Privacy Statement
This is the web site of Guide Dogs Victoria, ABN 68 004 621 461
Postal Address Private Bag 13, Kew, Victoria 3101.
We can be reached via e-mail at info@guidedogsvictoria.com.au or by telephone to +61 3 9854 4444.
Privacy
Guide Dogs Victoria has a firm commitment to privacy and endorses fair information handling practices. We respect the trust you place in us when you provide us with personal details.
Guide Dogs Victoria is also a member of the Australian Direct Marketing Association and agrees to abide by the ADMA Code of Practice.
In summary :
· We are committed to protecting your privacy
· Guide Dogs Victoria will not disclose, sell, trade or rent your details to any other party.
· All information provided remains confidential within the constraints of the Privacy legislation.
Guide Dogs Victoria welcomes your questions and comments on our privacy policy, or if you wish to discuss and/or amend your details, please telephone our Privacy Officer, Michelle Piggott on +61 3 9854 4444 or by email at michelle.p@guidedogs.asn.au
Please read on for more detail about our privacy policy.
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Statement sets out our policies and practices in relation to the way we collect and handle personal information which is consistent with the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988, the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 and Victorian Government policy and legislation.
We encourage you to check our privacy statement regularly as this Privacy Statement may be reviewed and changed from time to time.
Background
Our mission is to provide Guide Dog and specialist mobility services that will enrich the quality of life of people in the Victorian community who are vision impaired. All our services, including Guide Dogs, are provided free of charge to our clients.
How we collect and use information
We collect personal information from a variety of sources, such as when individuals
· make an application to receive a service
· receive a service or follow-up training
· attend a fundraising event or activity
· respond to our mailing program
· respond to a telemarketing call
· voluntarily provide us with personal information
· make a donation to us
· join a supporters group such as the Guide Dog Club
· become staff members or volunteers of the Association
We collect different types of information for different reasons. For example we collect details so that we can:
· contact people
· send information which has been requested · offer and arrange provision of a service · seek additional support to help fund the services we provide for people with vision impairment · manage staff, volunteers, and the services they provide
We may also collect information for statistical purposes about services provided and demographic data (optional), so we can tailor the information we provide to our supporters.
We collect financial information (such as credit card information) in order to receive payment for donations and/or orders for Guide Dog products.
We sometimes provide statistical information to our sponsors without identifying any individuals.
We sometimes collect information about potential supporters, sponsors or members from information that is publicly available to help us develop our donor, sponsorship and membership programs.
Sensitive information
We do not collect any information about racial or ethnic origin, health, political opinions or membership, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade association or union membership, sexual preferences or criminal record, unless:
· the individual has consented, (eg Police background checks on potential volunteers and staff who will be working with clients, or details required to provide effective service to clients), or
· the collection is required by law, or
· the collection is necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of a person, or
· the collection is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of a legal claim.
Policy on management of client information
Guide Dogs Victoria observes policies on the management of client information that meet the requirements of the Victorian State Disability Service Standards, as well as the Commonwealth and Victorian Privacy Legislation. Association wide procedures and adherence to these standards and legislation ensures integrity, security and controlled access to clients' records and other confidential records. All our client policies recognise and respect each client's right to privacy, dignity and confidentiality in all aspects of his or her life.
We ensure that all clients and their families enjoy:
· freedom from intrusion and public attention
· being treated with honour, respect and dignity thereby reflecting their culture, community and providing a positive influence for their self esteem
· an assurance that written and spoken information is protected from access and use by unauthorised persons.
OTHER USE AND DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
Treatment as confidential information
We treat personal information which we collect from individuals in the same way we treat our other confidential information. We will not sell to anyone the information we collect. We will not disclose to a third party the information we collect, except where it is necessary for consultants or contractors performing services for the Association, and then only if the third party:
· first enters into appropriate confidentiality undertakings with us, or
· has a privacy policy which is similar to ours.
GDV may provide statistical information on clients to government departments without identifying any individuals.
Secondary use of information / Marketing and Fundraising
As Guide Dogs Victoria receives minimal government funding, we depend on financial support from the community to continue providing our services. This means it is necessary for the Association to undertake a range of fundraising activities. By law we are required to maintain detailed financial records for seven years for taxation purposes, including details about donors and a record of their support.
