Common Ground Foundation Marketing Privacy Policy

About this policy

This policy explains how Common Ground Foundation uses your personal information to keep in touch, share our work and invite your support.

We're grateful to everyone who follows our journey, because family is community and every connection matters. We want staying in touch to feel welcome, never pushy.

What information we use for marketing

We only use details you've shared with us, or that you'd reasonably expect us to use for this purpose. This may include:

  • your name and contact details (email, phone, postal address)
  • your communication preferences
  • your donation and event history, so we can thank you and share relevant news
  • your interests, if you tell us, such as volunteering or particular programs
  • how you interact with our emails, such as whether you open them

We don't use sensitive information, such as health details, for marketing. We don't use information from people who receive support through our programs for fundraising, unless they've clearly asked to hear from us.

How we contact you

We may get in touch by email, SMS, post or phone to share:

  • news and stories about our work
  • invitations to events
  • fundraising appeals and ways to give
  • volunteering opportunities
  • a thank you for your support

We ask first. We'll only send you emails or SMS messages if you've agreed, for example by ticking a box when you sign up or donate. Every email and SMS clearly comes from Common Ground Foundation and includes an easy way to unsubscribe.

If we call you, we'll say who we are, respect your time and won't pressure you.

Photos, videos and stories

Sharing real stories helps people see the difference community makes. We handle them with care.

  • We ask for your written consent before using your photo, video, name or story in our marketing.
  • For anyone under 18, we need written consent from a parent or guardian.
  • We'll tell you where your story may appear, such as our website, social media, newsletters or reports.
  • We can change details or leave out names to protect your privacy.
  • You can withdraw consent at any time. We'll stop using your image or story in new materials and remove it from our website and social media where we reasonably can. Printed materials already shared can't be recalled.

At events, we'll let people know when photos are being taken, so anyone who'd rather not be photographed can tell us via an event representative.

Social media and online advertising

We share our work on Facebook & Instagram. When you follow, like or message us there, the platform's own privacy policy applies to the information it collects.

We may use tools such as e.g. Meta Pixel or Google Ads to show our messages to people who've visited our website, or to people with similar interests. These tools use cookies and may share limited, often encrypted, information with the platform. You can manage ad preferences in your platform settings or browser, or ask us to stop.

We never post personal stories or photos on social media without consent.

We never sell or swap your details

We never sell, rent, swap or share your details with other organisations for their marketing.

We only share information with trusted service providers who help us communicate with you, such as our email platform MailChimp. They may only use it to deliver our messages and must keep it safe.

Your choices

You're always in control of how we stay in touch. You can:

  • unsubscribe using the link in any email
  • reply STOP to any SMS
  • ask us to stop post or phone calls, or change how often you hear from us
  • ask where we got your details, and we'll tell you if we reasonably can

There's no cost, and we'll action your request within 5 business days. Choosing not to hear from us won't affect any support or service you receive.

We may still contact you about things you need to know, such as a donation receipt or a change to an event you've registered for.

Questions and complaints

If you have a question or concern about how we've contacted you, please let us know. We'll listen with kindness and work to put it right.

Common Ground Foundation

  • Email: commongroundfoundation@outlook.com

If you're not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au or on 1300 363 992. Concerns about spam messages can also go to the Australian Communications and Media Authority at acma.gov.au.

This policy took effect on 26 October 2026. Thank you for being part of our community.