The Elite Interior Design Academy
Graduate Program Privacy Policy

Effective date: 1 July 2026

​

1. About this Privacy Policy

FOS Collective Pty Ltd ABN 89 655 956 013, trading as Elite Interior Design Academy (“EIDA”, “we”, “us” or “our”), respects the privacy of applicants, participants, graduates, mentors, speakers, website visitors and other individuals whose personal information we handle.

This Privacy Policy explains how EIDA collects, holds, uses, discloses, protects and manages personal information in connection with its graduate mentoring, coaching and professional development programs.

EIDA intends to handle personal information consistently with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles and other applicable privacy laws, whether or not every provision legally applies to EIDA in every circumstance.

This Policy should be read with:

• the Graduate Program Terms and Conditions;

• any application or enrolment collection notice;

• any recording or testimonial consent form;

• EIDA’s website cookie notice; and

• any additional consent provided by the individual.

 

2. What is personal information?

Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable.

It may include a person’s name, contact details, education, employment history, application responses, payment information, attendance records, communications and professional development information.

Sensitive information is a category of personal information that may include health information, disability or accessibility information, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, professional association membership and other information given additional protection under privacy law.

 

3. Who this Policy applies to

This Policy applies to personal information EIDA handles about:

• prospective applicants;

• applicants undergoing screening;

• enrolled Participants;

• past Participants and graduates;

• scholarship applicants and recipients;

• parents or guardians where applicable;

• referees;

• guest speakers and mentors;

• individuals who make enquiries;

• subscribers and members of the EIDA community; and

• visitors to EIDA or FOS Collective websites and digital platforms.

 

4. Information we may collect

Depending on the individual’s relationship with EIDA, we may collect:

Identity and contact information

• full name;

• preferred name;

• email address;

• telephone number;

• residential suburb, state or country;

• date of birth or confirmation of age where relevant;

• emergency contact details; and

• parent or guardian information where required.

Education and career information

• university, TAFE, college or education provider;

• degree, diploma or course;

• current year or stage of study;

• expected graduation date;

• academic or professional interests;

• employment history;

• current employer and position;

• internship or work experience;

• portfolio, résumé or curriculum vitae;

• career goals;

• professional strengths and development needs; and

• publicly available professional information, where reasonably necessary.

Application and screening information

• application responses;

• reasons for applying;

• career objectives;

• availability and capacity;

• interview or screening notes;

• scholarship information;

• referee information;

• suitability observations; and

• decisions relating to admission or progression.

EIDA does not ordinarily make admission decisions solely through automated decision-making technology.

Program and mentoring information

• attendance;

• participation;

• completed activities;

• feedback and reflections;

• professional goals;

• mentoring questions;

• notes made during individual mentoring;

• progress through the Program;

• conduct or participation concerns;

• certificate eligibility; and

• communications with EIDA.

Financial and transaction information

• billing name and address;

• invoices;

• payment status;

• transaction identifiers;

• refund or deferral information; and

• limited payment information supplied by a payment processor.

EIDA does not ordinarily retain complete credit or debit card numbers. Payments are generally processed by third-party payment providers.

Technical and website information

• IP address;

• browser and device information;

• website activity;

• login information;

• form submissions;

• communication preferences;

• cookie identifiers;

• analytics information; and

• information about interactions with emails or digital content.

Images, audio and recordings

Where appropriate consent or notice has been provided, EIDA may collect:

• profile photographs;

• event photographs;

• video or audio recordings;

• webinar participation;

• recorded testimonials; and

• images of submitted work.

Sensitive information

EIDA may collect limited sensitive information where reasonably necessary, including:

• accessibility requirements;

• disability-related adjustments;

• health information relevant to safe participation;

• dietary information for an in-person event;

• emergency information; or

• information voluntarily shared during mentoring.

EIDA will generally seek express consent before collecting sensitive information unless collection is otherwise permitted or required by law.

Participants should not provide sensitive information that is not reasonably necessary for the Program.

 

5. How we collect information

EIDA may collect information:

• directly from an individual;

• through website forms;

• through applications, questionnaires and screening interviews;

• during enrolment and payment;

• through mentoring and Program participation;

• through email, telephone, video call or direct message;

• through surveys and feedback forms;

• from a university, institution, employer or scholarship partner;

• from a referee nominated by the individual;

• from a parent or guardian;

• from event registration platforms;

• from payment, website, email and learning-platform providers; and

• from publicly available professional sources where reasonably necessary.

Where information is received from another person or institution, EIDA will take reasonable steps to ensure the individual is aware of the collection where required.

 

6. Anonymous and pseudonymous contact

Individuals may make a general enquiry anonymously or using a pseudonym where practical.

EIDA may require accurate identification where necessary to:

• assess an application;

• enrol a Participant;

• process payment;

• provide individual mentoring;

• maintain safety;

• issue a certificate;

• manage a complaint; or

• comply with legal obligations.

