PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre Inc is required to collect personal information from service users for reporting and statistical purposes. The definition of "personal
information" is found in section 6(1) of the Privacy Act 1988(Cth): ”personal information' means information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database), whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion."
The National Privacy Principles (as per the amended Privacy Act 1988) which are relevant to the Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre Inc (RCNC) and strategies used to adhere to them are set out below.
1. Collection of personal information:
Information of a personal nature (such as, but not limited to; name, address, birth date, telephone number and ethnicity) will be collected by RCNC staff for the purposes of adhering to statistical reporting requirements by the funding bodies. RCNC will not request information which is not relevant for reporting requirements.
2. Use and disclosure of personal information:
Collected information will only be used or disclosed for its original purpose, unless the person has consented in writing to its use or disclosure for another purpose. RCNC will endeavour to keep all personal information confidential except in the following circumstances:
Where there is a legal obligation to divulge information, where failure to divulge may lead to life-threatening or similarly serious consequences required by a court order or under any lawful legislation, regulation or by-law.
3. Accuracy of personal information:
RCNC will take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information is kept accurate, complete and up to date.
4. Security of personal information:
Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre Inc will undertake to ensure that:
· Personal information stored electronically is only accessed by staff for legitimate purposes.
· Personal information stored on hard copy will be secured in locked filing cabinets
· All new staff/volunteers will be advised of privacy and access issues upon induction
5. Openness in relation to the organisations practices:
RCNC, in adhering to a policy of transparency and accountability of practices, will make information regarding the collection of personal information available upon request.
6. Access and correction rights:
All RCNC service users and related non-government and governmental agencies have a legal right to access and correct their personal information. This principle is subject to exemptions such as if this disclosure would compromise a legal investigation.
Please direct any queries to the Managers of The Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre Inc.