# 9 April 2026

Source: https://docs.astalty.com.au/training-and-updates/changelog/april-2026/9-april-2026

> Astalty updates released on 9 April 2026: Chat; Filter by Task Invoiced Status; Adding Additional Recipients; Setting Required Records by Participant Tags...

## Chat

We've introduced **Chat (Beta)**, Astalty's built-in messaging feature that enables teams to communicate directly within the platform.

Chat supports real-time communication across your organisation, including:

- **Direct messages** for private, one-on-one conversations
- **Group channels** for team, location, or topic-based discussions
- A structured **chat interface** with a channel list, message threads, and compose area
- Full **conversation history**, with the ability to scroll and search across messages
- **Rich messaging features**, including formatting, file attachments, mentions (@), reactions, and pinned messages
- **System messages** to track activity (e.g. members added, channels updated, pins)
- **Notifications** for mentions and new messages
- **Online presence indicators** to see who is available in real time

For administrators and authorised users, Chat also includes:

- Creation and management of **group channels and members**
- Ability to **link User Groups** for automatic channel membership syncing
- Control over **Chat settings and permissions** (e.g. message editing, deletion, history visibility)

Chat is accessible via both the web platform and mobile app, providing a consistent communication experience across devices.

![The Chat page on the web, with the conversation list and Search messages field on the left and a group channel open on the right, showing messages, emoji reactions, the Messages and Pins tabs and the compose area.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-overview-1.png)

![A group channel named General Chat open in the Astalty mobile app, showing messages between team members and a message box with formatting buttons at the bottom.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-27.png)

**Important:**

- This feature is currently in **Beta** and must be enabled on your account. Please reach out to <support@astalty.com.au> to have this feature enabled on your account.
- Available functionality may vary depending on your **role and permissions** (e.g. Support Workers vs admins).

For more information, visit the following guides:

- [Chat](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/chat)
- [Chat in the App](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/scheduling/support-worker-app/chat-in-the-app)

## Filter by Task Invoiced Status

Users can new refine search results within a Participant's Tasks menu to improve visibility of Task billing progress, make outstanding invoice items easier to identify, and support more accurate tracking of Task status.

![The Participant's Tasks table with the Invoiced Status filter highlighted and set to Not Invoiced, between the Invoiced and Partially Invoiced options.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/task-invoice-status-1.png)

For more information, visit the [Tasks](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/participants/tasks#filtering-participant-tasks) guide.

## Adding Additional Recipients

When creating an eSignature request, you can add **additional recipients** to receive a copy of the completed document once all parties have signed.

Additional recipients are **not required to sign** the document but will be notified and provided with a copy after the request is finalised.

### How to Add Additional Recipients

1. While creating a **Signature Request**, locate the **Additional Recipients** section.
2. Click **Add Recipient**.
3. Select a recipient from the suggested list, or
4. Enter a **new recipient’s name and email address**.

The recipient will be added to the request and will receive a copy of the signed document once all signatures are complete.

![The signature request form with the Additional Recipients section highlighted below Signers, with an arrow pointing to the Add Recipient button.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/cleanshot-esign-add-recipient.png)

For more information, visit the [Requesting Signatures](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/esignatures/requesting-signatures#adding-additional-recipients) guide.

## Setting Required Records by Participant Tags

When creating a Participant Record Type, you can now specify whether the record is required for **all participants** or only for Participants with **selected tags**.

This allows you to tailor record requirements based on specific Participant groups, rather than applying the same requirement across your entire organisation.

### Configuring Required Records by Tag

When setting up a Participant Record Type:

1. Navigate to **Settings** and select **Participants**.
2. Click **Create Participant Record Type** or edit an existing record.
3. Locate the **Required Record** option.
4. Choose whether the record should be:

- Required for **all participants**, or
- Required only for Participants with **selected tags**.

5. If selecting tags, choose the relevant **Participant Tags** the requirement should apply to.
6. Click **Create** or **Save**.

![The Create Participant Record Type form with Required record unticked, Required for some Participant tags ticked and highlighted, and the Required for Participant tags dropdown open below it, listing tags to choose from.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/participant-record-tags.png)

For more information, visit the [Participant Records](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/participants/participant-records#setting-up-a-participant-record) guide.

## Incident Collaborators

You can add **collaborators** to an incident to allow additional users to view and contribute to the incident record.

