UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families Services Privacy Statement

In Australia new Commonwealth privacy laws came into force on 21 December 2001. UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families Services is committed to ensuring that the information you provide to us remains secure and that you are aware of what information is held and your rights. The NSW State Government also has privacy requirements defined in the following Acts:

• Privacy and Person Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIPA)
• Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIPA)
• Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
• Community Welfare Act 1987

You provide information when you become a

• User of one of our services
• Volunteer
• Contractor
• Donor
• Job applicant
• Person who provides information by answering a questionnaire

You are generally asked to provide us with your name and contact details as well as other information. Information which can identify you is known as personal information. Besides personal information, some specific information about you which may include your cultural background, religious belief or affiliation, criminal record or health information is known as sensitive information.

We will not collect sensitive information about you without your express consent unless required by law. Obviously in some service areas the collection of sensitive information will take place so that your needs are properly understood and responded to.

Unless prevented by legislation, you can check the information we hold about you by contacting the relevant Manager in the first instance who will then help arrange access within at least five (5) working days. That information will generally be made available by allowing you the opportunity to read the details we hold at the service site with staff present if appropriate.

If you find any inaccuracies in the information please let our relevant Manager know.

How we use information

UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families Services uses the information you give us for:

• assessing what services you require and whether we can provide those services
• evaluating ongoing services provided to you
• assessing your application to become a volunteer or contractor or employee
• approved research and analysis
• funding applications and statistical reporting to comply with service agreements.

Your personal information is not disclosed to third parties without your written consent or unless required by law.

We may use the information for internal reviews and analysis and may also use it to produce certain consolidated statistics about our services. However, we will not disclose your individual information, nor sell, trade or rent that information for any purpose.

If we need to disclose any information to conform with any laws or legal process we will inform you what information has been disclosed and to whom (unless informing you is precluded by legislation), so that you can take any necessary action.

Consent

By giving your personal information and sensitive information you are consenting to our use of this information in accordance with the principles outlined in the UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families Services Privacy Policy (to be reviewed). If at any time we change the Privacy Policy, we will post those changes on our website so that you are kept fully informed. You may also request a copy of our Privacy Policy from the relevant service Manager.

Privacy Officer

If you wish to request access to or correct your personal information or if you have any queries regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact our Privacy Officer on 02- 9768 6805 or Fax 02-9630 0664 or by writing to: email privacy@burnside.org.au or The Privacy Officer, UnitingCare Burnside, Post: PO Box 495, Rydalmere BC NSW 1701.