GOVERNANCE
Policies & Statements.
The Foundation's governing policies are published here in full. Each is reviewed annually. Questions or requests for the underlying Board-adopted documents should be directed to
info@odysseyleaders.org.
Privacy Policy
Governs the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of personal information when you visit the website, contact the Foundation, or engage with its programs and activities.
Questions or complaints: info@odysseyleaders.org.
Write CONFIDENTIAL — PRIVACY in the subject line for sensitive matters.
EFFECTIVE DATE
01 December 2025
REVIEW CYCLE
Annual
PRIVACY CONTACT
Mario Kondosorov, Director Policy
1. Who this policy covers
This policy applies to website visitors, donors, enquirers, school and council representatives, program participants, and anyone else who provides personal information to the Foundation. The Foundation gives particular care to the handling of information about children and young people — see Section 8.
2. Legal framework
The Foundation is an Australian not-for-profit (ACN 694 581 916) with an ACNC registration application currently under assessment.. It currently qualifies as a small business under s 6C of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Notwithstanding that exemption, the Foundation has chosen to operate in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) as a matter of governance best practice. The Foundation is subject to the statutory privacy tort provisions introduced under the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (Cth) regardless of small business status.
3. What we collect and why
The Foundation collects personal information only where reasonably necessary for its charitable activities. The types of information collected, and the purpose for each, are as follows:
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Identity and contact details (name, email, phone, organisation, role) — to respond to enquiries, coordinate events and speaking engagements, and administer the Foundation's programs.
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Communications (emails, form submissions, feedback) — to manage correspondence and maintain accurate records of the Foundation's stakeholder relationships.
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Donation-related information — donations are received and receipted by Australian Communities Foundation (ACF). ACF collects payment and donor details in accordance with its own privacy policy. The Foundation does not store card data or process payments directly.
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Website technical data (IP address, device type, pages viewed, timestamps, cookies) — to operate, secure, and improve the website. See Section 6 on cookies and analytics.
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Media and testimonials — only collected with explicit consent. See Section 8.
The Foundation collects personal information directly from the person concerned wherever practicable. It may also receive information from schools, councils, or partner organisations where the individual has authorised that sharing.
4. Disclosure of personal information
The Foundation does not sell personal information. Disclosure is limited to:
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Service providers operating the Foundation's website and communications infrastructure (Wix.com Ltd., Google Workspace, and similar). These providers act as data processors and are engaged on the basis of their published privacy and security commitments.
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Australian Communities Foundation — for the administration of the Named Fund, receipting of donations, and disbursement to DGR Item 1 partners.
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Program partners (such as The Y NSW) — where relevant to coordinating a participant's involvement in a program, and only to the extent required.
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Regulators, insurers, and law enforcement — where required by law, or to manage a serious safety or legal risk.
Some providers may store data outside Australia (including in the United States and European Union). The Foundation selects providers with appropriate data handling standards and published cross-border arrangements.
5. Cookies and analytics
The Foundation's website uses cookies and similar technologies to enable site functionality, retain preferences, and compile aggregate, de-identified analytics about site performance and visitor behaviour. Analytics vendors may include Wix's native analytics and Google Analytics. You may adjust cookie settings in your browser; blocking some cookies may limit site functionality.
6. Security
The Foundation uses multi-factor authentication and least-privilege access controls for all internal systems, encrypted transport (HTTPS) across the website, and reputable third-party vendors with current security practices. No system is entirely without risk. If a data breach is likely to cause serious harm, the Foundation will comply with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme — assessing the breach and notifying affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner where required.
7. Retention and deletion
Personal information is retained only as long as required for the purpose for which it was collected, or as required by law. The Foundation's standard retention period is seven years for correspondence and transaction records. Records may be retained longer where required by applicable insurance, legal, or ACNC obligations. On request, personal information that is no longer required will be deleted or de-identified, unless the Foundation is required by law to retain it.
8. Children, media, and takedown rights
The Foundation applies heightened care to personal information about children and young people:
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No image, name, voice recording, or personal story of a child will be published without appropriate consent — obtained from a parent or guardian, or through the school's authorised consent process.
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Published material about young people is handled with care to avoid sensitive details, geolocation, or identifying information that could enable contact or cause harm.
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Takedown requests may be submitted at any time by emailing info@odysseyleaders.org with the URL or screenshot of the relevant content. The Foundation will act on takedown requests promptly and confirm once completed.
9. Your rights
You may contact the Foundation at any time to:
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request access to personal information the Foundation holds about you;
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request correction of inaccurate personal information;
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withdraw consent for media use or marketing communications;
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request deletion of personal information no longer required; or
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make a complaint about the Foundation's handling of your personal information.
Contact info@odysseyleaders.org to exercise any of these rights. The Foundation will respond within a reasonable time. If you are not satisfied with the Foundation's response to a complaint, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.
10. Third-party sites
The Foundation's website contains links to third-party platforms including ACF's donation page and The Y NSW Youth Parliament Program. Those platforms have their own privacy policies. The Foundation is not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party sites.
