Privacy Statement – Confidential Mentoring Services
Small Business Mentoring Service Inc. (SBMS)

ABN: 49 963 512 121
Website: sbms.org.au
Email: [email protected]
Phone:1300 816 817

SBMS is committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988. Your privacy and the confidentiality of your discussions with SBMS and its Mentors are important to us. All SBMS Mentors sign a privacy and confidentiality agreement to protect your information. This Privacy Statement explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in the context of our confidential mentoring services.

 

1. Collection of Personal Information

We collect personal information that is reasonably necessary to provide mentoring services, including:

• Your name, contact details, and business information.
• Information you voluntarily provide during mentoring sessions or via forms.
• Session notes relevant to mentoring support.
• Any personal information sent directly from you.

 

2. Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

SBMS Mentors agree to respect the privacy of the relationship and the confidentiality of your product or service.

We may use your personal information solely for purposes such as:

• Providing, managing, and improving mentoring services;
• Scheduling sessions and ongoing communication;
• Invoicing, billing, and processing payments;
• Send you marketing communications, only where you have provided your consent by selecting the relevant agreement box on the booking page or by subscribing to our newsletters etc. You may withdraw your consent at any time;
• Program evaluation and reporting (in aggregate or de-identified form only);
• Publish information about you on the website, only where you have provided consent.

In addition to the disclosures above, SBMS may disclose your personal information to the extent that it is required to do so by law, in connection with any legal proceedings or prospective legal proceedings, or to establish, exercise or defend its legal rights.

Where SBMS discloses your personal information to its mentors or sub-contractors for these purposes, the mentor or sub-contractor will be obligated to use that personal information in accordance with the terms of this privacy statement.

 

3. Confidentiality of Mentoring Sessions

All mentoring conversations, documents, and shared insights are treated as strictly confidential. Sensitive or commercial information disclosed during sessions will not be shared without your explicit permission.

 

4. Data Storage and Security

SBMS will take reasonable technical and organisational precautions to prevent the loss, misuse, interference or alteration of your personal information, including:

• Secure digital storage;
• Access controls and confidentiality obligations for staff and mentors;
• Secure handling of records and communications.

 

5. Use of Cookies and Google Analytics

Our website uses Google Analytics and may use cookies or similar technologies to collect information about how visitors use our site. This helps us improve website performance, user experience, and service delivery.

Information collected: Includes anonymised IP addresses, browser type, device type, pages visited, and time spent on pages. No personally identifiable information is collected without your consent.

Third-party processing: Analytics data is processed by Google, which is bound by its own privacy policies.

Anonymisation: Where possible, IP addresses are anonymised.

Managing cookies: You can control or block cookies via your browser settings; however, this may affect the functionality of the website.

By continuing to use our website, you consent to the collection and use of anonymised analytics data.

 

6. Access and Correction

You have the right to:

• Request access to personal information SBMS holds about you.
• Request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete information.

We will respond to requests within a reasonable timeframe.

 

7. Complaints

If you have concerns about how your personal information has been handled, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1300 816 817
By mail: 10/501 Swanston St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000

We will investigate and respond promptly. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may refer your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at https://www.oaic.gov.au

 

8. Updates to This Privacy Statement

This Privacy Statement may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legislation or organisational practices. The latest version will always be available on our website.