Privacy policy

This Policy was last reviewed and updated on: 14th October 2023

Privacy Policy

Farward Stories values and respects the privacy of the people we deal with. Farward Stories is committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Privacy Act 1988 and other applicable privacy laws and regulations.

This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information, and how we maintain the quality and security of your personal information.

What is personal information?

“Personal information” means any information or opinion, whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an identified individual or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. In general terms, this includes information or an opinion that personally identifies you either directly (e.g., your name) or indirectly.

What personal information do we collect?

The personal information we collect about you depends on the nature of your dealings with us or what you choose to share with us.

The personal information we collect about you may include:

  • Name/s
  • Mailing or street address
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Photograph submission
  • Bank account details

In ordering a customised children’s book, Farward may need to collect sensitive information about you and/or an underage juvenile. This might include any information or opinion about ethnic origin, gender and sex identity, physical characteristics, age, and photographic representation used for illustrative purposes as per order instructions.

If we collect your sensitive information, we will do so only with your consent, if it is necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to life or health, or as otherwise required or authorised by law, and we take appropriate measures to protect the security of this information.

You do not have to provide us with your personal information.  However, if you choose to deal with us and choose not to provide us with your personal information, we may not be able to provide you with our services or otherwise interact with you. Please contact us at contact@farwardstories.com to discuss alternatives.

How do we collect your personal information?

We collect your personal information directly from you when you:

  • Interact with us over the phone
  • Interact with us on social media
  • Subscribe to our mailing list
  • Order a product from our website (payment, provision of mailing details, photograph submission)
  • Interact with us via email

How do we use your personal information?

We use personal information for many purposes in connection with our functions and activities, including the following purposes:

  • Providing you with information that you request from us
  • Using submitted photograph for illustrative purposes
  • Using mailing details for postage purposes
  • Communicating with you regarding services requested
  • improving the quality of the services we offer
  • Internal administrative purposes

 

Disclosure of personal information to third parties

We may disclose your personal information to third parties in accordance with this Policy in circumstances where you would reasonably expect us to disclose your information. For example, we may disclose your personal information to:

  • Farward’s illustrator/s for illustration purposes
  • Administrators
  • Staff

 

Transfer of personal information overseas

Some of the third-party service providers we disclose personal information to may be based in or have servers located outside of Australia, including illustrators and content creator contributors.

Where we disclose your personal information to third parties overseas, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that data security and appropriate privacy practices are maintained. We will only disclose to overseas third parties if:

  • You have given us your consent to disclose personal information to that third party; or

we reasonably believe that:

  • The overseas recipient is subject to a law or binding scheme that is, overall, substantially similar to the APPs; and
  • The law or binding scheme can be enforced; or
  • The disclosure is required or authorised by an Australian law or court / tribunal order.

How do we protect your personal information?

Farward will take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information that we hold about you is kept confidential and secure, including by:

  • Having a robust physical security of our premises and databases / records
  • Taking measures to restrict access to only personnel who need that personal information to effectively provide services to you
  • Having technological measures in place (for example, anti-virus software, fire walls)

Online activity

Cookies

The Farward Stories website uses cookies. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers the website puts on your device if you allow it. These cookies recognise when your device has visited our website before, so we can distinguish you from other users of the website. This improves your experience and the Farward website.

We do not use cookies to identify you, just to improve your experience on our website. If you do not wish to use the cookies, you can amend the settings on your internet browser so it will not automatically download cookies. However, if you remove or block cookies on your computer, please be aware that your browsing experience and our website’s functionality may be affected.

Direct marketing

We may send you direct marketing communications and information about our services, opportunities, or events that we consider may be of interest to you if you have requested or consented to receive such communications. These communications may be sent in various forms, including mail, SMS, and email, in accordance with applicable marketing laws, such as the Australian Spam Act 2003. You consent to us sending you those direct marketing communications by any of those methods. If you indicate a preference for a method of communication, we will endeavour to use that method whenever practical to do so.

You may opt-out of receiving marketing communications from us at any time by contacting us using the details set out in the ‘Contact Us’ section on our website and below.

Retention of personal information

We will not keep your personal information for longer than we need to. In most cases, this means that we will only retain your personal information for the duration of your relationship with us unless we are required to retain your personal information to comply with applicable laws, for example record-keeping obligations.

Photographic submissions will be deleted from all parties’ records 10 days following product dispatchment.

How to access and correct your personal information

Farward will endeavour to keep your personal information accurate, complete, and up to date.

If you wish to make a request to access and / or correct the personal information we hold about you, you should make a request by contacting us and we will usually respond within 5 business days.

Inquiries and complaints

For complaints about how Farward Stories handles, processes, or manages your personal information, please contact us as set out in the ‘Contact Us’ section on our website and below.  Note we may require proof of your identity and full details of your request before we can process your complaint.

Please allow up to 5 days for Farward Stories to respond to your complaint. It will not always be possible to resolve a complaint to everyone’s satisfaction. If you are not satisfied with Farward’s response to a complaint, you have the right to contact the Office of Australian Information Commissioner (at www.oaic.gov.au/) to lodge a complaint.

To request a refund, refer to our ‘Refund Policy’ and we will endeavour to satisfy your requests.

How to contact us

If you have a question or concern in relation to our handling of your personal information or this Policy, you can contact us for assistance as follows:

Email

contact@farwardstories.com

Contact number

0467856155

Website

 

www.farwardstories.com