Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

This website provides the AU/NZ Entertainment Laser Safety Officer (LSO) training course and Operator Induction course, accessible at lsocourse.zone.net.au and lasers.co.nz. For privacy enquiries, contact us at apps@zone.net.au.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly when you:

• Register an account — full name, email address, and a hashed password.
• Complete the course and exam — quiz and exam scores, module progress, and completion dates.
• Upload a photo ID — a photograph used solely to verify your identity before an exam attempt. Photo IDs are stored securely and are not shared.
• Receive a certificate — your name and certificate number are displayed on the public graduates verification page.

We do not collect payment information (the course is currently free). We do not use tracking cookies, analytics platforms, or third-party advertising.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your account.
• To track your course progress and exam results.
• To issue and verify certificates of completion.
• To send transactional emails (account verification, password resets, exam results, enrollment expiry reminders).

We do not send marketing emails or share your information with third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on a secure VPS hosted in a data centre. Passwords are hashed using bcrypt and are never stored in plain text. All connections to the site use TLS encryption (HTTPS). Access to the database is restricted to authorised administrators.

5. Data Retention

Your account and course data are retained for the duration of your enrollment (24 months from enrollment date) plus an additional 12 months. Certificate records are retained indefinitely to support ongoing verification. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us.

6. Public Information

If you earn a certificate, your name and certificate number will appear on the public graduates page and can be looked up via the certificate verification page. This is a core feature of the certification system, allowing employers and regulators to verify qualifications.

7. Your Rights

Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate information.
• Request deletion of your account and associated data (noting that certificate records may be retained for verification purposes).

To exercise these rights, contact apps@zone.net.au.

8. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

• Resend — for sending transactional emails (account verification, password resets, exam notifications).
• Cloudflare — for DNS management.

These services process only the minimum data necessary for their function (e.g., your email address for email delivery).

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.