Privacy and cookie policy

1. Who we are

This website belongs to Vedic Hindu Foundation Limited (ABN 85 651 066 429, ACN 651 066 429). In this policy, “we”, “us” and “the Foundation” mean that organisation.

We are an Australian public company. We have been a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) since 16 June 2021. We are building the Adelaide Hindu Temple at 4 Peat Avenue, Holden Hill, South Australia 5088.

2. Australian privacy law

The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) sets out the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). They say how organisations should collect, use, store and share personal information.

We follow the APPs as good practice. This policy is written to match them.

3. What we collect and why

We collect only the following.

• Technical data from visiting the site. Our web host may log your IP address, browser type, the pages you ask for, and the time. It does this for security and to keep the site running. We do not use it to identify you.
• Your email address, once email sign-up opens. Email sign-up is not live yet, and the site collects no email addresses today. Once it opens, the “Stay in touch” sign-up will ask only for your email address. We will use it to send news about gatherings and the building project, a few times a year, and only because you asked us to.
• What you send us. If you email or phone us, we keep what you give us, such as your name, contact details and message. We use it to reply.
• The brick plate form. If you use the brick plate form, we collect your name, your email or mobile number, whether you gave once or give every month, the amount you tell us, roughly when you gave, the name on the bank transfer if it is not yours, the wording you want on your plate, and any notes you add. We also keep a picture of your plate. We use these to match your gift, to confirm the wording with you, to make your plate, and to email you a receipt. When you tick the box on the form, you agree to your wording being engraved on a brass plate on display inside the temple.
• Donation details. For now, donations are by direct bank transfer only. We see the name and reference that your bank shows us. We use them to record your gift and to thank you. We never publish a donor’s name without their permission.

The website does not take payments. We do not ask for sensitive information, such as health details, through the website.

We use your information only for the reasons above. We do not sell it. We do not share it with anyone except the services that help us run the site and send email (see “Overseas disclosure”), or where the law requires it.

4. How we collect it

We collect information from you directly: when you send us an email, call us, send the brick plate form, or make a bank transfer to the Foundation, and, once it opens, when you use the email sign-up. Our web host also records the technical data described above automatically when you visit.

5. Cookies and tracking

This website does not use cookies. It also has no analytics, no tracking pixels, no advertising and no third-party scripts.

The fonts, icons and images are all stored on our own site. This means that when you open a page, your browser does not contact any other server. The one exception is the brick plate form, and only when you press Send. Then your browser sends what you typed to our Google account (see “Overseas disclosure”). As with any website your browser contacts, Google also receives your IP address and browser details. The form uses no cookies.

Some links take you to other websites. “Get directions” opens Google Maps. The charity link opens the ABN Lookup record. “Join the volunteers” opens a Google Form, and “RSVP on Eventbrite” opens the temple inauguration’s Eventbrite page. The site also links to our Instagram and Facebook pages. Those sites have their own privacy policies and may set cookies. This happens only if you choose to click.

6. Overseas disclosure

APP 8 covers sending personal information outside Australia. Some of the services we rely on store data overseas.

• Vercel Inc. (United States) hosts this website. Like any web host, its servers may log the technical data described above.
• Google (Gmail, Forms, Sheets and Drive). Our email address is a Gmail address, and “Join the volunteers” opens a Google Form. The brick plate form saves what you send in a Google Sheet and a Drive folder in our Google account, and Google sends your confirmation and receipt emails. Information you send through any of these passes through Google’s systems, which may store it overseas.
• Eventbrite (United States). Registration for the temple inauguration is through Eventbrite. Information you give Eventbrite is stored on its systems, which may be overseas.
• An email service provider. We may use a reputable email service provider to send our news emails. It may store your email address overseas. We have not chosen one yet. When we do, we will name it on this page.

These providers have their own privacy policies. We cannot control how they handle data on their own systems.

7. How we store and protect it

We keep emails and records in our email account and in the Foundation’s records. Brick plate form answers are kept in a Google Sheet that only the few people who need them can open. The website is delivered over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection. The website does not hold your bank details.

We limit access to the people who need the information to reply to you, send news or record gifts. No system is perfectly secure. If we have a data breach that is likely to cause serious harm, we will tell you. Where the law requires it, we will also tell the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

8. How long we keep it

• Newsletter email address, once sign-up opens: until you unsubscribe. Then we remove it from our list.
• Emails and phone messages: for as long as we need them to reply and follow up. Then we delete them.
• Brick plate form answers and receipts: for as long as the law requires for the Foundation’s financial records, which is at least seven years.
• Donation records: for as long as the law requires for the Foundation’s financial records, which is at least seven years.
• Server logs: Vercel decides how long it keeps these.

9. Access and correction

You can ask to see the personal information we hold about you. You can ask us to correct it if it is wrong, or to delete it. We will delete it unless the law requires us to keep it, as it does for donation records. Contact us using the details at the end of this page.

We may ask you to confirm who you are first. We will reply within 30 days. If we cannot do what you ask, we will tell you why in writing.

10. Children

We do not knowingly collect information from children under 15 without a parent’s consent. If you think a child has given us their details, contact us. We will delete them.

11. Photos and images

The site deliberately shows no recognisable people. If you believe you appear in a photo, contact us and we will remove it.

The construction images and the time-lapse are an artist’s impression. They were made with AI tools from the temple’s design render and real photos of the site.

12. Unsubscribing

You can stop our news emails at any time. Every email will have an unsubscribe link. You can also email or phone us and ask to be removed. We will act within five business days.

We follow the Spam Act 2003 (Cth). We only send news emails to people who have asked for them.

13. Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, please contact us first. We will reply within 30 days.

If you are still not satisfied, you can complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au or on 1300 363 992.

14. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it last changed. If we change how we handle information, we will update this page before the change starts.

15. Contact us

For any privacy question or request, contact:

Our Terms of use explain the rules for using this site.