Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
How the Ember App, the Ember Communicator,
and this website collects information.
This page explains what personal information Ember and the Flagstaff Group collect through this website, the Ember App and the Non-verbal Communicator, why we collect it, and how we look after it.
Ember is an initiative of The Flagstaff Group Ltd, a not for profit Australian Disability Enterprise. This policy is written for the Ember website and apps. It sits alongside, and does not replace, Flagstaff's full corporate Privacy Policy at flagstaffgroup.com.au, which applies across all of Flagstaff's goods and services.
What we collect
Mostly the details you give us yourself, such as your name, contact details, and anything you add to an emergency plan or a Streetmate pledge.
What we do with it
We use it to run the site and apps, to keep your emergency plan working, and to answer your questions. We never sell it.
Your choices
You can ask to see, correct or delete your information at any time, and you can opt out of marketing whenever you like.
Sensitive information, including disability and health details
Some parts of Ember, including the Ember App's emergency plan and the Non-verbal Communicator, may involve information about your health, medication, mobility needs or disability. This is treated as sensitive information under the Privacy Act.
We only collect, hold, use or disclose sensitive information with your consent, or where you volunteer it to us yourself, for example when you build your own emergency plan. We do not share it outside Flagstaff and its related bodies except where the law requires it.
The details
The sections below set out how this policy works. Open any section for the full detail, or contact our Privacy Officer if you would like something explained further.
About this policy
This Privacy Policy is subject to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. It sets out how Flagstaff collects, uses and discloses personal information through emberapp.com.au, the Ember App and the Non-verbal Communicator (together, the Platforms).
We may change this policy at any time. If we do, we will post the updated version on this page, and your continued use of the Platforms means you accept the change. It is worth checking back here occasionally, particularly before each fire season.
What information we collect
The personal information we collect depends on how you use the Platforms. It may include your name, address, email address and phone number, and information you provide as part of an emergency plan, a Streetmate pledge, a survey, or a subscription to Ember News.
Identity and contact information
Your name, contact details, and where relevant your date of birth or household details, so we can personalise your plan and get in touch if needed.
Emergency plan and app information
Anything you enter into the Ember App or Non-verbal Communicator to build your plan or communication board, including notes about equipment, mobility aids, medication or support needs you choose to record.
Technical and usage information
Standard website data such as your browser type, the pages you visit, and how long you spend on the site, collected through cookies and analytics as described below.
How we collect your information
We collect personal information directly from you when you:
- build a plan in the Ember App or set up the Non-verbal Communicator
- pledge your support for Streetmate or fill in any other form on this site
- subscribe to Ember News or contact us with a question
- take part in a survey or give us feedback
We may also collect limited technical information automatically as you browse, through cookies and Google Analytics, as explained below. If we ever receive personal information about you from someone else, for example a family member setting up your plan on your behalf, we will let you know as soon as practicable.
How we use your information
| What you have done | Why we use your information |
|---|---|
| Built or updated an emergency plan | To store your plan securely and make it available to you when you need it |
| Pledged support for Streetmate | To register your pledge, send an information kit if requested, and share periodic campaign updates |
| Subscribed to Ember News or a survey | To send the content you asked for and understand how useful it is |
| Contacted us with a question or complaint | To respond to you and, where relevant, improve the Platforms |
We will only use your personal information for the purpose we collected it for, or for something you would reasonably expect, unless you give us further consent. We do not use your personal information for any purpose you would not reasonably expect.
Who we may share it with
We do not sell, trade or rent your personal information. We may disclose it to:
- service providers who help us run the Platforms, such as our website host or app developer
- our related bodies corporate within the Flagstaff Group
- our professional advisers, including accountants and lawyers, where necessary
- emergency services or a government authority, where the law requires it or where there is a serious risk to someone's safety
We do not send your personal information to overseas recipients. If that were ever to change, we would take reasonable steps to protect it in line with the Australian Privacy Principles first.
Cookies and analytics on this website
This website uses cookies to understand how many people visit, which pages are useful, and which browsers and devices people use. This information is aggregated and helps us improve the site. It is not used to identify you personally.
We use Google Analytics for this purpose. You can find out more about how Google Analytics works at google.com/analytics.
The Ember App and the Non-verbal Communicator
The Ember App stores and processes the personal information you provide for your emergency plan, and is not used for any other purpose. It is your responsibility to keep your phone and any app password secure, and to keep your plan up to date.
The Non-verbal Communicator uses images and phrases for communication and therapy purposes only. Photos used within it are either creative commons licensed or purchased from Tobii Dynavox.
By downloading or using either app, you consent to this policy and to our Terms of Use, available at emberapp.com.au/terms.
Keeping your information secure
We store personal information on secure servers located in Australia, behind a firewall, and use security software to protect it from unauthorised access, loss or misuse. Only authorised Flagstaff personnel and service providers who need it to do their job can access your information.
If you become aware of, or suspect, any misuse or loss of your personal information, please contact us straight away using the details below.
Data breaches
Flagstaff complies with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme under the Privacy Act. If we become aware that a data breach may have occurred, we will investigate, assess whether it is an eligible data breach, and if so, notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and, where practicable, anyone affected.
Access, correction and complaints
You can ask us for access to the personal information we hold about you, or ask us to correct it, at any time by contacting our Privacy Officer. We may ask you to confirm your identity first, and we will respond within a reasonable time.
If you have a complaint about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us and we will respond within fourteen days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you are free to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au.
Questions about your privacy?
Our Privacy Officer is happy to help with access requests, corrections or general questions about how your information is handled.