Collaborators are users other than the primary assignee who require access to the incident. Once added, collaborators will be able to **view and edit** the incident, supporting better collaboration and shared responsibility when managing incidents.

This functionality applies to both **Participant** and **Staff Incidents**, ensuring consistent access across all incident types.

### Adding a Collaborator

1. Open the relevant **incident** from the Incidents register.
2. Locate the **Collaborators** section.
3. Click **Add Collaborator**.
4. Select the user you want to add.

The selected user will now have access to view and update the incident.

![The Update Incident drawer with the Collaborators field highlighted, showing three users selected below Assigned To.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/image-inc-collaborators.png)

For more information, visit the [Incidents](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/incidents) guide.

## Sending Multiple User Records for Signing

You can send **multiple User Records in a single eSignature request**, allowing you to streamline the signing process and reduce the need to send individual requests.

This is useful when multiple documents need to be reviewed and signed at the same time. Recipients will receive a single request containing all selected records, improving efficiency and simplifying document management.

![The Create Signature Request for User Records drawer, with two Records ticked in the highlighted Select list and a Next button at the bottom.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/cleanshotuserrecordsmulti.png)

For more information, visit the [User Records](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/settings/users-settings/user-records#sending-multiple-user-records-for-signing) guide.

## Participant Documents Report

You can find the [Participant Documents Report](https://astalty.com.au/reports/participants/documents) by navigating to the [Reports](https://app.astalty.com.au/reports) page in Astalty and selecting **Participant Documents**.

**This report is only accessible by Users with Admin role assigned.**

### Report Overview

This report provides an overview of all **Participant Documents** stored within the system.

The report displays key document information, allowing you to search, filter, and review documents across all Participants.

If you do not have access to view all Participants, you will only see documents related to your assigned Participants.

![The Participant Documents Report with a search field and filter button, listing documents with their file type, Name, Participant, Categories and Uploaded time, sorted newest first, and a three-dot menu on each row.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/participants-documents-report.png)

For more information, visit the [Participant Documents Report](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/reports/participant-document-report) guide.

## Preferred Names now in Participant Export

The Participants Export has been updated to include a new "**Preferred Name**" column. This enhancement allows teams to better personalise their communication with Participants, ensuring messages feel more appropriate and respectful. It is particularly useful for activities such as mail-outs, group SMS communications, and sending cards, where using a Participant's preferred name can improve engagement and overall experience.

For more information, visit the [Participants Export](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/exports/participants-export) guide.

## Travel Evidence Policy

This update introduces stronger travel tracking and verification by allowing organisations to require photographic evidence alongside odometer readings. It improves accuracy, transparency, and audit readiness across travel-related claims.

**What's changed**

- Added configurable **Travel Evidence Policy** with options for:
  - Odometer readings only, or
  - Odometer readings with photographic evidence
- Enabled ability for Support Workers to capture odometer evidence using their camera or selecting images from their gallery.
- Enabled visibility of **photographic evidence within Shift Approvals** via a drop-down menu

**Why this improves compliance**

These enhancements ensure travel data is more reliable and easier to verify. Photographic evidence reduces the likelihood of incorrect or falsified entries by providing a clear visual record of odometer readings. Capturing this information at both the start and end of travel creates a complete and traceable audit trail.

By surfacing this evidence during Shift Approvals, administrators can efficiently validate travel claims before approving them. This supports compliance, strengthens accountability, and reduces the risk of errors or misuse while maintaining a streamlined workflow for Support Workers.

![The Travel Evidence Policy section of the Scheduling Settings form, highlighted, with Odometer Only selected and Odometer and Photos as the other option, and an arrow pointing to the Update button.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/scheduling-settings-2a.png)

![The Start Travel screen in the Travel Record view, with the travel limit, the odometer reading field and the Odometer Photo Camera and Gallery buttons highlighted above Submit.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/travel-with-images-1.png)

![A shift on the Shift Approvals page with Shift Hours on the left and End Travel on the right, where the Odometer Photos section is highlighted, showing a Start photo and an End photo.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/odometer-evidence-1.png)

For more information, check out the following guides:

- [Travel (to, during and from)](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/scheduling/travel-to-during-and-from)
- [Recording Travel During a Shift](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/scheduling/support-worker-app/during-a-shift/record-travel-during-a-shift)