Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

1.1. Home Hunters Group Pty Ltd (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your personal information and handling it in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

1.2. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose and protect personal information, including information used to verify your identity.

1.3. A current version of this Policy is always available on our website at https://www.homehuntersgroup.com.au (“the Website”).

2. What Personal Information We Collect

2.1. We may collect the following personal information about you:

• Full name.
• Date and place of birth.
• Residential or business address.
• Email address and phone number.
• Government-issued identification details, such as driver licence, passport, Medicare card or other ID document numbers.
• Biometric information, such as a facial image or short video used to verify your identity.
• Information about the services we provide to you and any related transactions.
• Payment information when necessary for completing transactions.
• Usage information (such as IP address, device information, and browsing activity) collected through cookies and similar technologies.
• Any other information you choose to provide to us.

2.2. We only collect personal information that is reasonably necessary to carry out our business activities.

2.3. Collection Methods: We may collect personal information through various means, including when you:

• Visit or browse the Website.
• Submit forms or provide information through the Website.
• Communicate with us via email, phone, or other channels.
• Complete an identity verification process at our request.
• Participate in surveys, promotions, or contests.
• Engage our services or enter into transactions with us.
• Interact with our social media accounts.

2.4. Children’s Information: Our Website is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child, we will promptly delete it from our records.

3. Why We Collect Your Personal Information

3.1. We collect, use and disclose your personal information to:

• Verify your identity.
• Provide and manage our services to you.
• Communicate with you about your account with us.
• Meet our legal and regulatory obligations, including anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) requirements.
• Detect and prevent fraud, and keep our systems secure.
• Improve our services.

3.2. We will not use your personal information for purposes unrelated to the above without your consent, unless required or authorised by law.

4. Identity Verification and Government Data Matching (DVS)

4.1. To verify your identity, we may use electronic identity verification services, including the Australian Government’s Document Verification Service (DVS).

4.2. Where you have consented, your name, date of birth and identity document details will be securely sent to the relevant Commonwealth or State authority that issued your document. This may include passport offices, driver licence authorities, the Department of Home Affairs, Births Deaths and Marriages, or other authorised record holders.

4.3. These authorities check whether the details you have provided match the records they hold.

4.4. We do not receive a copy of your government records. The authority returns a match result only, confirming whether your details match (yes or no).

4.5. This process may be carried out through accredited identity verification providers, including APLYiD (APLYiD Pty Ltd, ABN 36 632 866 794) and its sub-providers.

4.6. More information about the DVS is available at idmatch.gov.au.

5. Biometric Information

5.1. As part of identity verification, we may collect biometric information, such as a facial image or a short video of you holding your ID.

5.2. Biometric information may be used to:

• Confirm that you are a real person and physically present.
• Match your image to the photograph on your identification document.
• Reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft.

5.3. Biometric information is treated as sensitive information under the Privacy Act. We only use it for identity verification and related compliance purposes, and only with your consent.

6. Consent to Collection and Identity Verification

6.1. By providing your personal information and completing the identity verification process, you consent to:

• The collection, use and disclosure of your personal information for identity verification, AML/CTF and related compliance purposes.
• The collection and use of biometric information, such as a facial image or video, for identity verification.
• Your information being checked against records held by Commonwealth and State authorities through the DVS.
• Your information being shared with our authorised identity verification providers, including APLYiD.

6.2. Your consent is voluntary. You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us using the details in section 15.

6.3. If you do not consent, or do not provide the information we need, we may not be able to verify your identity electronically. In that case, we may need to verify your identity in another way, or we may not be able to provide our services to you.

7. Disclosure of Personal Information

7.1. We may disclose your personal information to:

• Identity verification providers, including APLYiD and its authorised sub-providers.
• Commonwealth and State authorities and official record holders, through the DVS.
• Our employees and authorised representatives, on a need-to-know basis.
• Our professional advisers, such as lawyers, accountants and auditors.
• Trusted technology and service providers that help us operate our business, such as hosting providers, payment processors, and analytics providers.
• Regulators, law enforcement or other third parties where required or authorised by law.

7.2. We do not sell your personal information.

7.3. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that any third parties to whom we disclose personal information handle it in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

8. Overseas Disclosure

8.1. Some of our service providers may store or process personal information outside Australia.

8.2. Where this happens, we take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information is handled in line with the Australian Privacy Principles, including through contractual protections with our providers.

9. Data Security and Storage

9.1. We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. These steps include secure systems, access controls, and encryption in transit and at rest where appropriate.

9.2. We retain personal information only for as long as we need it for the purposes set out in this Policy, or as required by law. When we no longer need your information, we securely delete or de-identify it.

9.3. While we strive to protect your personal information, please be aware that no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data.

10. Access and Correction

10.1. You have the right to ask for access to the personal information we hold about you, and to ask us to correct it if it is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.

10.2. To make a request, please contact us using the details in section 15. We will respond within a reasonable time.

11. Direct Marketing

11.1. From time to time, we may use your contact details to send you information about our services that we think may be of interest to you.

11.2. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link in our messages, or by contacting us using the details in section 15.

12. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

12.1. Our Website may use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to collect usage information and improve your browsing experience. These technologies may collect information such as your IP address, browser type, device information, and browsing activity. They are used to remember your preferences, analyse trends, track your interactions with the Website, and personalise content and advertisements.

12.2. You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings. However, please note that disabling cookies may impact certain functionalities of the Website.

13. Third-Party Links

13.1. Our Website may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of such third-party websites before providing any personal information.

14. Privacy Complaints

14.1. If you have a complaint about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us first using the details in section 15.

14.2. We will acknowledge your complaint, investigate it, and respond to you within a reasonable time.

14.3. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.

15. Contact Details

15.1. If you have any questions about this Policy, or want to exercise any of your privacy rights, please contact us:

• Business name: Home Hunters Group Pty Ltd
• Privacy contact: Home Hunters Group Privacy Officer
• Phone: 0483 942 820
• Address: 1 Paradise Ave, Miami, Gold Coast, QLD 4220, Australia

We will endeavour to respond to your inquiries in a timely manner.

16. Updates to This Policy

16.1. We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or in the law. The latest version will always be available on our website. Where changes are significant, we will let you know.

By using our Website, you signify your acceptance of this Privacy Policy.