The Network

The Network ("we", "us") is a trade-only platform operated in Australia. We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use and protect it, and the choices you have.

1. What we collect

Account details: email and password (password hashes are managed by our authentication provider — we never see your password).
Profile information: full name, business name, location/suburb, phone number, bio, avatar, account type (tradie / builder / labourer).
Trade information: trade category, qualifications, licences (e.g. QBCC), insurance, ABN, equipment, rates and availability.
Activity: job posts, quotes, invites, reviews, work photos, confirmations and notifications.

2. Who can see what

Email address: Never shown to other members.
Phone number: Hidden by default. Only revealed to a member you have an accepted job invite with, or to all members if you choose "Make my phone public" in your profile.
ABN, licence numbers, insurance expiry: Stored privately and only used to display "Verified" badges on your profile.
Name, business name, suburb, bio, avatar, trade info, reviews: Visible to other signed-in members of The Network.
Hidden profile: If you turn this on, your profile will not appear in member search or directories. Only your existing connections and people you message will see you.

3. How we use your information

To run the platform — matching tradies with builders, showing relevant jobs, sending in-app and email notifications.
To verify trade credentials and display "Verified" status.
To enforce our Community Guidelines and prevent misuse.
To improve and secure the service.

We do not sell your personal information. We do not show third-party ads.

4. How we store and protect it

Data is stored in a secure managed Postgres database hosted in Australia / nearest available region with encryption in transit (TLS) and at rest. Row-level security policies ensure members can only access the records they're entitled to. Sensitive fields (ABN, licence numbers) are stored in separate private tables visible only to you.

5. Your choices and rights

Access & correction: Edit your profile any time from Profile settings.
Hide profile: Toggle "Hide my profile" to be removed from search.
Phone visibility: Toggle "Make my phone public" off to keep your number private.
Delete account: Email admin.thenetworkau@gmail.com and we'll delete your account and personal data within 30 days, subject to any legal retention requirements.
Complaints: If you believe we've mishandled your data, contact us first. You can also lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

6. Misuse of contact information

Contact details on The Network are for professional use only. Harassment, spam, marketing solicitation or misuse of any member's phone number or name will result in immediate dismissal and may be reported to the relevant authority. See our Community Guidelines.

7. Contact us

Email: admin.thenetworkau@gmail.com