Live in Oz – Privacy Policy

Last updated: 26/01/2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Live in Oz ("Live in Oz", "we", "us", "our") collects, uses and protects your personal information when you use our website and related services.

This Policy applies to:

• The Live in Oz website and all pages on it
• The Marketplace (buy/sell items, services, rooms, jobs)
• The Accommodation / Bedrooms section, including Verified Badges and ID upload
• The Jobs & Services section
• The WhatsApp groups directory
• The Oz Chat web version accessed through the website
• Boosted Listings / Paid Promotions (Boost system)

If you use the Oz Chat mobile apps, an additional Oz Chat Privacy Policy may apply. In case of conflict, the more specific policy for that feature or app will take priority.

By using our website or creating an account, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

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1. Who we are

Live in Oz is a community platform helping people in Australia connect for accommodation, jobs, services, social groups and chat.

If you have any questions about this Policy or how we handle your information, you can contact us at:

✅ Email: liveinozmail@gmail.com

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2. Information we collect

We collect different types of information depending on how you use the website.

2.1. Information you provide directly

When you use our site, you may provide:

• Account details – name, username, email address, password, profile photo, city.
• Listings and posts – titles, descriptions, photos, prices, availability, location (suburb/area), and any other details you choose to include in accommodation, Marketplace, job or service listings.
• Messages and communications – messages you send via the site (for example, between buyers and sellers, or in Oz Chat web), and communications you send to us (for example, support emails).
• Verification information – copies of ID documents or similar information that you upload for accommodation Verified Badges or other verification processes.
• Payment-related information (Boost / paid features) – if you purchase a Boost or any paid feature, we may collect and store limited transaction information such as payment status, transaction reference ID, date/time of payment, currency, and the listing being promoted.
• Other information you choose to share – feedback, reviews, survey responses and preferences.

✅ We do not store full card details. Payment card information is processed securely by Stripe (our third-party payment provider).

2.2. Information we collect automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• Log and usage data – IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, time and date of visits, referring website, interactions with pages and buttons.
• Cookies and similar technologies – small text files stored on your device to keep you logged in, remember your preferences, and help us understand how the site is used.
• Approximate location – derived from your IP address, to show relevant content (for example, city-specific listings) and for security and fraud prevention.

2.3. Information from third parties

We may receive information about you from:

• Social logins or single sign-on (if offered) – such as name and email address when you sign in using another platform.
• Payment providers (Stripe) – limited information related to payments (such as payment status, amount, currency, and transaction reference).
• Analytics and advertising partners – aggregated data about site usage and performance.

We do not buy lists of personal data from third parties.

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3. How we use your information

We use your information for the following purposes:

To provide and operate the website and services

• Creating and managing your account
• Displaying your listings, posts and profile to other users
• Allowing you to contact other users and respond to messages
• Facilitating use of Oz Chat web, Marketplace, accommodation, jobs, services and WhatsApp directory

To verify identity and provide trusted listings

• Reviewing ID documents to issue Verified Badges for accommodation listings
• Reducing fraud, scams and fake profiles

To process payments (Boost system and paid features)

If you purchase Boost or any paid feature, we may use information to:

• Confirm payment status
• Activate and manage Boost duration
• Prevent fraud or misuse
• Provide receipts or payment confirmations
• Resolve disputes, chargebacks, or refund requests (if applicable)

To communicate with you

• Sending service messages (for example, account confirmation, security alerts, updates about important changes)
• Responding to your questions and support requests
• Sending optional marketing or community updates (you can opt out at any time)

To keep the platform safe

• Monitoring for, and acting on, content that may be spam, fraud, abuse or otherwise against our Terms
• Investigating reports and complaints
• Enforcing our Terms of Use and community rules

To improve the website

• Analysing how the site is used
• Fixing bugs and technical issues
• Developing new features and services

To comply with legal obligations

• Keeping records required by law
• Responding to lawful requests from authorities or regulators where necessary

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4. Legal bases (for users in the EU/UK and similar regions)

Where applicable (for example under the GDPR), we rely on the following legal bases to process your personal information:

• Performance of a contract – to provide you with the services you requested by creating an account and using the site.
• Legitimate interests – to run and improve our platform, prevent fraud, maintain security and send you information about similar services (unless you opt out).
• Consent – for certain optional cookies, marketing communications, and ID verification where required.
• Legal obligation – where we are required to keep records or share information by law.

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5. How we share your information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share your information with:

5.1. Other users

Information you choose to include in your public profile or public listings will be visible to other users and visitors, for example:

• Your chosen display name or username
• Listing details (room, job, item, service)
• Suburb or general location (if you include it)
• Contact details you decide to share in a listing

Be careful not to post information you do not want to be public.

5.2. Service providers

We use trusted third-party service providers to help us operate the platform, such as:

• Website hosting and cloud infrastructure
• Email and notification services
• Analytics tools
• Customer support tools
• Payment processors such as Stripe (for Boost payments and paid features)

These providers can only access your information to perform services for us and are required to protect it.

5.3. ID verification partners

If we use external tools to help verify IDs for accommodation listings or other verification features, we may share the necessary data with those providers solely for that purpose.

