it, and then advertise that as the desitination for incoming faxes. The sender didn't know the difference! Furthermore, I was able to integrate into the scanning feature of the printer. All the user does is scan their page, creates a PDF and sends off the fax direct from the printer. The users love it and although we get plenty of messages about maintenance an updates, we have never had any problems using GoFax.
27 August 2021 | SourceForge Glen S.
Verified Customer
Quick, easy and worth doing
Joe was super helpful and his instructions were easy to understand and follow. He had the info at his fingertips and could recall my previous conversations with Natalie so that you didn't have to go through it all again. He knew his stuff with the telco's so the transition across would go smoother. Well worth the effort of changing over to GoFax.
| TrustPilot Julie
Verified Customer
Friendly and helpful
I have spoken to Anita & Joe in the Sales team and both were super helpful & friendly. The best customer service I have had in a long time.
24 March 2023 | TrustPilot Kingston Foot Clinic
Verified Customer
Great Customer Service
I have only just started with GoFax but so far am really impressed! The agent (Janelle) was so helpful in setting things up exactly how I wanted them, quickly and efficiently, and checked everything was working properly all the way along. Thank you!
30 January 2023 | TrustPilot Emily Wilkinson
Verified Customer
Protect patient information with GoFax
Create your GoFax account online, or talk to our Australian team about your compliance needs.