Care Friends

App Privacy Policy

Effective from: 21 May 2020
Last updated: 17 October 2025

Care Friends Limited (“Care Friends,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your personal information and respecting your privacy. By “personal information,” we mean information or an opinion about a person whose identity is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share personal information when you use the Care Friends App (the “App”) and any services accessible through the App (the “Services”). It also explains your rights regarding your data.

By using the App or Services, you agree to the practices outlined in this Privacy Policy.

About Care Friends

Care Friends provides a digital referral platform that allows organisations in sectors such as care, disability support, child and family services, and volunteering to share opportunities with their networks and for individuals to express interest in those opportunities.

Care Friends does not employ, engage, or provide services directly to individuals. Instead, we facilitate introductions between interested individuals and the Referring Organisation (the organisation that created the opportunity).

Contact Details

Data Privacy Manager: Emma Melling
Email: emma@carefriends.co.uk or support@carefriends.com.au
Postal Address: PO Box 2306, Chermside Central QLD 4032
Phone: 1300 059 699

You have the right to make a complaint at any time to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) regarding the handling of your personal information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We regularly review this Privacy Policy. The most current version will be posted here. If we make significant changes, we may notify you via the App and request that you accept the updated policy to continue using the App or Services. Please ensure that your personal information is accurate and up-to-date. Notify us if your details change during your relationship with us.

What Personal Data We Collect

We may collect, use, store, and transfer different types of personal information:

Identity Data: Name, profile photo (if uploaded
Contact Data: Email address, telephone number
Device Data: Device type, operating system, mobile network, browser type, time zone
Profile Data: Username, password, in-App activity history, shares, points earned
Usage Data: App usage details, traffic data, and communication data
Marketing and Communications Data: Preferences for receiving marketing or communications

We may also collect Aggregated Data (statistical or demographic data). Aggregated Data does not identify you and can be used for research, analytics, or improving the App. We do not collect Special Categories of Personal Data (e.g., race, health, religion, sexual orientation) or information about criminal convictions.

How We Collect Your Personal Data

We collect data in the following ways:

Information you provide directly: When registering, creating a profile, using in-App features, contacting us, or reporting issues.
Information from Referring Organisations: Your employer, volunteer organisation, or other organisations may provide us with data to manage referrals or Services.
Automatic collection: Device and usage data collected through your use of the App.

How We Use Your Personal Data

We process personal data only when the law allows. Common purposes include:

Providing and managing the App and Services
Processing referrals, rewards, or points
Communicating with you about your account or Services
Administering and securing the App
Analysing usage to improve features and performance

We rely on the following lawful bases to process personal data:

Consent – where you have agreed
Performance of a contract – to deliver Services or App features
Legitimate interests – to manage our business, improve Services, and ensure security, balanced against your rights
Legal obligation – to comply with the law

Sharing Your Personal Data

We may share your personal information with:

Referring Organisations: To manage referrals, rewards, or related Services
Service Providers: IT, analytics, and administrative providers under contractual obligation to protect your data
Professional Advisers: Legal, accounting, banking, and insurance advisors
Regulators: Authorities where required by law
Business Transfers: If we sell or merge part of our business, your data may be transferred to the new owner

We do not sell or rent your personal data for marketing purposes without your consent.

International Transfers

While our data is primarily stored in Australia, some third-party service providers may be located overseas. We ensure that any international transfers meet Australian data protection standards, through:

Transfers to countries with adequate data protection laws, or
Contractual safeguards to protect your data

Data Security

We take appropriate measures to protect your personal information, including:

Secure storage on servers
Password protection for your App account (do not share your password)
Use of application data caches, browser storage, and other security features
Procedures for handling data breaches and notifying you and regulators when required

When sharing jobs via social networking features, do not submit personal data you do not want to be publicly visible.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information as long as necessary for:

Access to the App and Services
Compliance with legal obligations
Fraud prevention, dispute resolution, and security

Accounts inactive for 12 months may be considered expired, and data may be deleted. Some anonymised data may be retained indefinitely for research or statistical purposes. Your employer may retain data shared with them during your use of the App, which we do not control.

Your Legal Rights

You have the following rights under data protection laws:

Access: Request a copy of your personal data
Correction: Update inaccurate or incomplete data
Erasure: Delete your data where no legal obligation prevents it
Object: Challenge processing based on legitimate interests or marketing
Restriction: Temporarily suspend processing in certain circumstances
Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
Withdraw Consent: Revoke consent for data processing where applicable

You can exercise any of these rights by contacting us at support@carefriends.com.au.

Glossary

Consent: Freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous agreement to process your data. Can be withdrawn at any time.
Legitimate Interest: Our business interest in operating and improving the App or Services, balanced against your rights.
Performance of Contract: Processing necessary to fulfil our agreement with you.
Legal Obligation: Processing required to comply with law.