Your privacy matters. Here's exactly how BusMate handles your data.
This Privacy Policy describes how BusMate ("the Application", "We", "Us", "Our") collects, stores, and uses your information when you use the BusMate iOS application. It also explains your rights and how Australian privacy law and other applicable regulations protect you.
BusMate is an offline-first, local-storage-only application. All data you enter into BusMate is stored exclusively on your device. We do not operate servers that receive, process, or store your personal data. By downloading and using BusMate, you agree to this Privacy Policy.
Stored exclusively on your iOS device. Never transmitted to external servers.
No. BusMate operates entirely offline. No network connection is used during normal operation.
No. We do not share your data with third parties, advertisers, or analytics providers.
No. We do not collect usage analytics, crash reports, or behavioural data.
No. We will only contact you in response to your direct support request or critical legal matters.
Any individual using BusMate on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 16.0 or later.
Words whose initial letters are capitalised have meanings defined below. These definitions apply equally whether the term appears in singular or plural form.
| Term | Meaning in BusMate's context |
|---|---|
| Account | The one-time driver setup profile created when you first launch BusMate. This profile is stored only on your device. |
| Application | BusMate â the iOS app provided by the Company. |
| Attendance Data | Student names, grades, attendance records (present/absent status), session timestamps, and passenger notes entered during daily operation. |
| Company | BusMate (referred to as "We", "Us", or "Our" in this Policy). Operated from Victoria, Australia. |
| Country | Victoria, Australia. |
| Device | An iPhone or iPad running iOS 16.0 or later. |
| Local Storage | Data stored exclusively on your Device using iOS Keychain (for sensitive driver credentials) and Core Data (for attendance records). No data is stored on remote servers, cloud services, or third-party platforms. |
| Personal Data / Personal Information | Any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual. In BusMate, this is limited to the driver information entered during initial setup. These terms are used interchangeably unless a specific law requires otherwise. |
| Service | The BusMate Application. |
| Service Provider | A third party that processes data on behalf of the Company. BusMate does not use any Service Providers to process your personal data. |
| Usage Data | Data about how an application is used (e.g., session lengths, feature clicks, IP addresses). BusMate does not collect Usage Data of any kind. |
| You | The individual accessing or using the Service, or the entity on whose behalf such individual is acting. |
During the one-time setup process, BusMate asks you to provide the following information. This is the only Personal Data the Application collects:
All of this information is stored exclusively on your device using iOS Keychain. It is not transmitted to our servers or any external system at any time.
During daily operation, BusMate collects and stores the following on your device:
All Attendance Data is stored in Core Data on your device with iOS device-level encryption. This data is never transmitted, shared, or backed up to any server we operate.
BusMate does not collect Usage Data. Specifically, the Application:
Because all data is stored locally on your device, the Company does not "use" your data in the traditional sense. The Application uses your data only in the following ways, all of which occur entirely on your device:
Your driver setup information is used to populate the application interface and enable the app to function on your device. This data is never transmitted for this or any other purpose.
Your driver credentials are used to display your profile information within the application and to populate exported reports. Processing occurs solely on-device.
When you choose to generate a weekly XLSX report, BusMate compiles your on-device attendance data into an Excel file. The file is created locally on your device. You control where it is sent via the iOS Share Sheet. BusMate does not receive or process the exported file.
We may use the contact details you provided during setup to reach you only in the following specific circumstances:
We will not contact you for marketing, promotional offers, surveys, or any other commercial purpose.
BusMate operates on a local-storage-only model. Under normal circumstances, we do not share your Personal Data with anyone, because we do not receive it.
When you choose to generate and share an Excel report, you control what data is included and where it goes. You may send the file via email, AirDrop, or any other iOS Share Sheet destination you choose. BusMate facilitates this export on your device only and does not receive or process the file.
If required by a valid court order or lawful request from an Australian public authority (e.g., a court or government agency), we may be compelled to disclose information we hold. Because BusMate stores data exclusively on your device, the only information we could disclose is the driver account information you provided during setup (name, phone, email, bus registration). We cannot disclose attendance records, student details, or session data, as these exist only on your device.
If the Company is involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, you will be notified before any Personal Data we hold (limited to driver account details) becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
Your driver setup information (name, phone, email, bus registration) is stored using iOS Keychain â Apple's encrypted, hardware-secured credential store. Keychain data is protected by your device's passcode and, where available, Face ID or Touch ID.
Student and session data is stored in Apple's Core Data framework with iOS device-level encryption. This encryption is enforced by the iOS operating system and is tied to your device's secure enclave.
Because all data is stored locally on your device, it is never transmitted over the internet and cannot be intercepted in transit. BusMate makes no outbound network requests during normal operation.
The security of your data depends on the security of your physical device. We strongly recommend:
Residual copies of your data may exist in your device's encrypted iCloud or local iTunes/Finder backups, depending on your iOS backup settings. These backups are controlled by you and are not accessible to BusMate or the Company. We recommend reviewing Apple's iCloud backup settings if you have concerns about where backup data is stored.
All Personal Data and Attendance Data are retained on your device for as long as you use the Application:
Because BusMate does not transmit data to external servers, we do not retain copies of your data on any system we operate.
You have full control over your data at all times. You may delete:
When you delete data within BusMate, it is immediately removed from the Application. Residual copies in device backups may remain until those backups are deleted or overwritten.
Under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), you have rights regarding your Personal Data. Because BusMate stores all data locally on your device, you exercise most of these rights directly through the Application.
You can view all Personal Data stored by BusMate directly within the Application at any time. Your driver profile is accessible from the Profile screen. All attendance lists and session records are viewable in the History section.
You can update or correct your driver information at any time through the Profile screen. Student and attendance records can be edited directly within the Application.
You may delete any or all of your data at any time through the Application. See the Retention section above for instructions.
You may contact us at any time to request information about how your data is stored or handled. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe and no later than 30 days of receipt of your request.
If you believe we have handled your Personal Data in a manner inconsistent with the Australian Privacy Principles, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au. We encourage you to contact us first so we can address your concerns directly.
Unlike cloud-based applications, BusMate does not transfer your data internationally. Your Personal Data remains on your physical device â in Victoria, Australia, or wherever your device is located. No data moves to external servers or overseas locations.
BusMate is designed for use by adults â specifically, school bus drivers and transport coordinators aged 18 and over. The Application is not directed at children under 16 years of age.
We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from individuals under the age of 16 as users of the Application. The Attendance Data entered into BusMate (student names, grades, contact details) concerns children but is entered by authorised adult operators and remains on their device at all times.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided Personal Data to us directly, please contact us immediately at noelbensons@outlook.com and we will take prompt steps to address this.
If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from a child under 16 without appropriate parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information from any records we hold.
The Application or its associated web pages (such as this Privacy Policy page) may contain links to third-party websites or services not operated by us. If you click a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site.
We have no control over and accept no responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or policies of any third-party sites or services. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our practices or for legal, regulatory, or operational reasons. When we make material changes, we will:
You are encouraged to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Continued use of the Application after any changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or how BusMate handles your data, please contact us:
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):