Interchange Illawarra Inc is bound by the 10 National Privacy Policies (NPPs) as set out in the Privacy Act 1988 and the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000.
The following policy and procedures describe how privacy is managed by this organisation and are based on the Guidelines to the National Privacy Principles, which were issued by the Federal Privacy Commissioner in September 2001.
This Privacy Policy is intended to ensure that all who use the services of Interchange Illawarra are treated with dignity and respect at all times. This involves respecting our consumers’ right to privacy and safeguarding the personal information that they entrust to us.
A summary of the NPPs and how they are applied by Interchange Illawarra Inc.
1. Collection
Interchange Illawarra will only collect personal information that is necessary for us to carry out our services and activities. We will only do this through lawful and fair means and without unreasonable intrusion.
Interchange Illawarra will provide you with details about our organisation and how to contact us.
Interchange Illawarra will tell you what we intend to do with information about you.
Where practicable, we will only collect personal information directly from you, but in the event that we collect information about you from someone else, we will gain prior permission from you.
You will always be able to access to the information you provide to us.
2. Use and Disclosure
Interchange Illawarra will only use or disclose information about you with your informed consent and in ways that are consistent with your expectations of our services, except when the information is required on subpoena by a court of law, or if an offence is alleged which requires notification by law.
Interchange Illawarra will ask you to provide written consent to allow for disclosure of information where jointly deemed appropriate.
Staff, support workers and volunteers are instructed to refrain from discussing your personal details with other staff, other consumers, members of the Management Committee, and with people outside the service.
This precludes any discussion by Interchange staff that is necessary to provide service to you.
Where you can give informed consent to the disclosure of confidential information, consent shall be in writing. Where you are not able to sign, informed verbal consent in the presence of a witness is acceptable. A written record must specify the information given, to whom it is given, and the purpose for which it is given.
Confidential information may be disclosed if:
(a) you (or your parent or advocate) have been asked to give consent, have been informed of the specific information to be disclosed, to whom it is to be disclosed and the reason for its disclosure, and have given consent,
(b) you have given consent and the Manager is satisfied that you understand what you have consented to, and to whom, and for what purpose, the information is to be disclosed, or
(c) in the event that you cannot give consent, your family, nominated advocate, or guardian has given consent.
If your personal information is used for statistical purposes, your name shall not be disclosed.
3. Data Quality
Interchange Illawarra will take all reasonable steps to make sure that the personal information we collect, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up to date.
4. Data Security
Interchange Illawarra will take all reasonable steps to keep your personal information secure against misuse and loss and against unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Any written records (whether in hard copy or on storage devices) held by Interchange on you are secured in a locked cabinet. Any electronic records are stored on password-protected computers. Access to any of those records is under the control of the Manager, and restricted to staff who need to know.
Consumer files are audited every twelve months and once information is updated, non-current information is archived and kept for a period of seven years before being securely destroyed.
5. Openness
Interchange will make this document, regarding the management of personal information, available to anyone who asks for it.
Interchange will be open with you (and with your consent, your family/carer) about what personal information we hold and why, and how we collect, hold, use and disclose that information.
6. Access and Correction
Where practicable, Interchange Illawarra will let you see the information we hold about you, whether recorded in writing or electronically, and correct it if it is wrong.
7. Identifiers
Interchange Illawarra will not adopt as its own an identifier (e.g. a consumer identification number) assigned to you by another organisation or agency.
8. Anonymity
If practicable (and if you so wish), Interchange Illawarra will deal with you anonymously.
9. Transborder Data Flows (or onward transfer of personal information)
Interchange Illawarra will take steps to protect your privacy if we send personal information about you to a third party (while you are in a foreign country).
10. Sensitive Information
Interchange Illawarra will not collect sensitive information about you unless you have given consent, or the collection is required by law, or the collection is in the public interest i.e. for the prevention of a crime.
Staff are mindful that they have personal and sensitive information about you that is not recorded, but which, nevertheless, is confidential. Staff do not disclose such information carelessly.
For further information regarding privacy and confidentiality, please contact your co-ordinator at Interchange:
Telephone: (02) 4227 1079
Email: office@interchange.ngo.org.au
Or write to:
Interchange Illawarra Inc
PO Box 5077
WOLLONGONG
NSW 2520
For further information regarding the 10 National Privacy Principles and the Privacy Act 1988, please contact:
Privacy Hotline: 1300 363 992
Telephone: (02) 9284 9800
Web: www.privacy.gov.au
Or write to:
Privacy Commissioner
GPO Box 5218
Sydney
NSW 2001