Privacy Policy

Who We Are

Life Without Debt is operated by Credit Mediation Australia CLG (ABN pending), an Australian not-for-profit registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and holding Australian Credit Licence No. 387398.

When we say "we", "us" or "our" in this policy, we are referring to Credit Mediation Australia CLG trading as Life Without Debt.

Our registered office is in Australia. Our website is located at lifewithoutdebt.org.au.

What Information We Collect

We collect personal information that is necessary to deliver our services or to process your donation. This may include:

• Your name, contact details, and address
• Medical information relevant to your eligibility for our services (terminal diagnosis confirmation)
• Financial information including details of debts, creditors, ATO matters, and assets
• Information about your family members where relevant to your case
• Payment information for donations (processed via secure third-party processors; we do not store card details)
• Communications with our team by email, phone, or through our website forms

We collect sensitive information (including health information) only with your explicit consent and only to the extent necessary to assess and deliver our services.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information you provide to:

• Assess your eligibility for our credit mediation services
• Manage and progress your case, including communicating with creditors, the ATO, and other parties on your behalf
• Process and receipt your donations
• Send you service updates and, where you have consented, our newsletter and impact reports
• Fulfil our legal and regulatory obligations as a licensed credit provider under ACL 387398
• Improve our services and report on our impact to funders (in aggregate, anonymised form only)

We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party. We will never use client case information for marketing purposes.

Sharing Your Information

We share your information only where necessary to deliver your service or comply with legal obligations:

• Creditors and the ATO: With your explicit consent, we communicate with your creditors and the ATO as your authorised representative
• Legal advisors: Where complex legal matters require external legal opinion, with your consent
• Regulatory bodies: Where required by law or our obligations under ACL 387398
• Payment processors: Secure, compliant third-party processors for donation transactions only

Data Security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. All our digital systems use encrypted transmission (HTTPS) and access controls.

In the event of a data breach that is likely to result in serious harm, we will notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) in accordance with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.

Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to deliver your service and to comply with our legal obligations. Credit mediation records are typically retained for 7 years in accordance with Australian financial services law. You may request deletion of information where we are not required by law to retain it.

Your Rights

Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of information (subject to our legal retention obligations)
• Withdraw consent for uses of your information (noting this may affect our ability to deliver services)
• Make a complaint about our handling of your information

Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies for basic analytics purposes (understanding how visitors use the site) and for functionality. We do not use tracking cookies for advertising or profiling purposes. You may disable cookies in your browser settings without affecting your ability to use the site.

How to Contact Us or Make a Complaint

If you have questions about this policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:

Life Without Debt / Credit Mediation Australia CLG
Privacy Officer
Email: [email protected]

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Significant changes will be notified to subscribers and posted on this page with an updated date. Your continued use of our services after notification constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.