Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

EduTrail Australia ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and the privacy of your children. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information:

• Contact details (name, email address, phone number)
• Account credentials (email and encrypted password)
• Location information (postcode, state)
• Payment information (processed securely through third-party payment providers)

2.2 Information About Children: With parent or guardian consent, we collect:

• Child's first and last name
• Date of birth and age
• Current education level
• Educational goals and interests
• Learning preferences and needs

2.3 Usage Information:

• Pages visited and features used
• Search queries and school comparisons
• Time spent on the platform
• Device and browser information
• IP address and general location data

2.4 Communication Data: Chat messages, support requests, and feedback you provide through our platform.

3. Parent and Guardian Consent

3.1 Consent Requirement: We only collect and process information about children under 18 years of age with explicit consent from a parent or legal guardian.

3.2 Verification: By creating an account and providing information about a child, you confirm that you are the parent or legal guardian and have the authority to provide this consent.

3.3 Access and Control: Parents and guardians can access, modify, or delete their child's information at any time through their account settings.

3.4 Age Verification: If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 18 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Providing personalized educational recommendations
• Managing your account and subscriptions
• Facilitating school searches and comparisons
• Generating customized education roadmaps
• Sending important service updates and reminders
• Improving our services and user experience
• Responding to your inquiries and support requests
• With your consent, sending educational tips and marketing communications
• Complying with legal obligations
• Detecting and preventing fraud and security issues

5. Legal Basis for Processing

Under the Australian Privacy Principles, we process your personal information based on:

• Consent: You have given explicit consent for processing your and your child's information
• Contract: Processing is necessary to provide the services you've requested
• Legitimate Interests: Processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as improving our services
• Legal Obligations: Processing is necessary to comply with Australian laws

6. Data Storage and Security

6.1 Data Storage: Your information is stored securely using Supabase, which provides enterprise-grade security and is hosted in secure data centers.

6.2 Security Measures: We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication
• Secure password hashing
• Regular backups and disaster recovery plans

6.3 Data Retention: We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. You can request deletion of your data at any time.

7. Information Sharing and Disclosure

7.1 We Do Not Sell Your Data: We never sell your personal information or your child's information to third parties.

7.2 Service Providers: We may share information with trusted service providers who help us operate our platform:

• Supabase (database and authentication services)
• Payment processors (for subscription payments)
• Email service providers (for communications)
• Analytics providers (for service improvement)

All service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

7.3 Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or to protect our rights or the safety of others.

8. Your Privacy Rights

Under Australian Privacy Principles, you have the following rights:

• Access: Request access to your personal information
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time
• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a portable format
• Complaint: Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)

9. Marketing Communications

9.1 Opt-In Required: We will only send you marketing emails if you have explicitly opted in during registration or through your account settings.

9.2 Essential Communications: Even if you opt out of marketing, we will still send you essential service-related emails such as account notifications, security alerts, and subscription updates.

9.3 Unsubscribe: You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email or updating your preferences in your account settings.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

10.1 Cookies: We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience, remember your preferences, and analyze how you use our platform.

10.2 Types of Cookies:

• Essential cookies (required for the platform to function)
• Performance cookies (help us improve the service)
• Functional cookies (remember your preferences)
• Analytics cookies (understand how users interact with our platform)

10.3 Cookie Control: You can control cookies through your browser settings, though some features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

11. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or through a prominent notice on our platform. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au