Washington Brown Privacy Policy
Washington Brown Depreciation Pty Ltd (Washington Brown) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information we collect and hold.
We handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles.
Personal Information We Collect
We may collect personal information that is reasonably necessary for us to provide our services and operate our business.
This may include:
- your name and contact details;
- property and ownership information;
- information relating to properties, renovations, construction costs and expenditure;
- information contained in documents, correspondence or records you provide to us;
- payment and billing information;
- information relating to your interactions with us, our website and our communications; and
- other information you provide in connection with our services.
We may collect information directly from you, from another person acting on your behalf, from publicly available sources, from third parties where appropriate, or automatically when you interact with our website and digital services.
Where you provide personal information about another person, you are responsible for ensuring that you are authorised to provide that information to us.
How We Use Personal Information
We may collect, hold, use and disclose personal information for purposes including:
- providing our quantity surveying, tax depreciation and related services;
- preparing and delivering reports;
- communicating with clients, prospective clients, referrers and other relevant parties;
- administering jobs, quotations, invoices and payments;
- processing, analysing and reviewing information relating to our services;
- improving our services, systems and business processes;
- managing our website and digital services;
- marketing and communicating information about our services where permitted;
- undertaking data analysis, reporting and business administration;
- recovering outstanding amounts;
- maintaining the security of our systems; and
- complying with our legal and regulatory obligations.
We may also use information for other purposes where you have consented to that use or where otherwise permitted or required by law.
Third-Party Service Providers
We engage trusted third-party service providers and contractors to assist us in operating our business and delivering our services.
These may include providers assisting us with data processing and analysis, information technology and cloud services, communications, marketing, customer relationship management, payment processing, debt recovery and other business support functions.
In performing these services, some providers may have access to personal information held by Washington Brown. We take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information made available to service providers is appropriately protected and used only for the purposes for which access is provided.
Artificial Intelligence
We use artificial intelligence tools, including Microsoft Copilot, to assist our staff with certain business and administrative activities.
This may include assisting with the analysis, organisation, review and preparation of information and content, improving internal processes and supporting the delivery and administration of our services.
Where personal information is processed using artificial intelligence tools, we take reasonable steps to ensure that it is handled securely and in accordance with our privacy obligations.
Artificial intelligence tools are used to assist our staff and business processes and do not remove Washington Brown’s responsibility for the appropriate handling of personal information.
Cookies, Analytics and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies, pixels and similar technologies to operate and improve our website, understand how visitors interact with our website and services, measure website and marketing performance, and deliver relevant advertising and communications.
Our website may use third-party services including Google Analytics, Google Ads, Meta (Facebook), PostHog, ONTRAPORT, HubSpot, Hotjar, TikTok, LinkedIn, Calendly, Trustpilot and Microsoft Advertising (Bing).
These services may collect or process information relating to your use of our website, including pages visited, links selected, interactions with the website, device and browser information, IP address information and general geographic information.
Some third-party providers may process information in accordance with their own privacy policies and practices.
Where available, you may control certain cookies and tracking technologies through your browser settings, our website’s cookie controls or controls provided by the relevant third-party provider.
Marketing Communications
Where permitted, we may use your contact details to send you information about Washington Brown’s services, updates and other communications that may be relevant to you.
We may use third-party platforms to manage and analyse these communications, including measuring interactions with emails and other marketing communications.
You may opt out of marketing communications at any time using the unsubscribe facility provided in the communication or by contacting us.
Overseas Processing and Access
Some third-party technology and service providers used by Washington Brown may store, process or provide access to information outside Australia.
Where personal information is disclosed or otherwise handled overseas, we take reasonable steps to ensure that it is handled in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.
The countries in which information may be processed or accessed can vary depending on the service provider and services being used.
Security of Personal Information
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
We use administrative, technical and organisational measures to protect the personal information we hold. Access to personal information is limited to personnel and service providers who require access for legitimate business purposes.
Debt Recovery
Where amounts owed to Washington Brown remain unpaid, we may disclose relevant personal information to debt recovery agencies, legal advisers or other service providers for the purpose of recovering the outstanding amount.
Access and Correction
You may request access to personal information that Washington Brown holds about you or ask us to correct information that you believe is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading.
We may need to verify your identity before providing access to or correcting personal information.
There may be circumstances in which we are permitted or required by law to refuse access or correction. Where applicable, we will explain our decision.
Retention and Deletion
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and to satisfy our legal, taxation, record-keeping, dispute resolution and other legitimate business requirements.
You may request that personal information relating to you be deleted. We may continue to retain information where required or permitted by law or where reasonably necessary for legitimate business or compliance purposes.
When personal information is no longer required to be retained, we take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify it.
Privacy Enquiries and Complaints
If you have a question or concern about the way Washington Brown handles your personal information, or believe that we have breached our privacy obligations, please contact us using the contact details available on our website.
We will consider and respond to privacy enquiries and complaints in accordance with our applicable privacy obligations.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our business, technology, practices or legal obligations.
The current version of our Privacy Policy will be made available on the Washington Brown website.