5.4. Legal and safety reasons

We may share information if we believe it is reasonably necessary to:

• Comply with a law, regulation, legal process or government request
• Enforce our Terms of Use or protect our legal rights
• Protect the safety, rights or property of Live in Oz, our users or the public
• Detect, prevent or address fraud, security or technical issues

5.5. Business transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets or similar transaction, your information may be transferred as part of that process. We will notify you if this happens and your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

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6. International data transfers

Our website and service providers may be located in different countries. This means your information may be stored or processed outside the country where you live.

Where we transfer personal information internationally, we take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, and that the receiving party is required to protect your information in a way that is consistent with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws.

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7. Cookies and tracking technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you logged in
• Remember your preferences
• Understand how people use the site
• Improve performance and security

Some cookies are essential for the website to work. Others (for analytics or advertising) may be optional.

You can:

• Change your browser settings to block or delete cookies
• Use any cookie banner tools we provide to manage your preferences

Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect how the site functions.

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8. How long we keep your information

We keep your personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes in this Policy, including to:

• Provide the services to you
• Maintain business records
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce our agreements
• Comply with legal obligations

Examples:

• Account information – kept while your account is active, and for a reasonable period after closure (for backup, legal and security reasons).
• Listings, posts and messages – kept while relevant to the service, unless you delete them or request removal (subject to legal or safety needs).
• Verification documents (ID) – kept only for as long as necessary to complete and maintain verification, prevent fraud and meet legal obligations. Where possible, we minimise what is stored and restrict access.
• Boost / payment data – kept for record-keeping, dispute resolution, fraud prevention, and compliance purposes, for as long as required by law or reasonably necessary.

We may anonymise data (so it can no longer identify you) and keep it for longer for statistical or analytical purposes.

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9. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have certain rights over your personal information, including:

• Access – to ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction – to ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion – to ask us to delete your information, in some cases (for example where it is no longer needed).
• Restriction – to ask us to limit how we use your information in certain circumstances.
• Objection – to object to certain uses (for example, direct marketing).
• Data portability – to receive certain information in a portable format, in some regions.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at:

✅ Email: liveinozmail@gmail.com

We may need to verify your identity before responding.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. In Australia, this is the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

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10. ID verification and sensitive information

Some accommodation listings offer a Verified Badge, which requires the advertiser to upload an ID document or similar proof.

• We use this information only to perform verification and help reduce scams and fake listings.
• Access to verification documents is restricted to authorised personnel and/or trusted verification providers.
• We do not display your ID documents publicly.
• If you ask us to delete your ID documents, we will do so where legally permitted; removing them may mean the Verified Badge is removed.

We generally try not to collect sensitive information (such as health, racial or religious information) unless strictly necessary and with your consent.

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11. Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encrypted connections (HTTPS) where possible
• Access controls and authentication for accounts and admin tools
• Regular updates and security measures on our servers and software
• Limiting access to personal information to people who need it to perform their duties

However, no system can be 100% secure. You are responsible for keeping your password safe and logging out on shared devices.

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12. Third-party links and WhatsApp groups

Our website contains links to third-party websites and platforms, including WhatsApp groups and external services.

• These third parties have their own privacy policies, which you should read carefully.
• We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites or groups.
• Joining a WhatsApp group or other external service is entirely your choice.

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13. Children

Our website and services are not intended for children under 18.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps to remove it.

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14. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

• When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top.
• If changes are material, we may also notify you by email or a notice on the website.

Your continued use of the website after changes are published means you accept the updated Policy.

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15. Contact us

If you have any questions, concerns or requests about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us at:

✅ Email: liveinozmail@gmail.com

OzChat – Privacy Policy

Last updated: 30/11/2025

OzChat (the "App") is operated by Live in Oz ("we", "us", "our").

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose and protect your information when you use OzChat on mobile or web.

By creating an account or using OzChat, you agree to this Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

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1. Information we collect

We may collect the following types of information when you use OzChat:

1.1 Information you provide directly

• Account details – e.g. username, display name, email address, password.
• Profile information – e.g. profile photo, bio, city or general location, interests or any other details you choose to share.
• Content and communications – messages you send and receive, images, videos, voice notes, reactions and any other content you share in private chats or group rooms.
• Reports and support requests – information you provide when you report a user or content, or when you contact us for help (including screenshots or attachments).

1.2 Information collected automatically

When you use the App, we automatically collect:

• Device and log data – IP address, device type, operating system, app version, language, time zone, and the dates and times you access the App.
• Usage data – features you use, rooms you join, interactions with messages or buttons, and other analytics about how you use OzChat.
• Crash and performance data – error logs and diagnostics to help us fix bugs and improve stability.

1.3 Information from third parties

We may receive limited information from:

• Analytics providers – aggregated data about app usage, retention and performance.
• Login or authentication services – if we ever offer social or single sign-on, we may receive basic profile details such as email and name from that provider (according to their settings and your permissions).

We do not buy lists of personal data from third parties.

