Privacy, in plain English.

1. About this policy

This policy applies to The Health Club Online website, our enquiries, applications, newsletters and related business communications. “We”, “us” and “our” mean The Health Club Online, operated by Merilyn Bullen.

It explains our personal-information practices and our approach to privacy under applicable Australian law, including the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles where they apply.

This policy does not replace a specific collection notice or agreement where one is provided for a particular service.

2. Information we may collect and hold

You may deal with us anonymously or using a pseudonym where practical. We will need accurate identifying and contact information where it is necessary to respond, assess an application, enter an agreement, provide a service, meet legal obligations or protect security.

3. How we collect information

We usually collect information directly from you when you:

• email or otherwise contact us;
• complete an application, enquiry or newsletter form;
• book or attend a call, course, event or service;
• become a client, supplier, collaborator or business contact; or
• use this website.

Our current public application form uses your chosen email application. If you submit it, the information is sent through your email provider to ours. It is not posted to a website form-processing database by that form.

Newsletter pages may be connected to a newsletter provider in the future. If no connection is active, entering information does not place you on a mailing list. We will update the page and this policy when processing arrangements materially change.

We may also receive professional or business contact details from a referral, a public business source or a service provider where lawful and reasonable.

4. Why we collect, use and disclose information

We use personal information for purposes reasonably connected with our work, including to:

• respond to enquiries and communicate with you;
• assess applications and determine whether our services are a suitable fit;
• scope, provide, administer and improve services, courses and website projects;
• send a newsletter or other communication you requested;
• operate, secure, measure and improve the website;
• maintain business, accounting, security and compliance records;
• prevent misuse, fraud or security incidents; and
• meet legal obligations and resolve disputes.

We do not sell or rent personal information. We do not use information supplied for an enquiry or application to add you to unrelated marketing lists without an appropriate basis.

5. Health and other sensitive information

The name “The Health Club Online” refers to healthier websites, business systems and practical AI capability. Our general website forms are not designed to collect medical records, diagnoses, treatment information or other sensitive health information.

If you send sensitive information we did not request, we will assess whether it is reasonably necessary and lawful to retain. Where it is not, we will take reasonable steps to delete or de-identify it.

6. Website analytics, cookies and browser storage

We use a limited first-party analytics system to understand whether pages are useful and whether the website is working as intended. It may record pageviews, selected click events, page paths, referrer host, device category, timestamps and a daily salted visitor hash for rough unique-visitor estimates.

The system is designed not to store raw IP addresses in the analytics database, names, email addresses, form contents, health information, persistent analytics cookies or fingerprinting identifiers. It respects browser Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control signals.

Some pages may use browser local storage to remember a preference such as light or dark display mode. This is stored in your browser and is not used to build an advertising profile.

We do not currently describe Google Analytics, advertising pixels, heatmaps or session recording as active parts of the site. If we introduce a material third-party analytics or advertising technology, we will update this policy and use consent controls where appropriate.

You can limit storage through your browser settings. Blocking scripts or storage may affect preferences or some website functions.

7. AI-assisted tools and automated decisions

The Health Club Online uses human-directed AI agents and AI-assisted tools in parts of its research, content, website and business operations. Depending on the task, these tools may help organise information, summarise material, draft content, check websites or prepare administrative work.

We aim to minimise personal information before using AI tools, restrict access to what is reasonably needed, avoid intentionally submitting sensitive health information, and keep human oversight for decisions that materially affect a person.

The public website does not currently make a decision solely by automated processing that has a legal or similarly significant effect on a visitor. Applications are reviewed individually. If that changes, we will provide clearer information about the system, the information it uses and the role of human review.

8. Service providers and other disclosures

We may disclose or make information available to trusted providers only where reasonably needed for the purposes described in this policy. Categories may include:

• website hosting, security and technical support providers;
• email, newsletter, calendar, video-meeting and cloud productivity providers;
• payment, accounting and professional advisers where relevant to a service;
• contractors or specialist collaborators working under appropriate confidentiality expectations; and
• regulators, courts, law-enforcement bodies or other parties where required or authorised by law.

Providers may process information on our behalf under their own terms and privacy arrangements. We seek to limit the information shared and choose services appropriate to the nature of the information.

We may also disclose information with your consent, to protect a person or our systems from a serious threat, in connection with a business reorganisation where lawful safeguards apply, or as otherwise permitted by law.

9. Overseas processing

Internet, email, newsletter, cloud and AI services may process or store information outside Australia. Depending on the service used, likely locations may include Australia, the United States and other countries in which a provider or its subcontractors operate.

Provider locations can change and may not always be practical to specify completely. Where applicable, we take reasonable steps appropriate to the circumstances when selecting and using overseas providers. You may contact us if you would like more information about providers relevant to your information.

10. Newsletters and direct marketing

We send newsletters or marketing communications where you have asked to receive them, consented, or where another lawful basis applies. We aim to make the sender clear and provide a straightforward way to unsubscribe.

You can withdraw consent at any time by using the unsubscribe link in a message or emailing us. We may retain a minimal suppression record so we do not accidentally resubscribe an address that opted out. Service or administrative messages necessary for an active relationship may still be sent when they are not marketing.

11. Security and retention

We take reasonable technical and organisational steps appropriate to the information we hold. These may include access controls, restricted administrative access, secure connections, backups, patching, monitoring, provider due diligence and minimising the information collected.

No website, email service or online system can be guaranteed completely secure. Please use the contact details below if you believe information connected with us may have been accessed or disclosed without authorisation.

We retain personal information only for as long as it is reasonably needed for the purpose collected, an active or prospective business relationship, security, dispute resolution, insurance, accounting or legal requirements. When it is no longer required, we take reasonable steps to delete or de-identify it, subject to lawful backup and record-retention constraints.

12. Access, correction and deletion

You may ask us to:

• confirm whether we hold personal information about you;
• give you access to information we hold;
• correct inaccurate, incomplete, outdated or misleading information;
• delete information where it is no longer needed and deletion is lawful and reasonable; or
• explain or update your communication preferences.

Email hello@thehealthclubonline.com with the subject “Privacy request”. We may need to verify your identity and clarify the information involved. If we cannot fulfil a request, we will explain why where reasonable and required.

13. Privacy questions and complaints

Send a privacy question or complaint to hello@thehealthclubonline.com with the subject “Privacy complaint”. Please include enough detail for us to understand the issue, but do not email passwords or unnecessary sensitive information.

We will acknowledge the complaint, investigate it, and aim to provide a response within a reasonable period. If you are not satisfied and the Privacy Act applies, you may be able to contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

14. Other important information

Children

Our general website and business services are not directed to children. If you believe a child has provided personal information without appropriate authority, please contact us so we can assess and respond.

External links

Our website links to external sites and services. Their privacy practices are controlled by their operators, so review their policies before providing personal information.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when our services, technology, providers or legal obligations change. The effective date at the top shows the latest version. Material changes will be made reasonably prominent.