11. Changes to this policy
This policy will be updated to reflect changes in the Foundation's activities, technology vendors, or applicable law. The effective date at the top of this section will be updated on each revision. Material changes will be noted on the website.
Child Safe Statement
The Foundation is committed to the safety and wellbeing of every young person it encounters through its grant-making activities and the CEO's school-based speaking engagements.
Child safety concerns: info@odysseyleaders.org — mark the subject line CONFIDENTIAL — CHILD SAFETY.
EFFECTIVE DATE
REVIEW CYCLE
01 December 2025
Annual, or on material change to activities
GOVERNING POLICY
Safeguarding and Online Safety (internal)
The Odyssey Leadership Foundation is committed to the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of every young person it encounters. Child safety is not a compliance obligation for the Foundation — it is a condition of the Foundation's work.
Our operating model and child safety
The Foundation is a grant-making Public Ancillary Fund. It funds DGR Item 1 partner organisations who deliver programs to young Australians — it does not directly operate youth programs or services. The Foundation's primary program partner, The Y NSW Youth Parliament Program, works with Years 10–12 students across New South Wales. The Foundation also engages directly with young people through the CEO's school visits, speaking engagements, and related public advocacy activities.
The Foundation's child-safe commitments apply to both contexts: the grant-making relationship with program partners, and the CEO's direct school-based activities.
Our commitments
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Partner assessment. The Foundation only grants to DGR Item 1 organisations with credible, current child-safe policies and Working with Children Check compliance in place for all staff and volunteers who work directly with young people. Child safety practice is assessed as part of the Foundation's partner selection process.
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CEO school engagements. All speaking engagements involving young people are conducted with the knowledge and cooperation of the school administration. The Foundation does not conduct unsupervised one-on-one contact with students. All sessions are designed for group audiences in supervised settings.
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Photography and media. No image, name, voice recording, or personal story of a child will be published without explicit written consent from a parent or guardian, or through the school's authorised consent process. Young people and their families may request takedown of any published material at any time — the Foundation will comply promptly and without requiring reasons.
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Dignity and privacy. The Foundation does not publish identifying details, school uniforms, geolocation, or sensitive personal circumstances about young people without specific, informed consent.
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Incident escalation. Any concern about the safety or welfare of a young person in connection with the Foundation's activities must be reported immediately to the CEO (info@odysseyleaders.org). Immediate threats to life or safety are escalated to emergency services without delay. Concerns about abuse or neglect are referred to the relevant state child protection authority and, where required, to the NSW Children's Guardian.
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Review. This statement is reviewed annually. Before the Foundation commences any direct child-facing programs, youth services, mentoring, or recurring student-facing activities beyond the CEO's existing speaking work, a comprehensive child-safe operating framework will be developed and adopted by the Board prior to commencement.
Contact for child safety matters
Any concern about a child's safety in connection with the Foundation's activities — including concerns about the conduct of program partners — should be raised with the CEO at info@odysseyleaders.org, marking the subject line CONFIDENTIAL — CHILD SAFETY.
All concerns are documented and actioned promptly.
Political Activity &
Anti-Lobbying Statement
The Foundation's civic education mission requires engagement with political ideas and governmental processes. This statement draws a clear line between that work — which is the Foundation's program — and partisan political activity, which is prohibited in all circumstances.
Governing document: Political Activity and Lobbying Policy (POL-GOV-001), adopted by the Board of Directors. Available on request.
POLICY REFERENCE
ADOPTED
REVIEW CYCLE
01 December 2025
November 2025
Annual
The Foundation's principal activity is the direct relief of disadvantage experienced by young Australians who are excluded from civic education and leadership opportunities. Any political engagement the Foundation undertakes must be incidental and ancillary to that purpose — never a substitute for it.
What the Foundation does
Teaching young people about democratic institutions, the legislative process, public debate, and civic rights necessarily involves engagement with political ideas and governmental processes. This engagement is the Foundation's program — it is not lobbying. Permitted activities include:
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Civics and public speaking programs that use real policy questions as educational content.
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Debate and critical thinking programs that examine contested political questions in structured, balanced educational formats.
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Evidence-based public commentary, submissions to government inquiries, and research publications on matters directly affecting the Foundation's beneficiary class.
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Responses to government-initiated engagement about the Foundation's programs, research, or expertise.
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Participation in sector forums and networks focused on youth development and civic participation.
What the Foundation does not do
The following activities are prohibited in all circumstances, regardless of Board approval:
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Making a donation, in-kind contribution, or financial payment of any kind to a political party, candidate, or election campaign.
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Publicly endorsing or opposing a political party, candidate, or elected representative in connection with an election or political campaign.
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Using the Foundation's name, logo, communications channels, or financial assets for any partisan political purpose.
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Directing staff, volunteers, or program participants to vote in a particular way or support a particular party or candidate.
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Entering any arrangement where the Foundation's programs, grants, or activities are contingent on political support or alignment.
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Accepting donations conditional on partisan political activity.
Publishing research on barriers to civic participation for disadvantaged youth
Public Commentary
Activity reference guide
The following table summarises how common activities are categorised under the governing policy.
