Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Hard Hat Networking (“HHN”, “we”, “us”) operates an Australian online network for builders, trades, subcontractors and other construction-industry participants. Privacy enquiries can be sent to info@hardhatnetworking.com.au.

2. Information we collect

Depending on how you use HHN, we may collect account and contact details; business and ABN information; trade and contractor-licence details; service areas; profile text and media; job listings and expressions of interest; reviews, relationship-verification information and dispute material; insurance certificate details and Certificates of Currency that you choose to submit; communications with HHN; and technical/security information reasonably required to operate the service.

3. Why we collect and use it

We use information to create and secure accounts, publish member profiles and jobs, enable matching and connections, operate reviews and disputes, assess verification submissions, provide support, prevent misuse and fraud, comply with law, improve the service and communicate important service information. We do not treat an HHN badge as a guarantee of future performance.

4. Public and private information

ABN and many contractor/trade-licence details are available through public government registers. HHN may display relevant public business/licensing details and a point-in-time verification status on a member profile. Insurance certificates, internal review notes and other non-public material are intended to remain restricted to the member, authorised HHN personnel and service providers who need access to perform the relevant function, unless disclosure is required by law.

5. Service providers and overseas processing

HHN uses technology providers for hosting, authentication, database/storage, email delivery, security and related platform functions. Providers may process information in Australia or overseas. HHN will take reasonable steps appropriate to its legal obligations and contractual arrangements when engaging providers.

6. Verification information

For ABN and contractor/trade-licence checks, HHN currently uses member-supplied numbers/details and information available through public government registers. HHN does not currently require a driver licence or passport for those checks. A verification status records what matched at the time of the check and is not a guarantee that the information will remain current. Members remain responsible for keeping their information current and for complying with licensing, insurance and legal requirements. If HHN later introduces separate personal identity verification, we will provide a separate collection notice and process.

7. Security and retention

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. No online service can promise absolute security. We retain information only for as long as reasonably needed for platform, legal, fraud-prevention, dispute, recordkeeping and enforcement purposes, then delete or de-identify it where appropriate.

8. Access, correction and account controls

Members can update many profile details within their account. Requests for access, correction or deletion can be sent to the contact address above. Some information may need to be retained where reasonably required for legal obligations, platform integrity, dispute records or prevention of fraud and misuse.

9. Marketing and service messages

We may send transactional messages necessary to operate HHN. Where we send marketing communications, we will provide a practical way to opt out where required by law.

10. Complaints and data incidents

Privacy complaints should first be sent to HHN using the contact address above. We will assess and respond within a reasonable period. Where applicable, HHN will follow obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles and the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.

11. Changes

We may update this policy as HHN’s services, providers or legal obligations change. The current version will be published on this page with its update date.