Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited
  • Get help
    • Criminal charges
    • Bail
    • Child protection
    • Family law
    • Housing and renting
    • Family violence and safety
    • Fines
    • Deaths in custody
    • Problems at work
    • Custody Notification Service
    • Crisis support
  • Get help
    • Get help
    • Criminal charges
    • Bail
    • Child protection
    • Family law
    • Housing and renting
    • Family violence and safety
    • Fines
    • Deaths in custody
    • Problems at work
    • Custody Notification Service
    • Crisis support
  • Reforming the system
    • Policy submissions and publications
    • Closing the Gap
    • Justice reinvestment
    • The Bugmy Evidence Project
    • Family Is Culture
  • Reforming the system
    • Reforming the system
    • Policy submissions and publications
    • Closing the Gap
    • Justice reinvestment
    • The Bugmy Evidence Project
    • Family Is Culture
  • News
  • Get involved
    • Take action with us
    • Career opportunities
    • Volunteer
    • Become a monthly donor
  • Get involved
    • Get involved
    • Take action with us
    • Career opportunities
    • Volunteer
    • Become a monthly donor
  • About
    • About us
    • Our history
    • Our strategic plan
    • Annual reports
    • Governance
  • About
    • About
    • About us
    • Our history
    • Our strategic plan
    • Annual reports
    • Governance
  • Contact
    • Get in touch
    • Office locations
    • Feedback and complaints
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Get in touch
    • Office locations
    • Feedback and complaints
  • DONATE
Print

Tips to browse safely online

Here you'll find some basic tips to protect your privacy and reduce the ability for people to see what you do online.

The 'Close this site' button

Some pages on this website include a 'Close this site' button. Use this button to quickly hide what you are looking at. You might find this helpful if someone comes into the room or looks over your shoulder and you don't want them to know what you've been looking at.

When you use the 'Close this site' button, it immediately closes this website and opens the Google search page in a new window.

You can also quickly close this site by using the ESC button on your computer keyboard. It immediately closes this website and opens the Google search page in a new window.

The 'Close this site' function doesn't delete your browser history. This means that if someone checks your browser history on your computer or mobile device, they will be able to see everything you looked at on our website.

Clear your browsing history regularly

Web browsers keep track of your online activity through your browser history, cookies and caching. This is so you can find websites you've visited before, but it also means other people can see this data.

To protect your privacy, it's a good idea to clear your browsing history regularly. You can choose to delete everything or only some things.

Find out how to clear your browsing history in:

  • Internet Explorer
  • Google Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Safari on iPhones or iPads.

For other browsers and devices, check the provider's website.

Use private browsing

Private browsing is an easy way to hide your browsing habits. If enabled, when you close your browser, all browsing history and stored cookies from future browsing sessions will automatically disappear.

However, the sites you visited during your current browsing session will record your browsing activity. Your internet service provider will also record this information. Any files you download using private browsing won't be deleted, so other people can access them if they use your device.

Find out how to enable private browsing in:

  • Internet Explorer
    • In the 'Tools' menu (the cog icon on top right of the browser window), select 'Safety', then 'InPrivate Browsing'.
  • Google Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Safari on iPhones or iPads.

For other browsers and devices, check the provider's website.

Accounts and passwords

Don't let your browser auto-save your passwords. While the auto-save function may be convenient, it gives anyone who uses your device access to your accounts.

When you are using an account with a password (e.g. your social media or email account), always log out before leaving the website.

Using other computers and devices

If you are worried about someone looking at your internet use, consider using a computer or device that they can't access.

This might be a computer at your local library, your work computer, or a family or friend's device. But again, don't auto-save any passwords and make sure you log out of your accounts when you've finished using the computer.

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

This advice is from "Tips to browse safely online" by The State of Queensland.
The content is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license.
© The State of Queensland 2024.
What is this?
To leave this site quickly, click the 'QUICK EXIT' button or press 'ESC' on your keyboard. You will be taken to google.com
Hide Show Quick Exit

Housing and renting

Our tenant advocates fight for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in all forms of housing.

Call us on 1800 765 767 (free call).

We help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hawkesbury and Macarthur areas.

Who we help

The Greater Sydney Aboriginal Tenants Service (GSATS) is part of the ALS.

We assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are renting their homes. 

It doesn’t matter who you rent with – we are here to help. We support tenants who are renting with:

  • The Aboriginal Housing Office
  • Aboriginal Land Councils
  • Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) community housing providers
  • Private landlords
  • Any other housing providers

 

How we help

We want to help you find a safe, clean, comfortable home and stay there.

We can:

  • Offer advice over the phone or in a visit to your home
  • Help you communicate and negotiate with your landlord or housing provider (including DCJ and Aboriginal Housing)
  • Attend meetings with your landlord or housing provider
  • Help resolve issues with repairs and maintenance
  • Attend the housing tribunal (NCAT) on your behalf
  • Assist with Housing Appeals Committee applications and hearings, and other appeals
  • Connect you with specialist services for help with homelessness, domestic and family violence, disability, mental illness, debt, gambling, drugs and alcohol, and other issues

 

Our tips for tenants

These are our top tips to avoid trouble and keep your home:

  • Keep all receipts and letters from your landlord.
  • Always pay your rent, even if repairs are needed. If you stop paying rent, it will be bad for your case if you have to attend a hearing at the Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
  • If you receive a notice to attend NCAT, you must show up to the hearing. If you don’t, the matter will be heard without you. You can ask for an adjournment, so that you can get advice and your matter can be dealt with on another day.
  • If you receive a notice of termination or eviction, do not leave your home. Contact us immediately.
  • Contact us as soon as you think there may be a problem. The sooner we get involved, the sooner we can help fix any issues!

Call us on 1800 765 767.

 

Find out more about your rights

Visit the NSW Tenants’ Union website for heaps of information for renters, plus template letters and other resources. 

The Tenants’ Union website provides general information only. For information and advice about your specific circumstances, please call us on 1800 765 767.

 

What if I’m not in Greater Sydney?

We help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hawkesbury and Macarthur areas.

If you live elsewhere in NSW, please contact:

  • Northern NSW Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service 
  • Murra Mia Tenant Advocacy Service (southern NSW)
  • Western Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (WATAAS)
  • NSW Tenants' Union 

 


  • Share with your friends!

Get help

Criminal charges

Read More

Bail

Read More

Child protection

Read More

Family law

Read More

Family violence and safety

Read More

Fines

Read More

Deaths in custody

Read More

Problems at work

Read More

Custody Notification Service

Read More

Crisis support

Read More


JOIN US

First name:

Last name:

Email:

Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited
  • Get help
  • Reforming the system
  • News
  • Get involved
  • About
  • Contact
Donate
Icon

Call 1800 765 767
for free legal help

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we live, work and travel. We pay our respects to Elders both past and present and acknowledge the contribution and sacrifices our Elders have made to better our community and future. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this site contains names and images of people who have passed away.

Login to Intranet
Website by Principle Co | Built on Nationbuilder | Illustrations by Mumbulla Creative

Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us
© 2025 Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited.

Join us

We'll send you exciting updates on our campaigns and how to join our movement for social justice!


First name:

Last name:

Email:

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, work, and travel, and their Elders past and present.

Warning: This website may contain images and names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have passed away.