Privacy Policy

Institute of Equine Counselling

Last updated: August 2026

The Institute of Equine Counselling (IEC), a registered business name of Blackwood Ranch Pty Ltd (Tasmania, Australia), respects your privacy. This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, and how we handle it. By enrolling in our course and using our website, you consent to us handling your information as described here. We handle personal information in line with the Australian Privacy Principles.

1. Information we collect

Depending on how you use our course, we may collect:

  • Your name, date of birth, email address, phone number and country, provided when you create an account and enrol.
  • Payment information, processed securely by our third-party payment provider. We do not store full card details.
  • Health and safety screening information you provide so we can identify any contraindication and keep the practical work safe. You provide this with your consent, and only for that purpose.
  • Assessment materials you submit, including written work and video recordings of practical sessions. These recordings may include you, your horse and your adult volunteer.
  • Identity and eligibility documents, such as photo identification and your first aid certificate.
  • Any correspondence you send us.

2. Why we use your information

We use your information to deliver and administer the course, verify your identity and eligibility, assess your practical work safely, issue your certificate, process payment, communicate with you, and meet our legal and insurance obligations. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for anything unrelated without your consent.

3. Sensitive information

Health screening information is sensitive information. We collect it only with your consent, use it only to assess suitability and safety for the practical work, and do not disclose it except as set out below or as required by law.

4. Storage, security and overseas handling

Our course is hosted on the Thinkific platform. This means your personal information, including account details, submitted assessments and payment records, is stored on Thinkific's servers outside Australia, in Canada and the United States. We take reasonable steps to protect your information through secure, access-controlled systems, and we hold it only as long as needed for the purposes above and to meet legal and insurance requirements, after which it is securely deleted or de-identified.

5. Disclosure of your information

We disclose your information only where necessary: to service providers who help us run the course (such as Thinkific and our payment provider), and where we are required or authorised to do so by law. We do not share your information with anyone else without your consent.

6. Access, correction and complaints

You may ask us for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, and ask us to correct anything that is inaccurate. If you have a concern about how we have handled your information, contact us and we will respond. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.

7. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The current version will always be available here, with the date it was last updated shown at the top.

8. Contact us

For any privacy question or request, contact us at [email protected].