FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Circletalk?
Circletalk is a communication platform that helps adults organise and share important information with trusted supporters. Users can create a personal Support Circle and share strengths, preferences, communication styles, and support strategies in a structured and user-controlled way.

Who is Circletalk designed for?
Circletalk is designed for adults who want a clear and safe way to communicate with the people who support them. While the platform was informed by neurodiversity perspectives, Circletalk is intentionally designed to support people with a wide range of disabilities, conditions, talents, and support needs.This may include individuals with cognitive, neurological, physical, sensory, or invisible disabilities, as well as people who prefer structured ways to communicate their preferences and support needs.

Is Circletalk a medical or clinical platform?
No.
Circletalk is not a medical, diagnostic, or clinical record system. The platform is designed to support everyday communication between individuals and their trusted supporters. Circletalk does not store medical reports, clinical notes, diagnostic documentation, or therapy records. Instead, the platform focuses on strengths, preferences, communication styles, and support strategies defined by the user.

Why does Circletalk focus on strengths instead of medical information?
Circletalk focuses on strengths, preferences, and practical support strategies rather than medical history.Many systems require people to upload diagnostic or clinical information. Circletalk takes a different approach by allowing users to describe themselves in ways that reflect their abilities, preferences, and goals.This strengths-based approach helps individuals communicate important information while maintaining privacy and personal control.

What information is required to create an account?
Circletalk collects minimal personal information. To create an account, users provide: a phone number and a first name. Circletalk does not require: government identification, home addresses, dates of birth, medical records or diagnostic documents.

Who owns the information in Circletalk?
The individual user owns and controls the information they enter into Circletalk. Users decide:what information they add who is invited into their Support Circle, what information supporters can see. Users can update or remove information and manage their Support Circle at any time.

How does the Support Circle work?
Users can invite trusted supporters to join their Support Circle.Supporters may include family members, support workers, educators, therapists, advocates, or friends.
Users decide:
-who joins their Support Circle
-what information supporters can see
-when information is shared.
- Supporters are generally represented by roles rather than personal identity details to reduce unnecessary      exposure of personal information.

How are supporters invited?
Supporters can join a Support Circle through:

a QR code invitation, or a secure invitation link generated by the user. Invitation links may be sent via email, but email addresses used for invitations are not stored by Circletalk after the sign-up process is completed.

Can users remove supporters from their Support Circle?
Yes.
Users can update their Support Circle at any time. Supporters can be added, removed, or have their access changed whenever the user chooses.This allows individuals to adjust their support network as relationships, environments, or support needs change.

Can Circletalk grow with a person over time?
Yes.
Circletalk is designed as a lifelong communication tool that can support individuals as they move through different stages of life.
This may include:
-education and training
-employment and workplace participation
-independent living
-community involvement.
Because Circletalk focuses on strengths and communication strategies rather than medical records, it can evolve with the individual over time.

Can organisations, education programs, or workplaces use Circletalk?
Yes.
Circletalk can support communication and collaboration in a wide range of environments where individuals work with trusted supporters.
This may include:
-disability support services
-schools, universities, and training programs
workplaces and employment programs
-community organisations
-allied health and support teams.
-Individuals remain in control of their information and decide who joins their Support Circle and what information is shared.
 

Can Circletalk be used for training or role-playing scenarios?

Yes.

Circletalk can be used as a training and learning tool through the creation of mock profiles. Mock profiles allow educators, trainers, and organisations to practise strengths-based communication and person-centred support planning without using real personal information.  

This may be useful for:
-support worker training

- disability workforce development

- allied health education

- university or TAFE programs

- workplace training environments

 

Is Circletalk designed using trauma-informed principles?

Yes.

Circletalk is designed to support safety, autonomy, and user control, which are key principles of trauma-informed practice.The platform allows individuals to decide what information they share and who they share it with, avoids requiring sensitive personal documentation, and supports respectful collaboration between individuals and their trusted supporters.

 

Does Circletalk use artificial intelligence to analyse users?

No.
Circletalk does not use artificial intelligence to analyse, score, or profile users.The platform is designed as a human-centred communication tool that helps individuals and their supporters share information more easily.

Is Circletalk designed to meet privacy and security standards?

Yes.

Circletalk is built using privacy-by-design principles, meaning the platform intentionally collects minimal personal information and avoids storing sensitive identity or medical data wherever possible.
Circletalk is currently planning implementation an Information Security Management System aligned with the ISO 27001 information security standard.

How is user information protected?
Circletalk uses modern security practices to protect user information, including:encrypted data transmissionencrypted cloud storagesecure authentication systemscontrolled access to production systemsinfrastructure monitoring and logging.Circletalk also reduces privacy risks by minimising the personal data stored within the platform.