Privacy Policy

Introduction
Brightforge Talent (referred to as “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) ("Privacy Act"), the Australian Privacy Principles ("APPs"), and the Privacy Act 2020 (NZ) ("NZ Privacy Act") in New Zealand and its Information Privacy Principles ("IPPs"). This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and store your personal information in connection with our IT recruitment services and when you interact with our website (“Website”).

By accessing or using our Website or services, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with its terms, please discontinue use of our Website and services.

1. Your Rights

1.1 Right to Be Informed

When we collect your personal information, we will take reasonable steps to notify you or otherwise ensure you are aware of:

  • Our identity and contact details

  • The fact and circumstances of collection

  • Whether the collection is required or authorized by law

  • The purposes of collection

  • The consequences if we cannot collect the information

  • How you may access and correct your personal information

  • Any usual disclosures of your personal information (including overseas)

1.2 Right to Anonymity or Pseudonymity

Whenever it is lawful and practicable, you have the option to not identify yourself (anonymity) or to use a pseudonym when dealing with us. However, in many cases, we need your real personal details to provide recruitment services effectively.

1.3 Right to Access

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you. If you make an access request:

  • We will acknowledge your request and respond within a reasonable timeframe (usually within 30 days).

  • We may need to verify your identity before releasing your personal information.

  • In certain circumstances (outlined in the Privacy Act), we may refuse access, in which case we will provide written reasons for the refusal.

1.4 Right to Correction

If you believe the personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading, you can request that we correct it. We will respond to your request within a reasonable period, and if we refuse to correct your information, we will provide reasons for that decision in writing.

1.5 Right to Opt Out of Direct Marketing

We may use your personal information for direct marketing (e.g., job alerts, newsletters) with your consent or if you would reasonably expect such use. You have the right at any time to request us not to send marketing communications by:

  • Using the “unsubscribe” link or mechanism provided in our emails or messages; or

  • Contacting us directly using the details in the “Contact Us” section below.

We will action your request within a reasonable period and will not charge you for opting out.

2. What Information We Collect

We collect personal information necessary to provide our IT recruitment services, including:

  • Personal Information:

    • Full name, contact details (email address, phone number)

    • Work history, résumé or CV details (qualifications, references)

    • Job application information (desired salary, skills, experience)

    • Feedback from interviews or interactions with potential employers

  • Sensitive Information (where relevant and with your consent):

    • Professional memberships or associations

    • Background checks or criminal record information (if required by a potential employer)

    • Other information permitted under the Privacy Act

  • Website Usage Information:

    • IP address, browser type, device information, and operating system details

    • Cookies and similar technologies to track your usage of our Website

    • Any communications you send through our Website or via email

We will only collect sensitive information if it is reasonably necessary for one or more of our functions or activities and you have given consent or we are otherwise legally authorized to do so.

3. How We Collect Your Information

We typically collect personal information directly from you. For example:

  • When you submit a job application through our Website or third-party platforms

  • When you provide information during interviews or recruitment processes

  • When you contact us by phone, email, or through online forms

We may also collect information from third parties, such as:

  • References or previous employers

  • Background checking agencies (as permitted by law)

  • Publicly available sources

  • Third-party service providers who assist in the recruitment process

Where you do not provide the information we request, we may not be able to provide our full range of services or connect you with relevant employers.

4. Purpose of Collection and Use

We collect and use your personal information for purposes related to our IT recruitment services and business operations, including:

  • Recruitment Services: Matching your skills and experience with suitable roles; forwarding your information to prospective employers with your consent; conducting reference checks

  • Communications: Contacting you about job opportunities, updates, and relevant information

  • Website Operations: Analyzing traffic and usage to improve user experience

  • Marketing: Sending newsletters, job alerts, or promotional materials (if you have opted in)

  • Legal Compliance: Meeting legal obligations and regulatory requirements; managing disputes; enforcing agreements

5. Disclosure of Your Information

We may disclose your personal information to:

  1. Potential Employers: With your consent, we share your résumé/CV, contact details, and other relevant information with prospective employers for job placement.

  2. Service Providers: Third-party providers such as IT support, cloud hosting, data analytics, or background check agencies. These providers are contractually required to handle personal information in a manner consistent with the Privacy Act.

  3. Business Transactions: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you if a different Privacy Policy will subsequently govern your personal information.

  4. Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, or to protect our rights, property, or safety (or that of our users or others).

We will not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to unrelated third parties.

6. Overseas Disclosures

We may store or process personal information using cloud services or third-party providers located overseas (e.g., in the United States or Europe). In doing so, we take reasonable steps to ensure that any overseas recipient handles your information in accordance with the APPs and this Privacy Policy. However, you acknowledge that overseas jurisdictions may not always have the same level of privacy protection as Australia.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Remember your preferences and settings

  • Analyze Website traffic and trends

  • Improve the functionality and performance of our Website

You can control cookies by adjusting your browser settings. If you disable cookies, some parts of our Website may not function properly.

8. Data Quality, Security, and Retention

We take reasonable steps to ensure the personal information we collect is accurate, up-to-date, and complete. We also implement security measures to protect it from misuse, interference, and loss, as well as from unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure.

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as otherwise required by law. When personal information is no longer needed, we will take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify it in accordance with our data retention policies.

9. Accessing and Correcting Your Information

If you would like to access or correct the personal information we hold about you, please contact us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable period (usually 30 days). In certain cases, we may refuse access or correction if permitted by law, in which case we will provide reasons in writing.

10. Marketing Communications

If you opt in to receive our marketing communications—such as job alerts or newsletters—we may contact you by email, phone, or other means. You can unsubscribe or opt out of marketing at any time by:

  • Clicking the “unsubscribe” link in the communication, or

  • Contacting us directly using the details in the “Contact Us” section.

11. Complaints and Disputes

If you have a complaint about how we have handled your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer using the details below. We will investigate your complaint and respond within a reasonable timeframe.

For Australian Residents:

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or by calling 1300 363 992.

For New Zealand Residents:

If you are not satisfied with our response to your privacy complaint, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner at www.privacy.org.nz or by calling 0800 803 909.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. Any updates will be posted on our Website. Your continued use of our Website or services after any changes are posted will be deemed acceptance of those changes, and any information we hold about you will be governed by the most current version of the privacy policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal information, please email our Privacy Officer at urgent@brightforgetalent.com, or call via (03) 9693 7486, and select Option 3.