Privacy Policy
Website Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected by South Star Designs (“we”, “us”, “our”) through our website located at www.southstardesigns.com.au and any related contact forms, enquiry forms, website review forms, email communications or client communications.
South Star Designs is based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and provides website design, website rescue, Shopify refresh, AI search readiness and website care services to small businesses across Australia.
You can contact us at:
Email: hello@southstardesigns.com
1. What is “personal information”?
The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) defines personal information as information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable:
(a) whether the information or opinion is true or not; and
(b) whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not.
If information does not identify you, or could not reasonably be used to identify you, it will generally not be considered personal information.
2. What information do we collect?
The type of personal information we collect depends on how you interact with our website and services.
We may collect information such as:
- your name;
- business name;
- email address;
- phone number;
- website address;
- information you provide through enquiry forms, contact forms or website review forms;
- details about your business, website, project or service needs;
- billing, payment and invoice-related information;
- communication history between you and South Star Designs; and
- technical information such as website usage data, device information, browser type, IP address, pages visited and referral source.
We do not intentionally collect sensitive information unless you choose to provide it to us and it is reasonably necessary for us to provide our services.
3. How we collect your personal information
We may collect personal information when you:
(a) submit a form on our website;
(b) request a website review or quote;
(c) contact us by email, phone, social media or another communication channel;
(d) become a client of South Star Designs;
(e) subscribe to updates, resources or marketing communications;
(f) interact with our website, advertisements or online content; or
(g) provide information to us during a discovery call, project onboarding process or support request.
We may also collect information automatically through cookies, analytics tools and similar technologies when you visit our website.
4. Cookies, analytics and tracking technologies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to help us understand how visitors use the website, improve user experience, monitor website performance and support marketing activities.
These tools may collect information such as:
- pages visited;
- time spent on the website;
- buttons or links clicked;
- device and browser information;
- approximate location information;
- referral source; and
- general website behaviour.
Where required by applicable law, we will seek your consent before using non-essential cookies or tracking technologies.
You can usually control or disable cookies through your browser settings. If you disable cookies, some parts of our website may not function as intended.
5. Analytics and advertising tools
We may use third-party analytics, website performance or advertising tools to help us understand website activity and improve our services.
These may include tools such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Meta advertising tools, Duda analytics, Microsoft Clarity or similar platforms.
Where tools such as heatmaps, session recordings or behaviour analytics are used, they are used to help us understand how visitors interact with our website and improve the overall user experience. These tools may collect interaction data such as clicks, scroll behaviour, page navigation and device information.
We do not use these tools to intentionally collect sensitive personal information.
Third-party providers may process information in accordance with their own privacy policies and terms.
6. Purpose of collection
We collect, hold, use and disclose personal information for purposes including:
(a) responding to enquiries;
(b) providing quotes, proposals or website reviews;
(c) delivering website design, website rescue, Shopify refresh, AI search readiness and website care services;
(d) communicating with you about your project or account;
(e) managing invoices, payments and administrative tasks;
(f) improving our website, services, processes and client experience;
(g) sending relevant service updates, resources or marketing communications where permitted by law;
(h) maintaining website security and performance; and
(i) complying with our legal obligations.
7. Disclosure of personal information
We may disclose your personal information to third parties where reasonably necessary to operate our business or provide our services.
This may include:
- website hosting providers;
- website platforms and software providers;
- email and communication platforms;
- payment processors;
- accounting or invoicing providers;
- CRM, project management or automation tools;
- marketing, analytics or advertising platforms;
- contractors, freelancers or service providers assisting with client work; and
- professional advisers, insurers or legal representatives where required.
We only disclose personal information where it is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, where you have consented, or where permitted or required by law.
8. Marketing communications and consent
If you submit a form, request a website review, make an enquiry or become a client, we may contact you about your enquiry, project or related services.
We may also send you marketing communications, resources or updates where:
(a) you have expressly consented to receive them;
(b) you have subscribed to our mailing list;
(c) we are permitted to do so under applicable law; or
(d) the communication relates to services that are reasonably connected to your previous enquiry or dealings with us.
You can unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link provided in the communication or by contacting us at:
hello@southstardesigns.com
We will not use sensitive personal information for direct marketing.
9. Call tracking and call recording
We do not currently use call recording as a standard part of our website enquiry process.
If we use call tracking, call recording or similar technology in the future, we will provide appropriate notice and, where required, obtain consent before recording any telephone call.
Call-related information may include call duration, date and time, number called, caller number and call source. Any call recordings, where used, will be retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for quality assurance, training, dispute resolution, service improvement or legal compliance.
10. Security of personal information
We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
These steps may include secure platforms, password protection, access controls, data minimisation and using reputable third-party service providers.
However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your personal information.
11. Access and correction
You may request access to the personal information we hold about you.
You may also ask us to correct personal information if you believe it is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading.
To request access or correction, please contact us at:
hello@southstardesigns.com
We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request.
12. Complaint procedure
If you have a complaint about how we collect, hold, use or disclose your personal information, please contact us first at:
hello@southstardesigns.com
Please include enough detail for us to understand and respond to your complaint.
We will consider your complaint and may contact you for further information. If we agree that your complaint is well founded, we will take reasonable steps to address the issue.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
13. Overseas disclosure
Some of the third-party platforms, service providers or software tools we use may store or process personal information outside Australia.
This may include countries where our website, hosting, email, analytics, payment, CRM, automation or project management providers operate.
Where we disclose personal information to overseas recipients, we will take reasonable steps to ensure the information is handled appropriately and in accordance with applicable privacy laws.
14. GDPR
In some circumstances, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation may provide additional rights to individuals located in the European Economic Area.
Our website and services are primarily directed at Australian businesses and we do not specifically target customers located in the European Economic Area.
If you are located overseas and believe privacy laws in your jurisdiction apply to your interaction with us, please contact us at:
hello@southstardesigns.com
15. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our business, website, services, legal obligations or privacy practices.
The latest version will be published on our website.
16. How to contact us about privacy
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, would like to access or correct your personal information, or wish to make a privacy complaint, please contact us at:
South Star Designs
Email: hello@southstardesigns.com
Website: www.southstardesigns.com.au
