Effective Date: 2026-01-28
Last Updated: 2026-01-28

What information do we collect?

We collect information when you register on our forum and when you participate by reading, writing, and evaluating content shared here.

Registration Information:

  • Username
  • Email address
  • Optional profile information (location, Austrack model owned, year of purchase)

Your email address will be verified through a unique link. You may browse public areas of the forum without registering, but participation requires an account.

Usage Information:

  • IP address associated with posts and registration
  • Server logs including IP addresses of requests to our server
  • Browsing activity and interaction with forum content

What do we use your information for?

Information collected may be used to:

  • Personalize your experience — Display relevant content based on your Austrack model and interests
  • Verify ownership status — Confirm eligibility for verified owner badges (optional)
  • Improve the forum — Analyze usage patterns to enhance features and content organization
  • Moderate content — Ensure community guidelines are followed and prevent spam/abuse
  • Send notifications — Deliver email alerts for topics you’re watching, replies to your posts, or important forum announcements (you control these preferences)
  • Communicate updates — Share significant forum news, feature launches, or critical security information

We will never sell your information or use it for marketing unrelated to the forum.

How do we protect your information?

We implement security measures including:

  • Encrypted connections (HTTPS/SSL)
  • Secure password hashing
  • Regular security updates to forum software
  • Protection against common web vulnerabilities
  • Limited staff access to personal information

Data retention policy

  • Server logs: Retained for 90 days, then automatically deleted
  • Account data: Retained while your account is active
  • Posts and content: Retained to maintain forum continuity and searchability
  • Deleted accounts: Personal information removed within 30 days; posts may be anonymized rather than deleted to preserve discussion threads

You may request account deletion at any time by contacting forum administrators.

Do we use cookies?

Yes. Cookies enable the forum to:

  • Keep you logged in between visits
  • Remember your preferences and settings
  • Track which topics you’ve read
  • Compile anonymous usage statistics

You can disable cookies in your browser, but this will limit forum functionality.

Information sharing and third parties

We do not sell or trade your personal information.

We may share information with:

  • Forum hosting provider (Linode) — Required to operate the server
  • Email service provider — Required to send notifications (if you opt in)
  • Law enforcement — Only if legally required

Third-party links: Forum members may post links to external sites (trip reports, product reviews, manufacturer sites). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites.

Australian Privacy Principles

As an Australian-focused community forum, we respect the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Public content

Please note: Posts, profile information, and photos you share on the forum are public and can be viewed by anyone, including non-members. Do not share:

  • Personal contact details you want kept private
  • Sensitive location information (e.g., where your caravan is stored)
  • Financial information
  • Photos containing vehicle registration plates or identifying information you don’t want public

Children’s privacy

This forum is intended for adults (18+) and those old enough to legally own and operate caravans. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you are under 13, please do not use this site.

Your rights and choices

You can:

  • Edit or delete your profile information
  • Control email notification preferences
  • Request a copy of your data
  • Request account deletion
  • Opt out of optional features like verified owner badges

Changes to this privacy policy

We will notify members of significant changes via forum announcement and email. Continued use of the forum after changes constitutes acceptance.

Contact

Questions about this privacy policy? Contact the forum administrators at webmaster@austrackowners.com.

This privacy policy was created for the Austrack Owners Forum community. It is CC-BY-SA licensed and adapted from the Discourse default template.