Activity
Category
Status
Running a Youth Parliament or model Senate program
Civics Education
Permitted
Debate program using real policy questions as topics
Civics Education
Permitted
Publishing research on barriers to civic participation for disadvantaged youth
Permitted
Public Commentary
CEO responding to media questions about the Foundation's programs
Public Commentary
Permitted
Submitting to a government inquiry on youth civic education
Public Commentary
Permitted
Joining a coalition advocating for civics curriculum reform
Advocacy
Board Approval Required
Issuing a statement supporting or opposing a specific bill in Parliament
Advocacy
Board Approval Required
Donating to a political party or candidate at an election
Partisan Political Activity
Prohibited
Publicly endorsing a party or candidate at an election
Partisan Political Activity
Prohibited
Using Foundation branding in a political campaign
Partisan Political Activity
Prohibited
Directors in a personal capacity
Directors may hold and express personal political views in their private capacity. Directors must not attribute their personal political views to the Foundation, and must not use their position as a Director to advance partisan political objectives. Where a Director's personal political activities could reasonably be perceived as representing the Foundation's position, the Director must declare that potential conflict to the Board.
Questions and reporting
Any uncertainty about whether a proposed activity is consistent with this policy should be raised with the CEO before proceeding. Any activity that may breach this policy must be reported to the Chairperson and Secretary as soon as practicable.
The full governing policy (POL-GOV-001) is available on request from info@odysseyleaders.org.
Grant Making Policy
Describes how the Foundation selects grant partners, determines grant amounts, and applies governance to disbursements through the Australian Communities Foundation.
Grant enquiries: info@odysseyleaders.org. The Foundation does not assess unsolicited grant applications.
EFFECTIVE DATE
REVIEW CYCLE
GOVERNING STRUCTURE
Nov 2025
Annual
PAF Named Fund, administered by the ACF.
The Foundation's grant-making exists to get donor capital to programs — efficiently, transparently, and without administrative overhead diluting its effect. Every decision is made in service of that principle.
Legal framework
The Foundation operates as a Public Ancillary Fund (DGR Item 2) under a Named Fund administered by Australian Communities Foundation. By law, the Named Fund may only disburse funds to organisations endorsed by the ATO as DGR Item 1 entities. This restriction is not a policy preference — it is a legal requirement of the PAF structure. The Foundation cannot grant to non-DGR organisations, regardless of the merit of their work.
Every grant disbursement is subject to independent due diligence by ACF prior to payment. ACF verifies the recipient's current DGR Item 1 status and confirms the grant is consistent with the Named Fund deed before any funds are released.
What the Foundation funds
The Foundation funds DGR Item 1 organisations delivering programs that align with its four charitable pillars:
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Civics and public speaking — programs that give young Australians practical experience in how government works and how to speak inside it. The Foundation's primary long-term partner is The Y NSW Youth Parliament Program, at a benchmark cost of $1,700 per student.
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Debate, discourse, and critical thinking — programs that build structured argument, evidence handling, and the ability to reason across difference.
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Public advocacy — the Foundation's own voice through CEO speaking engagements, delivered without drawing on donor funds.
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Community grants — youth-led projects in disadvantaged communities across NSW, delivered by DGR Item 1 organisations with established community relationships and credible operating track records.
All funded programs must serve the Foundation's beneficiary class: young Australians who face disadvantage in accessing civic education and leadership development opportunities.
Partner selection
The Foundation works with a small number of high-quality DGR Item 1 partners with established programs and verifiable track records. Partners are identified through the directors' professional and civic networks and assessed against three criteria: program credibility and evidence of outcomes; operational integrity and governance standards including child safety; and strategic alignment with the Foundation's mission and beneficiary class.
The Foundation does not operate open grant rounds and does not assess unsolicited grant applications. Formal applications submitted without prior engagement will not be acknowledged.
Grant sizing
Grants are sized to the program and the cohort, not to a formula. The Foundation's primary benchmark is $1,700 per student — the confirmed cost of supporting one student through the full Y NSW Youth Parliament Program including preparation, training, and sittings at NSW Parliament House. Grants for other partners are sized to their specific program cost structures, confirmed with the partner prior to disbursement.
Grant timing
The Foundation disburses grants as the Named Fund receives sufficient donations and as program partners are ready to receive them. There is no fixed annual round. The Foundation's preference is to grant as close to continuously as the fund balance permits — holding donor funds in a Named Fund while programs wait is inconsistent with the principle that capital should reach the work.
Transparency and reporting
The Foundation's Named Fund is subject to ACF's annual independent audit, with reports filed publicly with the ACNC. Grant recipients and amounts will be listed on the Foundation's public grants register when established. ACF's published annual reports provide independent verification of the Foundation's grant-making activity in the interim. The Foundation's own ACNC registration is currently under assessment and will provide an additional layer of public accountability once confirmed.
Conflicts of interest
Any director who has a personal, professional, or financial relationship with a proposed grant recipient must declare that interest to the Board and absent themselves from the relevant grant decision. ACF's independent due diligence provides an additional layer of oversight against undisclosed conflicts.
Policy questions & Document requests
For questions about any of these policies, to request full governing documents, or to report a concern, contact the Foundation directly.