Privacy Policy
Last updated: 4th June 2026
Melbourne Insider respects your privacy and is committed to being clear about how we collect, use, store and protect personal information.
This Privacy Policy applies to the Melbourne Insider website, located at www.melbourne-insider.au, and to any related services, forms, newsletters, business listings, reviews, advertising enquiries, event submissions and user accounts operated through the website.
By using Melbourne Insider, you agree to the way we handle information as described in this policy.
1. Who we are
Melbourne Insider is an independent digital publication covering Melbourne and Victoria, including local news, events, restaurants, hospitality, travel, lifestyle, business listings and things to do.
For privacy questions, corrections or complaints, contact:
Melbourne Insider
Email: hello@melbourne-insider.au
Website: www.melbourne-insider.au
2. Information we collect
We may collect personal information when you interact with Melbourne Insider, including when you:
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- Create an account
- Submit a review, comment, question or rating
- Claim or manage a business listing
- Submit an event, venue or editorial tip
- Contact us through a form or by email
- Enter a competition, promotion or giveaway
- Enquire about advertising, partnerships or sponsored content
- Apply to write, contribute or work with Melbourne Insider
- Browse the website
The information we collect may include:
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number, if provided
- Business name and role, if provided
- Account login details
- Review, comment or submission content
- Images or media uploaded by you
- Location or suburb information, if provided
- Website usage data
- Device, browser and IP address information
- Cookie and analytics data
We only collect information that is reasonably necessary for operating, improving and protecting Melbourne Insider.
3. How we collect information
We collect information in three main ways:
Information you provide directly
This includes newsletter sign-ups, contact forms, reviews, comments, account registrations, business claims, advertising enquiries and submitted content.
Information collected automatically
When you visit the website, some information may be collected through cookies, analytics tools, server logs and similar technologies.
Information from third parties
We may receive information from service providers, advertising platforms, analytics platforms, social media platforms, business directories, event platforms or publicly available sources where relevant to our editorial, directory or advertising operations.
4. How we use personal information
We may use personal information to:
- Operate and maintain the Melbourne Insider website
- Send newsletters or updates you have subscribed to
- Respond to enquiries
- Manage user accounts
- Publish, moderate or verify reviews and comments
- Process business listing claims
- Review event, venue or editorial submissions
- Manage advertising or commercial enquiries
- Improve website content, layout and performance
- Understand audience behaviour and content performance
- Detect spam, fraud, abuse or security issues
- Comply with legal obligations
- Protect the rights, safety and integrity of Melbourne Insider, our users and the public
We do not sell personal information.
5. Newsletter and email communications
If you subscribe to the Melbourne Insider newsletter, we may use your email address to send editorial updates, local guides, event news, promotions, partner content or other relevant communications.
You can unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our emails or by contacting us directly.
We may use third-party email platforms to manage and send newsletters. These providers may process personal information on our behalf.
6. Reviews, comments and public submissions
If you submit a review, comment, rating, question, image or other public contribution, some information may be displayed publicly on the website.
This may include:
- Your display name
- Review or comment content
- Uploaded images
- Date of submission
- Business or venue reviewed
Your email address will not be displayed publicly unless you include it yourself within the public content you submit.
We may moderate, edit, remove or reject submissions that breach our standards, appear misleading, contain spam or create legal, privacy or safety concerns.
7. Business listings and claimed profiles
Melbourne Insider includes business listings, venue profiles and directory content.
If you claim or manage a business listing, we may collect information such as your name, email address, business role, business contact details and verification information.
We use this information to verify ownership or authority, manage profile access, communicate about the listing and protect the integrity of the directory.
Some business information, such as trading name, address, website, phone number, opening hours, images and public description, may be displayed publicly.
8. Cookies and tracking technologies
Melbourne Insider uses cookies and similar technologies to help the website function properly, improve user experience, measure traffic, personalise content and support advertising.
Cookies may be used to:
- Remember user preferences
- Keep users logged in
- Measure page views and website performance
- Understand how visitors use the site
- Prevent spam or abuse
- Deliver and measure advertising
- Support social media or embedded content features
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Some parts of the website may not work properly if cookies are disabled.
9. Google Analytics
Melbourne Insider may use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the website, including pages viewed, traffic sources, device type, general location, session behaviour and website performance.
Google Analytics may collect information through cookies and similar technologies. Google requires websites using Google Analytics to disclose how data is collected and processed.
