Who we are

Blackwood Community (blackwoodcommunity.com.au) is a volunteer-run website serving the Blackwood and surrounding communities in Victoria, Australia. We are not a commercial organisation.

What information we collect

We collect information you voluntarily provide when you:

• Submit a news article or story (your name and email address)
• Register a local business listing (business name, contact details, description)
• Contact us via email

We also automatically collect basic server logs (IP address, browser type, pages visited) as part of normal website operation.

How we use your information

• To publish community content you have submitted
• To notify you when your submission is published
• To display your business listing on the site
• To respond to enquiries
• To maintain and improve the website

We do not sell, trade or rent your personal information to third parties.

Third-party services

We use the following third-party services:

• Google reCAPTCHA to protect forms from spam. This is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Cookies

We use cookies only for essential website functionality such as session management. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.

Data retention

Business listings and published articles remain on the site until removed by the submitter or a site administrator. Server logs are retained for a limited period for security and troubleshooting purposes.

Your rights

You may request to view, update or delete any personal information we hold about you. To make a request, email us at team@blackwoodcommunity.com.au.

Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date.