Privacy Policy.

Who this policy is from

This website (neilcollins.com.au) is operated by Neil Collins, an Australian sole trader (ABN 38 843 685 676) based in Sydney, New South Wales. In this policy, "I", "me" and "my" refer to Neil Collins; "you" refers to the visitor or subscriber.

I handle personal information in line with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Spam Act 2003 (Cth) and the Australian Consumer Law. As a small-business sole trader I am not always legally bound by the Privacy Act, but I choose to apply it as a minimum standard.

What I collect

Depending on how you use the site, I may collect:

• Contact details you give me - name, email address, phone number, company and any message you send via the contact form, newsletter signup or capability assessment.
• Capability assessment responses - your answers to the assessment questions and the report generated for you.
• Newsletter preferences - the email address you subscribe with, your double opt-in confirmation, and any preference or unsubscribe actions.
• Usage data - first-party analytics events such as page views, clicks on calls-to-action, referrer, approximate device type and coarse location (country/region), collected only if you accept the on-site consent banner. I do not use third-party advertising cookies or cross-site trackers.
• Technical logs - standard server logs (IP address, user agent, timestamp, request path) kept short-term for security, abuse prevention and debugging.

I do not knowingly collect information from children under 16 and the site is not directed at children.

Why I collect it

• To respond to enquiries and deliver the services you ask for.
• To send the newsletter you opted in to, and to email your capability assessment report.
• To understand which content and calls-to-action work, so I can improve the site.
• To keep the site secure, prevent spam and abuse, and meet legal obligations.

Legal bases

I rely on your consent (newsletter, analytics cookies, capability assessment), the performance of a contract or steps at your request (responding to enquiries, delivering engagements), and my legitimate interests in running a secure, functional website.

Cookies and analytics

The site uses a small number of first-party cookies and browser storage items - for example to remember your consent choice and to keep an admin session active. Analytics events are only recorded after you click "Allow" on the consent banner, and are stored in my own backend rather than sent to a third-party ad network. You can withdraw consent at any time by clearing the nc_consent_v1 value from your browser storage or by contacting me.

How the newsletter works

Newsletter signup uses double opt-in: you enter your email, receive a confirmation email, and are only added once you click the confirm link. Every newsletter email includes a one-click unsubscribe link and links to a preference centre. This complies with the Spam Act 2003 (Cth).

Who I share information with

I do not sell your personal information. I share it only with the service providers I need to run the site and my business, under contracts that require them to protect it:

• Lovable Cloud - website hosting, database, authentication, storage and email delivery for transactional and newsletter emails.
• Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster (IndexNow) - search indexing and site health signals.
• My professional advisers (accountant, legal) where reasonably needed.
• Law enforcement or regulators where I am required by Australian law to disclose information.

Some of these providers may store or process data outside Australia (for example in the United States or the European Union). Where that happens, I take reasonable steps to ensure the recipient handles the information consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles.

How long I keep it

• Contact enquiries: up to 24 months after our last correspondence.
• Newsletter subscribers: until you unsubscribe or ask me to delete you.
• Capability assessment records: up to 24 months, then anonymised or deleted.
• Analytics events: up to 24 months in aggregate form.
• Server logs: typically 30-90 days.

How I protect it

Data is stored in access-controlled databases with row-level security, HTTPS in transit, and admin access protected by authentication and role checks. No online service is perfectly secure, but I take reasonable steps to protect personal information from loss, misuse and unauthorised access.

Your rights

You can ask me to:

• Access the personal information I hold about you.
• Correct anything that is inaccurate or out of date.
• Delete your information (subject to any legal record-keeping obligations).
• Unsubscribe from the newsletter or update your preferences.
• Withdraw consent for analytics tracking.

Email nc@neilcollins.com.au with your request and I will respond within a reasonable time, usually within 30 days.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with how I have handled your personal information, please contact me first so I can try to resolve it. If you are still not satisfied, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.

Changes to this policy

I may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in the site, tools I use, or the law. The "Last updated" date at the top will always show when it was last revised. Material changes will be highlighted on the site or via the newsletter where appropriate.

Contact

Neil Collins - Sydney, NSW, Australia
Email: nc@neilcollins.com.au
Phone: +61 (0) 430 901 747