Privacy Policy

The Division recognises and respects all staff, member, stakeholder, and client’s rights to privacy, dignity and confidentiality in all aspects of his or her life. The Division ensures that individuals enjoy:

• tolerance and respect for their personal needs and circumstances; and
• an assurance that written and spoken information is protected from access and use by unauthorised persons and complies with the Privacy Principles of the Commonwealth Privacy Act.

The Privacy Act 1988 recognises the importance that individuals place on the manner in which organisations and agencies treat their personal information and imposes stringent standards to which agencies must comply. Within the Act, 10 National Privacy Principles govern the collection, storage, use and disclosure of personal information by organisations and agencies, as well as providing individuals with certain rights to access their personal information and correct errors.

The National Privacy Principles cover:

• collection,
• use and disclosure,
• data quality,
• data security,
• openness,
• access and correction,
• identifiers,
• anonymity,
• transborder data flows, and
• sensitive information.

Staff will be informed through orientation and training, of their rights and the Division's expectations in regard to privacy and confidentiality, and that of clients and consumers, and the measures necessary to protect them.  In the event of an accident or emergency, personal details may be released by the Corporate Services Manager or CEO.

The Privacy and Confidentiality policy must be applied to all forms of information. This includes all written information in files and on computer, information obtained by word of mouth, from photographs, electronic recording etc.

The Division only collects information that is directly relevant to effective service delivery. All written, spoken, observed and electronically stored information is to be treated as private and confidential.

Information about an individual that is required for service delivery will be obtained with the individual’s written consent (or the written consent of the person responsible or guardian).

Complaints relating to breaches of privacy or confidentiality should be made in writing to the Corporate Services Manager or CEO for investigation and response.

Further information on the Privacy Act and the National Privacy Principles can found by visiting the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner's website at www.privacy.gov.au/