Privacy and Data Collection Policy

Effective Date: 8th October 2024

At The Great Commission Institute (ABN: 52 981 145 823 - Hope In Society Ministries Inc.) (referred to as “we,” “our,” or “the Institute”), your privacy is of paramount importance to us. This Privacy and Data Collection Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information. It applies to our website, services, and any interaction you have with us.

By visiting our website or engaging with our services, you consent to the collection and use of your personal data as outlined in this policy. If you are not comfortable with any part of this policy, we encourage you to reach out to us before using our services.

1. Data We Collect

We may collect various types of personal information from you in order to provide our services and improve your experience with us. The types of personal data we collect include, but are not limited to:

  • Personal Identification Information: This includes your name, email address, phone number, and postal address. We collect this information when you fill out forms on our website, such as registration or contact forms, or when you communicate with us via email or phone.

  • Payment Information: If you engage in any transactions with us, we may collect your payment details, such as your credit card information, billing address, and transaction history. This data is collected to process payments for services or donations.

  • Usage Information: When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including your IP address, browser type, device information, and pages you visited. This helps us analyse trends and enhance user experience on our website.

  • Voluntarily Provided Information: If you choose to provide us with any other personal information, such as preferences or feedback through surveys or other means, we may collect and use this information to tailor our services.

We ensure that we only collect information that is necessary for our legitimate purposes, and we handle your data with utmost care and responsibility.

2. How We Collect Your Data

The Great Commission Institute collects personal information in the following ways:

  • Directly from You:

    • Website Forms: When you submit information through our contact forms, registration forms, or any other form on our website.

    • Emails and Phone Calls: When you reach out to us via email, phone, or other communication channels, we collect the data you provide for the purpose of responding to your inquiries or providing services.

    • In-Person: If you attend an event, seminar, or workshop hosted by the Institute, we may collect your personal information for registration and event management purposes.

  • Automatically:

    • Cookies: Our website uses cookies to improve functionality and personalise your experience. These small text files are stored on your browser and allow us to track your activity on our site, such as which pages you visited and how long you spent on them.

    • Analytics Tools: We may use third-party analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to collect information about how visitors use our site. These tools help us improve the functionality and usability of our website by providing insights into user behaviour.

3. How We Use Your Data

We collect and process personal data for several legitimate reasons, primarily to provide, manage, and improve our services. The key purposes for which we use your data include:

  • Providing Services: We use your personal information to deliver the services you request, including answering your inquiries, processing payments, managing events, or sending you newsletters.

  • Improving User Experience: The data we collect helps us analyse how users interact with our website and services, allowing us to make improvements that enhance usability and performance.

  • Marketing and Communication: With your consent, we may use your contact details to send you promotional emails, newsletters, or other marketing materials related to our services and events. You can opt out of these communications at any time by following the unsubscribe link in our emails.

  • Compliance with Legal Obligations: In some cases, we may be required to use or disclose your data to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, such as tax or financial reporting requirements.

  • Transaction Processing: We use your payment information to process transactions securely when you pay for services or donate to the Institute.

We strive to limit our data usage to what is necessary for fulfilling these purposes, ensuring that we do not use your personal information for any unrelated activities.

4. Data Storage and Management

At The Great Commission Institute, we take the security and integrity of your personal data very seriously. We store and manage your information in the following ways:

  • Squarespace: If you submit personal information through our website, such as via forms or registration pages, it is stored on the Squarespace platform. Squarespace complies with global data privacy laws and implements industry-standard security measures, including encryption, to protect your data.

  • Google Drive: Certain information, such as records or documents related to your interaction with us, may be securely stored on Google Drive. Google Drive offers advanced security features, including encryption both at rest and in transit, to ensure that your personal data remains protected.

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy or to comply with legal requirements. Once your information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymise it, as applicable.

5. Data Security

We are committed to ensuring that your personal data is stored and processed securely. To safeguard your information, we implement a variety of security measures, including but not limited to:

  • Access Controls: Only authorised personnel within the Institute have access to your personal information, and they are trained to handle it in accordance with applicable data privacy laws.

  • Secure Platforms: We partner with reputable platforms such as Squarespace and Google Drive, which employ industry-leading security protocols to protect your information from breaches, unauthorised access, or data loss.

While we take every precaution to protect your personal data, it is important to note that no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data, but we continually monitor our systems and update our security practices to mitigate potential risks.

6. Sharing of Your Data

We respect your privacy and do not sell, trade, or share your personal information with third parties, except in limited circumstances where sharing is necessary for the functioning of our services or to comply with legal obligations. These circumstances include:

  • Third-Party We may share your personal data with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in managing our website, processing payments, or delivering our services. These service providers are required to adhere to confidentiality agreements and data privacy standards. These external partners may include: Squarespace, Google, Eva Burrows College, The University of Divinity, The Salvation Army, Titan Email.

  • Legal Compliance: If required by law or legal process, we may disclose your personal data to government authorities, regulators, or law enforcement agencies. We will always take steps to ensure that your data is handled lawfully.

  • Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of the Institute’s assets, your personal data may be transferred to the new entity as part of the transaction. If this happens, you will be notified, and the new owner will be required to continue respecting your privacy rights as set forth in this policy.

7. Your Rights

As a user in Australia, you have specific rights under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and other relevant privacy laws. We aim to respond to all requests within 30 days. These rights include:

  • Access: You can request access to the personal information we hold about you and receive a copy of it. We will provide this information within a reasonable time, subject to any legal restrictions.

  • Correction: If you believe that the personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date, you have the right to request that we correct it.

  • Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal obligations that require us to retain certain data (such as for tax or legal compliance).

  • Data Portability: You may request that we provide your data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format for easy transfer to another organisation.

  • Withdrawal of Consent: If you have previously consented to the collection or use of your personal data for specific purposes, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the details provided below. We will respond to your request in a timely manner and take steps to address your concerns.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and other tracking technologies to enhance your experience and collect information about how visitors use our site. Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit, and they help us understand user preferences, track browsing habits, and optimise website performance.

We use cookies for purposes such as:

  • Functional Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the basic functioning of our website. They enable features such as secure logins and form submissions.

  • Analytical Cookies: We use cookies from third-party analytics tools to monitor site usage, track page views, and analyse user behaviour. This helps us improve the design and content of our site.

  • Marketing Cookies: If you have consented to receive marketing communications, we may use cookies to track the effectiveness of our email campaigns or targeted advertisements.

You have the ability to manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. However, please note that disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our website.

9. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to modify or update this Privacy and Data Collection Policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and the effective date will be updated accordingly. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your personal data.

We encourage you to regularly check this page to stay up-to-date on how we're safeguarding your personal information. If significant changes are made, we will notify you through appropriate channels, such as email or a notice on our website, before the changes take effect. 

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy and Data Collection Policy or your personal data, please contact us using the information below:

The Great Commission Institute
Email: hello@gcinstitute.org.au

We are committed to addressing any concerns you may have and ensuring that your privacy rights are respected. This Privacy and Data Collection Policy complies with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and relevant data protection regulations.