This Policy explains how Emerge manages the personal information that we collect, use, and disclose as part of the website use and how to contact us if you have any further queries about our management of your personal information.
Emerge is committed to adhering to the Australian Privacy Principles which set the standards for the collection, access, storage and use of personal information. The Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) are the primary legislation that regulates the information handling of personal and health information. Emerge will manage information in accordance with the Information Privacy Principles and Health Privacy Principles that provide standards for information collection, storage, access, transmission, disclosure, use and disposal as prescribed within these Acts.
What is personal information?
In Victoria, the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 defines personal information as “information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database), that is recorded in any form and whether true or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion.”
What is sensitive information?
Under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 sensitive information is a subset of personal information and covers information about an individual’s:
- Racial or ethnic origin
- Political opinions
- Membership of a political association
- Religious beliefs or affiliations
- Philosophical beliefs
- Membership of a professional or trade association
- Membership of a trade union
- Sexual orientation
- Criminal record
Collecting Information
We may collect personal information when you communicate with us through our website by:
- Subscribing
- Donating
- Contacting us
- Careers enquiry
- Using find out more information buttons
Emerge does not typically collect information about individuals from any third parties.
Types of Information
The kinds of personal information we collect and hold about you will depend on the circumstances of collection, including whether we collect the information from you as a donor, subscriber, supplier or job applicant or in some other capacity.
In general, Emerge will mainly collect the following information:
- Name
- Mobile number
If you deal with Emerge in some other capacity (for example, as a donor, supplier or job applicant), we may collect your name and contact details and any other information you provide to us. We may also collect details of the interactions that you have with us.
Purpose of Collecting Information
Emerge collects personal information from interaction with our website for a range of purposes, including to:
- respond to enquiries.
- process donations.
- manage relationships with donors and sponsors and prospective donors and sponsors.
- send the newsletter to persons who subscribe to the newsletter.
- consider job applicants for current and future employment.
Emerge may use your information for other purposes required or authorised by or under law including purposes for which consent has been have provided.
If Emerge is unable to collect personal information from or about you, we may not be able to communicate or do business with you.
Communications
If you sign up for Emerge Newsletter, we may use your personal information to contact you with Emerge news, updates on our programs and resources and employment opportunities.
You can let us know at any time if you no longer wish to receive these communications, by using the unsubscribe facility on our electronic messages or contacting us using the contact details at the end of this policy. Your consent will be deemed if you do not opt out when we offer you the opportunity to do so and will remain current until you advise us otherwise.
Disclosure
In conducting our operations, we may sometimes need to disclose personal information to third parties. This includes, where appropriate:
- financial institutions for payment processing
- donation platforms
- contracted service providers, including
- information technology service providers
- external business advisors (such as auditors and lawyers)
- referees whose details have been provided to us.
We may also disclose your personal information to other third parties and for other purposes where we are required or authorised by or under law to do so (including where consent has been provided).
Quality and security of personal information
Emerge will take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information we collect, use and disclose is accurate, complete, up to date and relevant. You can help us by letting us know (using the contact details at the end of this policy) about any changes to your personal information.
We may store your information in hard copy and/or in electronic form. We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. This includes taking appropriate security measures to protect electronic materials and materials stored in hard copy.
Access to and correction of your personal information
Please contact us (using the contact details at the end of this policy) if you would like to access or correct the personal information, we hold about you. We will generally provide you with access to your personal information (subject to some exceptions permitted by law) but may charge an access fee to cover the cost of retrieving the information and supplying it to you.
Collection of information other than personal information
Some of the information collected about your visit to our websites is not personal information, because it does not reveal your identity. For example, we may record your server address, the date and time of your visit, the pages you viewed, any documents you downloaded and the type of browser and operating system you used.
If collected, this information will be used and disclosed by Emerge in anonymous, aggregated form only, for purposes including statistical analysis and web site development. You are not individually identified, however Emerge reserves its right to use or disclose this information to try to locate an individual where we reasonably believe that the individual may have engaged in any unlawful or inappropriate activity in connection with our websites, or where we are otherwise required or authorised by law to do so.
Cookies
Our websites use cookies to collect information, including Google Analytics.
Complaints
Please contact us (using the contact details at the end of this policy) if you have any concerns or complaints about the manner in which Emerge has collected or handled your personal information. Emerge will inquire into your complaint and respond to you in writing within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact us to discuss your concerns or lodge a complaint with the Australian Information Commissioner (www.oaic.gov.au).
Contact details and additional information
If you would like more information about Emerge’s approach to privacy, or if you wish to contact us regarding the information set out in this policy, please email;
communications@emergesupport.org.au
Changes to this policy
We may amend this policy from time to time at our discretion. Amended versions will be posted on the Emerge website.