Who We Are and What This Covers

zarquentelva operates from The Artists Shed, Units 1-3, 88 Wollongong St, Fyshwick ACT 2609, Australia. We provide online financial education focusing on practical budgeting skills for everyday Australians.

This policy applies to all information we collect through zarquentelva.com, our learning programs, and any related services. It covers how we operate under Australian privacy laws, specifically the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

Information We Collect

What You Give Us Directly

When you sign up for our programs or contact us, we collect basic details you provide:

• Your name and email address
• Phone number if you choose to provide it
• Learning preferences and goals you share with us
• Payment information when you enrol in paid programs
• Any messages or questions you send through our contact forms

Technical Information We Automatically Collect

Like most websites, we collect some technical data when you visit. This includes your IP address, browser type, device information, and which pages you view. We use this to keep the site running properly and figure out which resources people actually find useful.

Information from Third Parties

Sometimes we receive information from other sources. If your employer arranges corporate training through us, they might provide your work email. If you use a third-party payment processor, they send us confirmation that payment went through (but not your full card details).

How We Use Your Information

We're not interested in selling your data or building creepy advertising profiles. Here's what we actually do with it:

• Deliver the service you signed up for – This means giving you access to learning materials, tracking your progress, and sending course-related updates.
• Handle the business side – Processing payments, sending receipts, dealing with the occasional refund request.
• Improve what we offer – If lots of people get stuck on a particular module, we want to know so we can make it clearer.
• Send relevant updates – We'll email you about new courses or features that match what you're learning. You can opt out anytime.
• Keep things secure – Monitoring for suspicious activity, preventing fraud, that sort of thing.
• Meet legal requirements – Sometimes we have to keep records or provide information to comply with Australian law.

Sharing and Disclosure

We're pretty protective of your information, but there are specific situations where we share it:

Service Providers We Work With

Some functions require third-party services. Our payment processor handles transactions. Our email platform sends course notifications. Our hosting provider keeps the website running. These companies only access data necessary for their specific job, and they're contractually required to keep it secure.

Corporate Training Arrangements

If your employer has paid for your access through our Education For Business program, we share basic progress information with them – things like course completion and certificate achievement. We don't share your individual quiz scores or detailed learning activity unless you've specifically agreed to it.

Legal Requirements

If we receive a valid legal request from Australian authorities, we'll comply with it. We might also disclose information if genuinely necessary to prevent serious harm or protect someone's safety.

Business Transfers

If zarquentelva gets acquired or merges with another company, your information would transfer as part of that transaction. We'd notify you beforehand and explain any changes to how your data gets handled.

Your Rights Under Australian Privacy Law

The Privacy Act gives you specific rights about your personal information. Here's what you can do and how to actually do it:

Access Your Information

You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. Email us at help@zarquentelva.com with "Privacy Access Request" in the subject line. We'll respond within 30 days with either your information or an explanation if we can't provide it (which only happens in rare legal circumstances).

Correct Inaccurate Information

If we've got something wrong – wrong email, misspelled name, whatever – let us know and we'll fix it promptly. You can update most details directly through your account settings.

Request Deletion

You can ask us to delete your account and associated data. We'll do this within 30 days, though we might need to keep some records for legal or accounting purposes (like payment history for tax reasons). Financial records typically need to be retained for seven years under Australian law.

Object to Processing

If you don't want us to use your information for a particular purpose – say, sending marketing emails – you can object. Click the unsubscribe link in any email or contact us directly.

Data Portability

You can request a copy of your data in a commonly used format if you want to transfer it elsewhere. This includes your course progress, certificates earned, and account information.

Lodge a Complaint

If you're not happy with how we've handled your privacy, first contact us at help@zarquentelva.com so we can try to sort it out. If you're still not satisfied, you can lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.

Security Measures

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from loss, misuse, and unauthorised access. This includes:

• Industry-standard encryption for data transmission (TLS/SSL)
• Secure password requirements and hashing
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Limited employee access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Secure Australian data centres with appropriate physical security

But let's be honest – no system is completely bulletproof. If we experience a data breach that's likely to result in serious harm, we'll notify you and the OAIC as required by law.

International Data Transfers

Your information is primarily stored on servers located in Australia. Some of our service providers (like email platforms or analytics tools) might process data on servers overseas, typically in the United States or Europe.

When we use overseas providers, we ensure they have appropriate safeguards in place. This might include contractual protections, certification under recognised frameworks, or operation in countries with substantially similar privacy protections to Australia.

Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies – small text files stored on your device – to keep the site functioning and understand how people use it. Essential cookies handle things like keeping you logged in. Analytics cookies help us see which content is useful and which pages are confusing.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Blocking all cookies might break some site functionality, but you can usually block just the analytics ones without issues.

We don't use advertising cookies or tracking pixels from social media companies.

Children's Privacy

Our services are designed for adults managing their own finances. We don't knowingly collect information from anyone under 18 without parental consent. If you're under 18 and interested in our programs, please have a parent or guardian contact us.

Changes to This Policy

We update this policy occasionally to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we'll notify active users by email and update the "Last Updated" date at the top.

Continuing to use our services after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy. If you disagree with changes, you can close your account.