This information helps us improve our content, website experience and editorial planning.
You can manage or limit Google Analytics tracking using browser settings, privacy tools or Google’s available opt-out tools.
10. Advertising, Google AdSense and personalised ads
Melbourne Insider may display advertising, including ads served by Google or other third-party advertising partners.
Third-party vendors, including Google, may use cookies to serve ads based on a user’s previous visits to Melbourne Insider or other websites. Google also uses advertising cookies to help deliver ads and measure ad performance.
Advertising partners may use cookies, web beacons, IP addresses, device identifiers or similar technologies to:
- Serve ads
- Measure ad performance
- Limit how often ads are shown
- Detect fraud or abuse
- Personalise advertising where permitted
- Provide aggregated reporting
Users may be able to manage personalised advertising through Google’s ad settings or through relevant advertising preference tools available in their region.
Where required by law, including for users in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, we will seek consent for cookies, local storage and personalised advertising where applicable. Google states that publishers using its advertising and measurement products must comply with its EU User Consent Policy for these users.
11. Embedded content and third-party websites
Articles and pages on Melbourne Insider may include embedded content, such as videos, maps, social media posts, booking widgets, event listings, advertisements or external links.
Embedded content from other websites behaves in the same way as if you visited those websites directly. These websites may collect data, use cookies, track interactions or apply their own privacy policies.
Melbourne Insider is not responsible for the privacy practices, content or security of external websites.
12. Social media
Melbourne Insider may use social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and other channels.
If you interact with us on social media, those platforms may collect information according to their own privacy policies. We may see information you make publicly available, such as your username, profile, comments, messages or interactions.
13. Sponsored content, partnerships and commercial enquiries
If you contact Melbourne Insider about advertising, sponsorship, editorial partnerships, media kits, campaigns or commercial opportunities, we may collect and use your contact details to respond, prepare proposals, manage campaigns and maintain business records.
Sponsored or commercial content may be labelled in accordance with our editorial and advertising standards.
14. How we store and protect information
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
These steps may include:
- Password-protected systems
- Secure hosting and website security measures
- Limited access to personal information
- Spam and security monitoring
- Regular website maintenance
- Use of reputable third-party service providers
No website, platform or online transmission is completely secure. Users should take care when sharing information online.
15. Disclosure of information
We may disclose personal information to:
- Website hosting providers
- Email newsletter platforms
- Analytics providers
- Advertising and marketing technology providers
- Spam prevention and website security services
- Payment or invoicing providers, where relevant
- Professional advisers, where required
- Contractors, writers, editors or service providers assisting Melbourne Insider
- Government, regulatory or law enforcement bodies where required by law
We may also disclose information where necessary to protect our legal rights, investigate misuse, prevent fraud or maintain website security.
16. Overseas disclosure
Some service providers used by Melbourne Insider may store or process information outside Australia, including in countries where major technology, hosting, analytics, advertising or email platforms operate.
Where we use third-party providers, their handling of information is also governed by their own privacy and security practices.
17. Accessing or correcting your information
You may contact us to request access to personal information we hold about you or to ask for corrections if the information is inaccurate, incomplete or outdated.
We may need to verify your identity before responding to a request.
Contact: hello@melbourne-insider.au
18. Requesting deletion of information
You may request deletion of personal information we hold about you.
In some cases, we may need to retain certain information for legal, security, recordkeeping, moderation, fraud prevention or legitimate business reasons.
If you want a public review, comment or account removed, contact us using the email above and provide enough detail for us to identify the content.
19. Children’s privacy
Melbourne Insider is intended for a general audience and is not directed at children under 16.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16 without appropriate consent. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, contact us and we will take reasonable steps to review and remove it where appropriate.
20. Privacy complaints
If you believe we have mishandled your personal information, contact us at:
Please include your name, contact details and a clear description of your concern.
We will review your complaint and respond within a reasonable time.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. The OAIC explains that Australian privacy policies should include contact details, what information is collected, how it is used, how people can access or correct it and how complaints are handled.
21. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our website, advertising, analytics, legal obligations or business operations.
The updated version will be published on this page with a revised “Last updated” date.
22. Contact
For privacy questions, access requests, correction requests, deletion requests or complaints, contact:
Melbourne Insider
Email: hello@melbourne-insider.au
Website: www.melbourne-insider.au
