Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

So-Rig Institute ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or interact with our services.

By using our website, you consent to the data practices described in this policy. We encourage you to read this document carefully and contact us if you have any questions.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of personal information:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Identity Data: Full name, date of birth, nationality.
• Contact Data: Email address, phone number, mailing address.
• Application Data: Academic history, qualifications, statement of purpose, and supporting documents submitted as part of an enrolment application.
• Financial Data: Payment and billing information required to process course fees (handled securely via our payment processor. We do not store full card details.
• Communications: Messages you send us via email, contact forms, or enquiry submissions.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, browser type, operating system, and referring URLs.
• Device Data: IP address, device type, unique device identifiers.
• Cookies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience. See our Cookies section below.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• To process and manage your enrolment application and student records.
• To communicate with you about your enquiries, applications, and enrolled programmes.
• To send you important administrative notifications, timetable updates, and programme-related information.
• To process fee payments and issue receipts or invoices.
• To improve our website, services, and course offerings.
• To comply with our legal obligations including regulatory reporting requirements under Australian law.
• To send you promotional materials about new courses or events (with your consent; you may unsubscribe at any time).

We will not use your personal information for any purpose incompatible with those listed above without first obtaining your consent.

4. Disclosure of Your Information

So-Rig Institute does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We engage trusted third-party providers (e.g., payment processors, email platforms, LMS providers) who assist us in operating our services. These providers are contractually bound to handle your data securely.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information where required by law, court order, or governmental authority.
• Protection of Rights: We may disclose information where necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of So-Rig Institute, its students, or the public.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the successor entity, subject to equivalent privacy protections.

5. Cookies Policy

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit our website. We use cookies to:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function correctly. These cannot be disabled.
• Performance Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website so we can improve it.
• Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings to enhance your experience.

You may manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

6. Security of Your Information

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These include encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS), restricted staff access to personal data, and secure storage systems.

No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. In the event of a data breach that affects your rights, we will notify you as required by the Australian Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme.

7. Retention of Your Data

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by Australian law. Student records are generally retained for a minimum of seven (7) years following completion or withdrawal from a programme, in accordance with Australian educational record keeping requirements. After this period, information is securely deleted or anonymised.

8. Your Rights

Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: The right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: The right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
• Deletion: The right to request deletion of your personal data, subject to our legal retention obligations.
• Objection: The right to object to processing of your data for direct marketing purposes.
• Complaints: The right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below. We will respond within 30 days of receiving your request.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Where changes are material, we will provide a more prominent notice.