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2. How we use your information

We use your information for the following purposes:

2.1 To provide and operate OzChat

• Create and manage your account and profile.
• Deliver your messages, media and reactions to other users.
• Show your chat history and group activity.
• Enable you to join, create and manage chat rooms.
• Remember your preferences and settings.

2.2 To keep the community safe

• Run automatic filters to block certain offensive words and content.
• Provide tools to report, block and delete content and users.
• Review reports of abuse or violation of our Terms and take appropriate action.
• Detect and prevent spam, fraud, security breaches and other misuse of the App.

2.3 To communicate with you

• Send service messages such as account confirmations, security alerts or important changes to the App or our policies.
• Send optional updates about new features or community news (you can opt out at any time).

2.4 To improve the App

• Analyse how people use OzChat to understand which features work well and which need improvement.
• Fix bugs, optimise performance and develop new features.

2.5 To comply with legal obligations

• Keep records required by law.
• Respond to lawful requests from regulators or law enforcement, where appropriate.

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3. Legal bases for processing (where applicable)

Where data protection laws require a legal basis (for example in the EU/UK):

• Performance of a contract – we process your data to provide the App and its features to you.
• Legitimate interests – we process data to improve the App, prevent abuse, ensure security and send you information about similar services (unless you opt out).
• Consent – for optional things such as certain analytics, marketing communications, or access to device permissions where required.
• Legal obligation – where we must keep or share information to meet legal or regulatory requirements.

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4. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share information as follows:

4.1 With other users

Information you choose to share in OzChat, such as:

• Your username, profile photo and bio.
• Messages and content in private chats with specific users.
• Messages and content in group rooms you join.

Please remember that anything you send to another user or group may be copied, saved or shared by them. Be careful with what you share.

4.2 With service providers

We use trusted third-party providers to help us run OzChat, such as:

• Hosting and cloud infrastructure
• Analytics and crash reporting
• Email and notification services
• Security and anti-abuse tools

These providers can only use your data to perform services for us and must protect it appropriately.

4.3 With analytics and measurement partners

We may share pseudonymised or aggregated data with analytics tools to understand usage and performance. This data is not used to directly identify you.

4.4 For safety, legal and compliance reasons

We may access, preserve and share information if we believe it is reasonably necessary to:

• Comply with a law, regulation, legal process or government request.
• Protect the rights, property or safety of Live in Oz, our users or the public.
• Detect, prevent or address fraud, security or technical issues.
• Enforce our Terms of Use and Community Rules.

Where appropriate, we will limit what we share to what is strictly necessary.

4.5 Business transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, restructuring or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will take steps to ensure your privacy rights continue to be protected.

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5. International transfers

Our servers and service providers may be located in countries other than your own. This means your information may be transferred to and stored in other jurisdictions.

Where required by law, we will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in line with this Privacy Policy (for example, contractual protections or equivalent mechanisms).

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6. Data retention

We keep your information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including:

• Providing and maintaining the App and your account.
• Enforcing our Terms and protecting our community.
• Complying with legal obligations and resolving disputes.

Examples:

• Account information is kept while your account is active and for a reasonable period after closure (for backups, security and legal purposes).
• Messages and content are usually kept while your account exists and the chat is not deleted, unless you remove them or we remove them under our rules (subject to backup and legal requirements).
• Reports and moderation logs may be retained for a longer period to track repeat abuse and to comply with legal obligations.

We may anonymise information (so it no longer identifies you) and keep it for longer for analytics and statistical purposes.

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7. Your rights and choices

Depending on your location, you may have some or all of the following rights:

• Access – to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction – to ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion – to request deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances.
• Restriction – to ask us to limit certain uses of your information.
• Objection – to object to certain processing (for example, direct marketing).
• Data portability – to receive certain information in a portable format, where applicable.

In OzChat you can also:

• Edit your profile.
• Block other users.
• Delete your own messages in many cases.
• Report abusive content or behaviour.
• Request account closure.

To exercise any legal rights or request assistance, contact us at:

support@liveinoz.com.au

We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. In Australia, this is the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

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8. Children's privacy

OzChat is intended only for users 18 years and older.

We do not knowingly allow children to create accounts or use the App. If we learn that a user is under 18 or that we have collected personal information from a child, we may delete the account and remove associated information where appropriate.

If you believe a child is using OzChat or has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

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9. Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information, including:

• Encrypted connections where possible (e.g. HTTPS, secure APIs).
• Access controls and authentication for administrative tools.
• Regular updates and security patches for our systems.
• Limiting access to personal data to personnel and service providers who need it.

No system is completely secure. You are responsible for:

• Keeping your password confidential.
• Using a strong, unique password.
• Logging out and securing your device when not in use.

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10. Third-party links and services

Content shared in OzChat may include links to third-party websites, apps, groups (such as WhatsApp or social networks) or services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content or actions of those third parties. Their use of your data is governed by their own policies, not this one.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party services you choose to use.

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11. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

• When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top.
• For significant changes, we may also notify you inside the App or by email, where appropriate.

Your continued use of OzChat after the updated Privacy Policy is posted means you accept the changes.

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12. Contact us

If you have any questions, concerns or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us at:

Email: liveinozmail@gmail.com