Privacy Policy
Hands-On Academy respects your privacy and is committed to handling personal information responsibly and in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA).
1. About This Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how Hands-On Academy collects, uses, stores and protects personal information provided through our website, enquiries, assessments, enrolment processes and related communication.
By submitting information to Hands-On Academy, you acknowledge that your information will be processed for the purposes described in this policy, subject to applicable South African law.
2. Information We May Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information such as:
- Names and surnames of learners, parents or guardians.
- Contact numbers and email addresses.
- Residential or contact addresses where required.
- Learner age, date of birth and educational information.
- Information submitted through our enrolment and skills assessment forms.
- Learning, support, medical or other relevant information voluntarily provided where it is necessary for us to understand and support a learner.
- Information contained in messages, enquiries or correspondence sent to us.
- Basic technical website information such as browser type, device information, IP address and website usage information where this is collected by our website or hosting services.
3. Information Relating to Children
Hands-On Academy provides educational and support services that may involve the processing of personal information relating to children.
Where required by law, information relating to a child will be collected and processed with the involvement or consent of a parent, guardian or other competent person authorised to provide such consent.
We aim to collect only information that is reasonably necessary for assessment, enrolment, education, learner support, administration and communication.
4. Why We Collect Personal Information
Personal information may be used for purposes including:
- Responding to enquiries.
- Processing enrolment applications.
- Conducting or reviewing skills assessments.
- Communicating with parents, guardians and learners.
- Providing educational and learner-support services.
- Maintaining appropriate administrative and educational records.
- Managing accounts, payments and related administration where applicable.
- Meeting legal, regulatory or safeguarding obligations.
- Operating, maintaining and improving our website.
- Protecting the security and integrity of our systems and information.
5. How We Obtain Personal Information
We may receive information:
- Directly from you.
- From a parent or legal guardian.
- Through website contact, assessment or enrolment forms.
- Through email, telephone, WhatsApp or in-person communication.
- From another authorised person or organisation where disclosure is lawful and relevant to the services being provided.
6. Sharing of Personal Information
Hands-On Academy does not sell personal information.
Information may be shared with service providers or third parties where this is reasonably necessary to operate the Academy, provide a requested service, maintain our website or systems, comply with the law, or protect legitimate interests.
Where third-party service providers process information on our behalf, we endeavour to use providers that apply appropriate privacy and security measures.
7. Storage and Security
Hands-On Academy takes reasonable organisational and technical measures to protect personal information against loss, unauthorised access, misuse, alteration or disclosure.
Access to personal information should be limited to persons who reasonably require the information for educational, administrative, operational or legal purposes.
No electronic system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but reasonable precautions are taken to reduce the risk of unauthorised access.
8. Retention of Information
Personal information will be retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, for legitimate educational or administrative purposes, or where retention is required by law.
When information is no longer required, it may be securely deleted, destroyed or de-identified, subject to applicable record-keeping requirements.
9. Cookies and Website Information
Our website may use cookies or similar technologies required for normal website functionality, security, performance or analytics.
Your browser may allow you to block or delete cookies. Disabling certain cookies may affect how some website features operate.
10. Your Rights
Subject to POPIA and other applicable law, you may have the right to:
- Ask whether Hands-On Academy holds personal information about you.
- Request access to personal information held about you.
- Request that inaccurate or incomplete information be corrected.
- Request deletion or destruction of information where legally applicable.
- Object to certain processing of personal information where permitted.
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.
11. Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to websites or services operated by third parties. Hands-On Academy is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites.
12. Changes to This Policy
Hands-On Academy may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, website, operational practices or legal requirements.
The most recent version will be published on this page with the applicable revision date.
13. Contact Us
For questions about this Privacy Policy, requests relating to personal information, or privacy-related concerns, please contact:
If you believe that your personal information has been processed in a manner that does not comply with POPIA, you may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.
Visit the Information Regulator website