 

7. Why we collect and use personal information

EIDA may collect, hold, use and disclose personal information to:

• respond to enquiries;

• assess Program applications;

• conduct screening;

• determine Program suitability;

• administer scholarships;

• process enrolment and payment;

• deliver coaching and mentoring;

• tailor Program content;

• provide accessibility adjustments;

• communicate schedules and Program changes;

• maintain attendance and completion records;

• provide feedback;

• issue certificates;

• manage deferrals, withdrawals and refunds;

• maintain safety and appropriate conduct;

• investigate complaints;

• protect EIDA’s intellectual property;

• improve EIDA programs;

• conduct de-identified analysis;

• administer the website and digital platforms;

• prevent fraud and misuse;

• comply with legal obligations; and

• send marketing where consent or another lawful basis exists.

 

8. What happens if information is not provided?

An individual is not required to provide all information requested.

However, EIDA may be unable to:

• assess an application;

• determine suitability;

• process enrolment;

• provide a scholarship;

• arrange reasonable adjustments;

• deliver individual mentoring;

• process payment;

• issue a certificate; or

• respond properly to a request or complaint

if necessary information is not provided.

 

9. Use and disclosure

EIDA may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary to:

• EIDA directors, employees, contractors and facilitators;

• guest mentors or speakers;

• website, email and learning-platform providers;

• payment processors and accountants;

• professional advisers;

• information technology and security providers;

• venue and event providers;

• insurers;

• government, regulatory or law-enforcement bodies where required;

• emergency services where there is a serious safety concern; and

• another person where the individual has consented.

Only information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose will be disclosed.

 

10. Information shared with institutions or scholarship partners

Where a Participant has been referred, nominated, sponsored or funded by a university, college, TAFE, association or other partner, EIDA may provide limited information such as:

• application or enrolment status;

• attendance;

• completion status;

• certificate eligibility;

• scholarship compliance; and

• serious conduct or safety concerns.

EIDA will not ordinarily disclose the substance of private mentoring conversations, personal reflections or sensitive personal information without:

• the Participant’s consent;

• a legal requirement;

• an immediate or serious safety concern;

• an agreed safeguarding arrangement; or

• another lawful reason.

The information-sharing arrangement may be further defined in the relevant Program documents or consent notice.

 

11. Group confidentiality

Participants may voluntarily disclose personal or professional information during group discussions.

EIDA will establish reasonable confidentiality expectations and may take action against a Participant who misuses another person’s information.

However, EIDA cannot completely control or guarantee the conduct of every Participant. Participants should exercise discretion and avoid disclosing information that:

• is unnecessarily sensitive;

• belongs to a client or employer;

• is legally privileged;

• is subject to confidentiality obligations; or

• may cause harm if repeated outside the Program.

 

12. Mentoring notes

EIDA may maintain brief mentoring notes to:

• remember professional goals;

• provide continuity between sessions;

• record agreed actions;

• manage participation; and

• respond to concerns or complaints.

Mentoring notes are not medical, psychological or clinical records.

EIDA will limit the detail recorded and will not intentionally record unnecessary sensitive information.

​

13. Recordings

EIDA will not ordinarily record a private mentoring session without express agreement.

Group sessions may be recorded where Participants are notified in advance.

Where a recording is made:

• access may be restricted;

• access may be time limited;

• sharing is prohibited;

• confidential sections may be removed;

• Participants may be given an opportunity to disable their camera or notify EIDA of concerns; and

• the recording will be retained only for as long as reasonably necessary.

Marketing use of a Participant’s identifiable image, voice, testimonial or story requires separate consent.

 

14. Artificial intelligence and automated tools

EIDA may use digital tools to support administration, drafting, summarisation, content development or Program delivery.

EIDA will not knowingly upload identifiable mentoring notes, sensitive information, confidential student work or private Participant communications to a public generative artificial intelligence service unless:

• the individual has been clearly informed and consented;

• the information has first been appropriately de-identified; or

• an approved private service with suitable privacy and security protections is being used.

Artificial intelligence will not ordinarily be used as the sole decision-maker for admission, suspension, certification or another decision having a significant effect on a Participant.

 

15. Direct marketing

EIDA may send information about:

• Program launches;

• applications;

• events;

• professional resources;

• workshops;

• future Program levels;

• mentoring opportunities; and

• EIDA or FOS Collective services.

Marketing communications will only be sent where EIDA has appropriate consent or another lawful basis.

Individuals may unsubscribe at any time by:

• selecting the unsubscribe link;

• replying with an unsubscribe request; or

• emailing info@foscollective.com.au.

EIDA will action electronic marketing opt-out requests within five business days.

Service communications concerning an application, enrolment, payment, schedule or existing Program are not marketing communications.

