Privacy Policy

1. About this policy

Arete Strength Studio Pty Ltd (ABN 60 702 799 424) (“Arete Strength Studio”, “we”, “us” or “our”) provides professional business and consulting services to clients in Melbourne VIC and across Australia. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information through our website at https://aretestrengthstudio.online and in the course of providing our services.

2. The Australian Privacy Principles

We are bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act) and the thirteen Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained within it. The APPs govern how organisations such as ours may collect, use, disclose and store personal information, and the rights individuals have in relation to their own information. This policy describes how we comply with the APPs in our day-to-day operations.

3. Personal information we collect

The types of personal information we may collect include:

• your name, email address and other contact details you provide to us;
• details of your business or organisation where relevant to an enquiry, quote or engagement;
• the content of your enquiries, requests and correspondence with us;
• billing and payment information necessary to issue invoices and receive payment for our services;
• information you provide if you apply for a role with us; and
• technical information such as browser type, pages visited and other website usage data.

We do not ordinarily collect sensitive information (such as health information or information about racial or ethnic origin) about our clients or website visitors. If we ever require sensitive information for a legitimate purpose, we will seek your consent before doing so, unless the law requires or permits otherwise.

4. How we collect personal information

We generally collect personal information directly from you, including when you:

• submit an enquiry or quote request through our website;
• send us an email;
• engage us to provide business or consulting services; or
• interact with us at meetings, events or through our professional networks.

In some circumstances we may collect information about you from third parties, such as a colleague who engages us on your organisation’s behalf, or from publicly available sources, where it is unreasonable or impracticable to collect that information directly from you.

5. Why we collect, use and disclose personal information

We collect, hold, use and disclose personal information so that we can:

• respond to your enquiries and provide quotes for our services;
• deliver our professional business and consulting services;
• manage our client relationships, including invoicing and account administration;
• improve our website, services and client experience;
• send you updates or marketing material where you have consented or where permitted by law, and always with a simple way to opt out; and
• comply with our legal and regulatory obligations, including tax and record-keeping obligations.

We will not use or disclose your personal information for purposes unrelated to those set out above unless you have consented to that use or disclosure, or the use or disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.

6. Disclosure of personal information

We may disclose personal information to:

• service providers who assist us with functions such as website hosting, data storage, email delivery, accounting and administrative support;
• professional advisers, including our accountants and legal advisers, where reasonably required;
• government bodies, regulators or law enforcement agencies where required or authorised by law; and
• any other person with your consent or at your direction.

Some of our service providers may store or process data outside Australia. Where that occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure that any overseas recipient handles your personal information in a manner consistent with the APPs, including through contractual arrangements.

7. Cookies and website analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience and to help us understand how the site is used. Cookies are small files stored on your device. You can configure your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being used; however, some features of the website may not function properly if cookies are disabled. Aggregated, de-identified analytics data may be used to improve the performance and content of our website.

8. Security and retention of personal information

We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse, interference, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. These steps include appropriate technical and organisational safeguards and limiting access to personal information to personnel who need it to perform their duties.

We also take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify personal information once it is no longer required for the purposes for which it was collected, unless we are required or permitted by law to retain it (for example, under tax and business record-keeping requirements).

9. Access to and correction of your personal information

You have a right under APP 12 to request access to the personal information we hold about you, and a right under APP 13 to request the correction of personal information that is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading. To make a request, please email us using the details below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable period. There is generally no charge for requesting access or correction; however, we may charge a reasonable fee where access requires significant effort or resources, and we will advise you before incurring any such charge.

In some circumstances permitted by the APPs, we may decline a request for access. If we do so, we will provide you with our reasons and information about how you may complain about our decision.

10. Anonymity and pseudonymity

Where it is lawful and practicable to do so, you may deal with us anonymously or using a pseudonym, for example when making a general enquiry about our services. However, we will usually need your name and contact details to provide a quote, deliver services or respond meaningfully to a specific request.

11. Direct marketing

We may use your personal information to send you news, insights or offers relating to our business and consulting services where you would reasonably expect this or have consented. Every marketing communication we send will include a simple way for you to opt out of receiving further communications, and you may also opt out at any time by emailing ceo@aretestrengthstudio.online. We will not sell your personal information to third parties.

12. Making a privacy complaint

If you believe we have breached the APPs or otherwise mishandled your personal information, please contact us using the details below and provide details of your concern. We will acknowledge your complaint promptly, investigate it fairly and respond to you within a reasonable period.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) via its website at www.oaic.gov.au.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, the law or our business. The current version will always be published on this page, and material changes will take effect when the revised policy is posted. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

14. Contact us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to access or correct your personal information, or wish to make a privacy-related complaint, please contact us:

• Arete Strength Studio Pty Ltd, ABN 60 702 799 424, Melbourne VIC, Australia
• Email: ceo@aretestrengthstudio.online
• Website: https://aretestrengthstudio.online