Guide Dogs Victoria has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a deductible gift recipient and income tax exempt charity (a not for profit organization).
When you make a donation to Guide Dogs Victoria, a receipt is provided. Your details are held securely and are only used for fundraising activities. We understand that there may be times when you are not in a position to make a gift - and you can ask us not to contact you and we will respect your wish.
We may use or disclose personal information which we collect from you for a purpose (the "secondary purpose") which is different from the primary purpose of collection, if it is permitted under the Privacy Legislation, only for example if:
· the information is health information - for example, the use or disclosure is necessary for research or the compilation or analysis of statistics relevant to public health or safety
· you would reasonably expect us to so use or disclose such information
· you have given us specific consent to do so
· we are required to do so by law
· it is necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of a person, or
· it is a necessary part of an investigation of unlawful activity
Internal security
Guide Dogs Victoria's network system has a firewall that is designed to protect information held within our computer network by preventing unauthorised access to our computer network. Our Association wide procedures and document and data management systems ensure that personal information is handled in a way that is consistent with our privacy policy.
Your right to access and correct information
We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information which we collect, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up to date.
You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you. If the information we hold is not accurate, complete and up to date, you can ask us to modify our records.
You can make a request to access the information we keep about you by contacting the GDV Privacy Officer:
Michelle Piggott
Guide Dogs Victoria
Private Bag 13, Kew Vic 3101
Tel. (03) 9854 4444
Fax (03) 9854 4500
Email: info@guidedogsvictoria.com.au
Our right to refuse
However, we reserve the right to refuse a request if:
· you have not paid our prescribed fee for accessing the information, or
· we consider your request to be frivolous or vexatious, or
· to do so is likely to prejudice an investigation of possible unlawful activity, or
· to do so will be unlawful, or
· we are otherwise legally entitled to deny your request (whether under the Information Privacy Principles, or generally at law).
Use of a mutually agreed intermediary may allow sufficient access to meet the needs of both parties.
If we refuse your request to either access your personal information, or modify our records, we will provide you with the reasons for our refusal in writing.
Statement of claim
If:
· you consider that the personal information which we hold about you is not accurate, complete and up to date, and
· we refuse your request to modify our records, we will post a statement of your claim at the place where we hold your personal information.
Using our website / contacting us by email
We will only record your e-mail address if you send us a message. It will only be used for the purpose for which it was provided - for example seeking further information about our services or making a referral for yourself or another individual. It will not be added to a mailing list unless you request that this be done. We will not disclose your e-mail address without consent.
By using our web site, and voluntarily providing us with personal information, you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information in the manner described in this Privacy Statement.
E-Payment security
Security with e-payment on our site is achieved through encryption and system design. Additionally, the e-payment system does not store customers' credit card details on a server or database. Communication with your bank is real time and the credit card number is deleted once the communication to the bank has been completed. At no time does the web merchant see any credit card details. Whilst we have taken all steps reasonably possible to ensure the security of your credit card details - including high level encryption - you must bear the risk of trading on-line.
If you do not wish to disclose your credit card details over the internet, you can phone freecall within Australia on 1800 804 805 with your credit card details. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Australian Bankcard.
Cookies
We only use cookies for e-payment transactions, and on these occasions the cookie contains no personal information. Cookies are not used for secure transactions.
A 'cookie' is a small data file that resides on your computer's hard drive. Some web sites write to this file when you visit them. A cookie file can contain information such as your user ID in order to track the pages you have visited. A cookie cannot access other information from your hard drive, or from cookies created by other web sites. Cookies, by themselves, cannot be used to find out the identity of any user. The only personal information a cookie can contain is information you supply yourself.
Links to other web sites
Our web site contains links to other sites. Guide Dogs Victoria is not responsible for the privacy practices of other web sites and their operators.
Contact details
We encourage you to check our privacy statement on our Website as this Privacy Statement may change from time to time. We will post any changes on this page.
If you have any questions or comments about our Privacy Statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this site, you may contact our privacy officer:
Michelle Piggott
Guide Dogs Victoria
Chandler Highway, (Postal address) Private Bag 13
Kew ,Victoria 3101
Tel. (03) 9854 4444
Fax (03) 9854 4500
