Privacy Policy

Crossroads Prison Ministries Australia (“Crossroads”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to handling personal information with care, dignity, and respect. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect personal information when you visit our website, contact us, donate, subscribe, volunteer, apply to mentor, or otherwise engage with our ministry.

This page is intended as a clear and practical summary for website visitors. It should be reviewed together with any form-specific notices, donation platform notices, or third-party privacy notices that may apply to a particular interaction.

1. Information we collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

• identity and contact details, such as your name, email address, phone number, church or organisation, and mailing address;
• information you provide through contact forms, volunteer or mentor expressions of interest, prayer requests, enrolment enquiries, event registrations, or newsletter sign-ups;
• donation-related details needed to process or acknowledge a gift, noting that payment card information is typically handled by secure third-party payment providers rather than stored directly by us;
• communications you send to us, including emails, form messages, and records of ministry-related correspondence;
• technical and usage information, such as browser type, device information, pages visited, referral sources, and general analytics data collected through cookies or similar technologies.

2. How we use personal information

We use personal information to operate our website and ministry activities in ways that are mission-appropriate, respectful, and practical. This may include:

• responding to enquiries and providing the information, prayer support, or ministry assistance you request;
• processing donations, issuing receipts where applicable, and maintaining supporter records;
• sending ministry updates, newsletters, stories, prayer needs, or campaign communications where you have asked to receive them or where otherwise permitted;
• reviewing applications or expressions of interest for mentoring, partnership, volunteering, or other involvement;
• improving website performance, accessibility, security, and visitor experience;
• protecting the integrity, safety, and proper functioning of our ministry and online services;
• meeting administrative, legal, regulatory, or safeguarding obligations.

3. Why we collect it

We collect only information that is reasonably necessary for ministry, communication, administration, compliance, or website improvement. Where appropriate, we rely on your consent, your request for us to take steps on your behalf, our legitimate operational needs, or applicable legal requirements.

4. When we may share information

We do not sell personal information. We may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary to trusted service providers or ministry-support partners who help us operate effectively, such as website hosts, analytics providers, email platforms, donation processors, IT support providers, or professional advisers. We may also disclose information where required or authorised by law, or where needed to protect rights, safety, security, or the proper administration of our services.

5. Cookies and analytics

Our website may use cookies, analytics tools, and similar technologies to understand visitor behaviour, improve content, and maintain site performance. These tools generally collect aggregated or technical information rather than ministry-sensitive personal details. You can usually manage cookies through your browser settings, although disabling them may affect certain website functions.

6. Storage and security

We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These steps may include secure platforms, access controls, role-based permissions, and review of third-party providers. No internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but we work to reduce risk and handle information responsibly.

7. How long we keep information

We keep personal information only for as long as it is reasonably needed for the purpose for which it was collected, including ministry administration, supporter relationships, legal compliance, safeguarding, accounting, and recordkeeping obligations. When information is no longer required, we take reasonable steps to delete it or de-identify it.

8. Access and correction

You may request access to the personal information we hold about you, or ask us to correct inaccurate, incomplete, or out-of-date information. In some situations, we may need to verify your identity before responding or may be unable to provide access where an exception applies. We will aim to respond within a reasonable time.

9. Email updates and opt-out

If you subscribe to ministry emails, you can unsubscribe at any time using the link in the message or by contacting us directly. Opting out of promotional updates will not necessarily stop service or administration-related communications that are relevant to a request, donation, application, or ongoing relationship.

10. Third-party websites

Our website may include links to other websites, platforms, or services. Those sites are not controlled by us, and their privacy practices are governed by their own policies. We encourage you to review them before sharing personal information.

11. Sensitive or vulnerable information

Because our ministry serves people in and around the prison system, we aim to handle sensitive information with extra care. Please do not submit confidential, high-risk, or unnecessary personal information through public website forms unless specifically requested. Where ministry safeguarding, pastoral sensitivity, or privacy concerns apply, we may limit what can be shared through general website channels.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect operational, legal, technical, or ministry changes. The latest version will always be posted on this page together with the most recent update date.

13. Contact us

If you have a question about this Privacy Policy, would like to request access or correction, or want to raise a privacy concern, please contact Crossroads Prison Ministries Australia through the contact details published on our website contact page.