Privacy Policy

ForgeSkills is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store and protect your personal information when you use the ForgeSkills website, purchase courses, create a Learner Portfolio or use the Employer Platform.

By using the ForgeSkills website or services, you agree to the collection and use of your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

The personal information we collect depends on how you use ForgeSkills. This may include:

• your name
• email address
• telephone number
• employer or organisation (where applicable)
• billing and payment information
• account login details
• course enrolment information
• course progress and completion records
• Certificates of Completion
• Professional Development Register records
• communication preferences
• enquiries submitted through our website
• technical information collected while using our website

We only collect information that is reasonably necessary to provide our services.

We collect personal information when you:

• create a Learner Portfolio
• purchase or enrol in a course
• access or complete learning activities
• use the Employer Platform
• contact ForgeSkills
• subscribe to updates or newsletters
• submit an enquiry
• visit and interact with our website

Some technical information may be collected automatically through cookies and website analytics.

We use your personal information to:

• provide access to your Learner Portfolio
• deliver purchased courses
• maintain learning records
• issue Certificates of Completion
• maintain your Professional Development Register
• communicate with you about your courses
• respond to enquiries
• provide customer support
• improve our website and services
• maintain the security of our systems
• process payments
• administer employer learning accounts
• comply with legal obligations
• send service-related communications

Where you have provided your consent, we may also send information about new courses, services or promotions. You may unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time.

ForgeSkills maintains learning records for each learner, including:

• courses purchased
• course progress
• completed courses
• completion dates
• Certificates of Completion
• Professional Development Register entries
• other learning information generated through your use of the platform

These records are maintained to support your learning experience and provide evidence of completed professional learning.

Where your employer has purchased or allocated courses through the Employer Platform, authorised representatives of your organisation may have access to information relevant to managing your allocated learning. This may include:

• course enrolments
• course progress
• course completion status
• completion dates
• Certificates of Completion where authorised

Employers do not have unrestricted access to your personal Learner Portfolio. Access is limited to information necessary to administer employer-sponsored learning.

Payments are processed using secure third-party payment providers. ForgeSkills does not store your full credit or debit card details on its systems.

Please refer to the privacy policies of the relevant payment provider for information about how payment information is handled.

ForgeSkills uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• improve website performance
• remember user preferences
• analyse website traffic
• understand how visitors use our website
• improve the user experience

You can manage cookies through your web browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some website functionality.

ForgeSkills does not sell or rent your personal information.

We may disclose personal information where necessary to:

• payment service providers
• website hosting providers
• cloud storage providers
• information technology support providers
• software service providers
• authorised employer representatives using the Employer Platform
• professional advisers
• government authorities where required by law

We only disclose information necessary for those services.

ForgeSkills takes reasonable steps to protect personal information from:

• misuse
• interference
• loss
• unauthorised access
• modification
• unauthorised disclosure

Security measures include secure servers, password-protected accounts and restricted administrative access.

No internet-based system can guarantee complete security; however, we continually review our systems to protect personal information.

You may request access to the personal information we hold about you. If any information is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, you may request that it be corrected.

Many personal details can also be updated directly through your Learner Portfolio.

Learner Portfolio accounts may be closed after a period of inactivity in accordance with the Course Access and Account Inactivity Policy.

Learners will receive reminder notifications before an inactive account is closed, allowing sufficient opportunity to download Certificates of Completion and Professional Development records.

A closed account may be reactivated within the period specified in the Course Access and Account Inactivity Policy.

If you subscribe to ForgeSkills communications, we may occasionally send information about:

• new courses
• learning resources
• platform updates
• promotions
• professional learning opportunities

You may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our emails or by contacting ForgeSkills.

Our website may contain links to external websites. ForgeSkills is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external websites you visit.

ForgeSkills services are intended for adults and workplace learners. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate consent.

ForgeSkills may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

The current version will always be published on our website with the effective date shown at the top of the policy.

ForgeSkills is committed to complying with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

If you believe your privacy has not been handled appropriately, please contact us so we can investigate and respond to your concerns.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for further information about your privacy rights.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact ForgeSkills through the Contact page on our website.