Privacy Statement

HappinessFirst Pty Ltd  |  Updated 2 October 2026

HappinessFirst Pty Ltd respects your privacy. This statement explains what personal information we collect, why we use it, who we may share it with, and how you can access it or raise a concern.

We handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles and other applicable privacy and record-keeping laws.

What information we collect

For participants, this may include your name, contact details, date of birth, gender, support needs and preferences, and the details of an advocate or emergency contact. We may also need health and disability information, and information about your language, culture or other personal preferences, to provide appropriate support.

We may collect contact and enquiry details from people who use our website or ask about our services. We also collect information needed to manage applications, employment and volunteering.

How we collect information

We usually collect information directly from you through conversations, forms and your dealings with our team. We may receive relevant information from your family, advocate, doctor or another service provider with your consent or other lawful authority. In some circumstances, the law permits us to collect information from another source when direct collection is unreasonable or impracticable.

You can contact us to withdraw consent. This may affect the supports we can safely provide or our ability to share information with people you have nominated.

How we use and share information

We use information to arrange, deliver and coordinate supports, communicate with you, manage safety, keep service records, respond to concerns, and meet our legal and NDIS obligations.

Where relevant to your support, we may share information with our authorised workers, other service providers and health practitioners; emergency services or hospitals; the NDIS and relevant government bodies; and a person you have nominated, such as an advocate, guardian or emergency contact. We share information only where you have consented, where it is reasonably expected for a related purpose, or where the law permits or requires it. This includes responding to a serious threat to someone’s life, health or safety.

Overseas disclosures

We do not currently disclose personal information to overseas recipients. We will update this statement if our information-handling arrangements change.

How we protect and keep information

We keep records in paper and electronic form, including secure cloud systems. We take reasonable steps to protect them from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration and disclosure, and limit access to people who need it for their work.

We keep information for as long as needed to provide services and meet our legal and NDIS record-keeping obligations. Participant records are generally kept for at least seven years after services end. Some records, including records relating to children, must be kept longer. When we no longer need information and no law requires us to retain it, we securely destroy or de-identify it.

Access and correction

You can ask to see the personal information we hold about you or ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete. Contact us using the details below. We may ask you to confirm your identity before giving access or making a change. We aim to respond within a reasonable time, usually within 30 days.

Workers and volunteers

We handle information about current and former workers in accordance with applicable workplace and privacy laws. We manage volunteer information in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Data breaches

If information is lost or accessed or disclosed without authorisation, we will act to contain the incident, assess the risk and reduce harm. If a breach is likely to cause serious harm, we will notify affected people and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) when required under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.

Privacy concerns and contact

If you have a question, want to access or correct your information, or wish to make a privacy complaint, please contact HappinessFirst. We will take your concern seriously, handle it as confidentially as we can, investigate it promptly and tell you the outcome. Making a complaint will not affect how we treat you.

Email: connect@happinessfirst.com.au  |  Phone: 1300 171 685

If you are dissatisfied with our response, you can contact the OAIC at www.oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992.