 

16. Cookies and website analytics

EIDA’s website may use:

• essential cookies;

• security cookies;

• analytics cookies;

• preference cookies;

• marketing cookies;

• pixels; and

• similar technologies.

These tools may collect information about device, browser, website use and interactions.

Where required, individuals may manage non-essential cookies through the website cookie banner or browser settings.

Disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

 

17. Overseas handling

EIDA uses online platforms and service providers that may store, process, support or access information outside Australia.

Depending on the providers used, information may be handled in countries including:

• the United States;

• Israel;

• the United Kingdom;

• countries within the European Economic Area; and

• other jurisdictions in which a service provider or its subcontractors operate.

The particular countries may change as suppliers and their infrastructure change.

EIDA will take reasonable steps appropriate to the circumstances when selecting and managing providers, including reviewing privacy terms, contractual protections, access controls and security practices where practicable.

 

18. Storage and security

EIDA may hold information in:

• website databases;

• email systems;

• cloud storage;

• learning-management systems;

• customer relationship systems;

• payment records;

• electronic documents;

• password-protected devices; and

• limited physical records.

Reasonable security measures may include:

• password controls;

• multi-factor authentication where available;

• access restrictions;

• secure payment providers;

• software updates;

• backups;

• confidentiality obligations;

• staff and contractor access limits; and

• secure destruction or de-identification.

No electronic system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

 

19. Retention and destruction

EIDA retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for its functions, contractual obligations, dispute management and legal requirements.

As a general operating practice:

• unsuccessful application information may be retained for up to 24 months;

• enrolment, payment, complaint and completion records may be retained for at least seven years;

• mentoring notes may be deleted or de-identified after they are no longer reasonably required;

• certificates and completion records may be retained for verification;

• marketing information may be retained until consent is withdrawn or the information is no longer required; and

• de-identified information may be retained for research, planning and Program improvement.

Where information is no longer reasonably required and no legal obligation requires retention, EIDA will take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it.

 

20. Access to personal information

An individual may request access to personal information EIDA holds about them by emailing info@foscollective.com.au.

EIDA may request proof of identity before providing access.

EIDA will respond within a reasonable period and will ordinarily aim to respond within 30 days.

Access may be refused or limited where permitted by law, including where access would:

• unreasonably affect another person’s privacy;

• disclose confidential or commercially sensitive information;

• prejudice an investigation;

• reveal legally privileged information;

• create a serious safety risk; or

• otherwise be unlawful.

Where access is refused, EIDA will provide reasons where required.

 

21. Correction

An individual may ask EIDA to correct information that is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date, irrelevant or misleading.

EIDA may request supporting information where reasonably necessary.

Where a correction is made, EIDA may take reasonable steps to notify relevant third parties where required or requested.

 

22. Privacy complaints

Privacy complaints should be made in writing to:

Privacy Officer
FOS Collective Pty Ltd
Trading as Elite Interior Design Academy
Email: info@foscollective.com.au

The complaint should include:

• the individual’s name and contact details;

• the information or conduct concerned;

• relevant dates;

• any supporting material; and

• the outcome sought.

EIDA will:

1. acknowledge the complaint;

2. investigate the circumstances;

3. request further information where necessary;

4. provide a reasonable opportunity for the individual to explain the concern; and

5. ordinarily aim to provide a response within 30 days.

If the complaint is not resolved, the individual may be entitled to contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner or another relevant body.

 

23. Data breaches

EIDA will take reasonable steps to contain, assess and respond to an actual or suspected data breach.

Where the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme applies and an eligible data breach has occurred, EIDA will notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and affected individuals as required by law.

EIDA may also notify affected individuals where notification is considered appropriate even if it is not legally mandatory.

 

24. Government identifiers

EIDA does not ordinarily collect government-issued identifiers such as tax file numbers, Medicare numbers or passport numbers.

EIDA will not adopt a government identifier as its own internal identifier unless authorised by law.

Applicants should not provide identity documents unless EIDA has specifically requested them for a legitimate and explained purpose.

 

25. Links and third-party services

EIDA’s website or Program Materials may link to third-party websites or services.

EIDA is not responsible for the privacy practices of an external service that operates independently from EIDA.

Individuals should review the external provider’s privacy policy before providing information.

 

26. Changes to this Policy

EIDA may update this Policy where:

• its programs change;

• new technology is introduced;

• service providers change;

• privacy practices change; or

• laws or regulatory guidance change.

The current version will be published on the EIDA or FOS Collective website.

Material changes affecting existing Participants may also be communicated directly where appropriate.

 

27. Contact

FOS Collective Pty Ltd
Trading as Elite Interior Design Academy
ABN 89 655 956 013
Email: info@foscollective.com.au
Website: www.foscollective.com.au