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Linked Accounts – What are they, why do they exist and how to request

Updated 15 Oct 2026

In June 2026, BowlsLink introduced Linked Accounts to support members who cannot provide mandatory contact details, such as a mobile number or email address, for a legitimate reason.

This release also includes a refreshed user interface and several usability improvements for Club Administrators, including:

  • Easier switching between member profiles
  • A new Profile Completion Score on member dashboards
  • Clearer visibility of missing or incomplete member data

▶ Watch the video: Linked Accounts Explainer 1

What is a ‘Linked Account’?

A Linked Account allows one account, known as the Parent Account, to manage another account, known as the Child Account.

These terms are used within BowlsLink to describe the account roles. They do not only apply to families or junior members.

A Child Account:

  • Can be unlinked in future if required
  • Can only be linked to one Parent Account
  • Cannot be logged into directly
  • Can only be accessed through the Parent Account

Linked Accounts are designed for exceptional cases where a participant cannot meet BowlsLink’s mandatory data requirements for a legitimate reason.

Examples may include:

  • A member does not have an email address
  • A member does not have a mobile phone number
  • Contact details are shared between members

Linked Accounts help ensure these members can still be listed correctly with their club while reducing the risk of duplicate accounts.

A Linked Account cannot be logged into – the Parent Account can only access the Child Account.

How Linked Accounts are managed

For existing members, Linked Account requests are managed through the Linked Account Request Form.

Only System Administrators, such as Bowls Australia or State/Territory Association administrators, can formally link accounts in BowlsLink.

Club Administrators can request that accounts be linked, but they cannot complete the linking process themselves.

New Linked Accounts can only be created and managed through the BowlsLink App.

Parent and Child Accounts – displaying data

When an account is linked with a Parent and Child, the key details of Mobile and Email of a Parent Account, will show in a Child Account when viewing their member dashboard and hovering over their name in the Membership list. 

The Child account will not formally have these linked to their account, they will be display only – when editing a linked child account, the email and mobile will be blank, ready for new information to be added.

The Parent contact details will appear for the Child account, when entered in a competition – this is so communications can still be sent to the member and keep them informed of any key information. 

How to Request a Linked Account

To request a Linked Account:

  1. Search for the member within your club membership group.
  2. Open the member’s profile dashboard.
  3. Select Linked Accounts from the top menu.
  4. Click Linked Account Request Form.
  5. Complete and submit the form.

The request will be sent to your State/Territory Association for review.

The request may be approved and the accounts linked, or it may be declined. For example, an account may not be linked if the proposed Child Account already has key details, such as an email address or mobile number.

How to Create a New Linked Account

Firstly, login to the account that will act as the Parent for the New account – the new account will become the Child account.

Once logged in, click Account and then Linked Accounts. From here, click Add New Account and complete the new account fields.

The fields to be completed as part of a New account include:

  • Full name
  • DOB
  • Gender

To avoid duplicate accounts being created, ensure you are not creating a profile for an existing member – if unsure of the member has an account, contact bowlslink@bowls.com.au for support.

After the details are provided and submitted, the New account will be created and linked. The New Linked account will be added to your ‘children’ accounts – Click Switch to Account to access the Linked member.

The App’s homepage will update with the Linked Accounts details and show you are acting as this member, on behalf of the Parent account holder

.As the Parent Account managing the Child account, you can view the member’s account. Click Account > My Details to manage their information.

Click Key Details to see Name information.

Click Personal Details to manage Address, Gender and Emergency Contacts.

Click Account Security to manage Email and Mobile Numbers.

To swap back to the Parent account, click Switch back to account holders name.

Linked Accounts – Step-by-step guides

Step-by-step guide

How to Request Linked Accounts

How to Create New Linked Account

For more support please contact bowlslink@bowls.com.au

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