Owner: SME Hub International
ABN: 79 606 397 019
Website: https://smehub.world
Last updated: 26 January 2026
1. Overview
SME Hub International (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling personal information in an open and transparent way.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information, how you can access or correct your information, and how to make a privacy complaint.
This policy is intended to meet our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
2. What is “personal information”?
“Personal information” means information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, whether the information is true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not.
3. The kinds of personal information we collect
The types of personal information we collect depend on how you use SMEhub.world.
3.1 Accounts and users
If you create an account or log in to SMEhub.world, we may collect:
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number (optional)
- Username and login credentials (stored securely in encrypted or hashed form)
- Business role or position (optional)
3.2 Business listings
If you create, claim or manage a business listing, we may collect information that may include personal information, particularly for sole traders or individuals operating under their own name, such as:
- Business name
- Business address, suburb, state and service areas
- Business phone number and email address
- Website and social media links
- Business description, categories and hours of operation
- Images or logos you choose to upload
3.3 Enquiries, messaging and support
If you submit an enquiry, use contact forms, or send or receive messages through the platform, we may collect:
- Your name and contact details
- Message content and timestamps
- Any information you choose to include in communications
3.4 Reviews and user-generated content
If you submit reviews or other user-generated content, we may collect:
- Your name or username
- Ratings, comments and feedback
- Any content you choose to submit
3.5 Automatically collected information
When you visit SMEhub.world, we may automatically collect:
- IP address
- Device type, browser and operating system
- Pages viewed and actions taken
- Date and time of access
- Referring websites
- Cookie identifiers and similar technologies (see section 10)
4. How we collect personal information
We collect personal information:
- Directly from you when you register, claim or manage a listing, post content, send messages, make enquiries or contact us
- From authorised representatives (such as staff managing a business listing)
- Automatically through cookies and similar technologies when you browse the website
- From publicly available sources (including business websites and directories), where relevant to directory listings and permitted by law
5. Why we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information
We collect, hold, use and disclose personal information for purposes including to:
- Operate and maintain the SMEhub.world business directory
- Create, display, manage and update listings and profiles
- Publish information you choose to make publicly available
- Enable account access, messaging and communication between users
- Display reviews and user-generated content
- Verify listings and reduce spam, fraud or misuse
- Respond to enquiries and provide customer support
- Process payments and subscriptions (where applicable in the future)
- Send service-related communications
- Send marketing communications where permitted by law (with opt-out options)
- Analyse website usage and improve functionality and performance
- Maintain security and enforce our terms and policies
- Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests
6. Public listings, publication and verification
SMEhub.world is a public business directory designed to make business information discoverable.
By submitting, claiming or managing a listing, you:
- Acknowledge and consent to the publication of the information you choose to include
- Understand that information included in listings may be publicly accessible
If you include personal information (for example, a personal mobile number or personal name), that information may become publicly available.
Verification
Some listings may display a Verified status. Verification:
- Is not automatic and is subject to a verification process
- Confirms that a business has claimed its listing and completed our verification requirements
- May include the display of an SMEhub.world verification badge on the business’s own website
Verification:
- Does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, licensing or guarantee of services
- Is provided for informational and trust-signal purposes only
7. Disclosure of personal information
We may disclose personal information to:
- Employees and contractors of SME Hub International who assist in operating, managing and maintaining SMEhub.world
- Website management and administrative personnel, including staff located outside Australia who access personal information solely for operational and support purposes
- Third-party service providers such as hosting, analytics, email delivery, security and customer support services
- Professional advisers (including lawyers and accountants)
- Regulators, courts or law enforcement agencies where required or authorised by law
- A buyer or prospective buyer in connection with a sale, restructure or transfer of our business (subject to confidentiality protections)
We do not sell personal information as a standalone product.
8. Overseas disclosures
Some personal information may be accessed or handled outside Australia, including by:
- Employees of SME Hub International located in the Philippines who assist with website management, administration and support functions; and
- Third-party service providers that store or process information outside Australia (such as analytics or cloud-based services).
Where personal information is accessed or disclosed overseas, we take reasonable steps to ensure that recipients handle the information in a manner substantially similar to the Australian Privacy Principles, including through confidentiality obligations, access controls and internal policies, or as otherwise permitted under the Privacy Act.
Countries where personal information may be accessed or processed include:
- Philippines
- United States
- European Union
- United Kingdom
- Singapore
9. Security and data retention
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Measures may include secure hosting, access controls, encryption in transit, monitoring, and role-based access for employees and contractors.
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy, including backups, audit records and legal compliance, after which we take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it.
10. Cookies, analytics and tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to:
- Remember user preferences
- Maintain login sessions
- Analyse website traffic and usage
We use Google Analytics to help us understand how SMEhub.world is used. Google Analytics may collect information such as IP address, device type and browsing behaviour in accordance with Google’s privacy policies.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect website functionality.
11. Accessing and correcting personal information
You may request access to personal information we hold about you and request corrections if it is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading.
Requests can be made using the contact details in section 14. We may need to verify your identity before responding. In some circumstances, we may refuse access or correction as permitted by law and will explain our reasons.
12. Marketing communications
We may send marketing communications where we have your consent or are otherwise permitted under Australian law. You can opt out at any time using the unsubscribe link in our messages or by contacting us.
13. Privacy complaints
If you have a complaint about how we handle personal information, please contact us using the details below.
We will acknowledge and investigate complaints and aim to respond within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
14. Contact us
Privacy Contact: Privacy Officer
Entity: SME Hub International
ABN: 79 606 397 019
Email: privacy@smehub.world
Location: Cairns, Queensland, Australia
15. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time by publishing the updated version on SMEhub.world. The “Last updated” date will be revised accordingly.