Your privacy is important to us
This statement outlines the Diocese’s policy on how it uses and manages personal information provided to or collected by it.
The Diocese may from time to time review and update this policy to comply with all relevant legislation and to take account of changes in technology and changes to the Diocese’s operations and practices.
This Diocese is not bound by the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000. However, the Diocese respects and values the personal information entrusted to it, and will abide by the spirit and principles of the Privacy legislation.
What kind of personal information does the Diocese collect and how does it collect it?
The Diocese collects and holds personal information, including sensitive information about:
- Children and their parents and/or guardians. This information may be related to the spiritual and pastoral care of children, including administration of the sacraments.
- Adults receiving sacraments or pastoral care or acting as eucharistic assistants.
- Job applicants, staff members, volunteers and contractors.
- Members of religious congregations who are undertaking work in the Diocese.
- Fundraising.
Personal information you provide.
The Diocese will generally collect personal information held about an individual in one of the following ways:
- forms completed either by the person or by a parent/guardian,
- face to face meetings,
- interviews,
- telephone calls.
Personal information provided by other people.
In some circumstances the Diocese may be provided with personal information about an individual from a third party, e.g. a reference about an applicant for a position.
Exception in relation to employee records.
This policy does not apply in relation to the treatment of an employee record, where the information is directly related to a current or former employment relationship between the Diocese and the employee. These records are specifically exempt from the application of the Commonwealth Privacy Act.
How will the Diocese use the personal information you provide?
The Diocese will use personal information you provide for:
- the provision of religious services to its community (the primary purpose),or
- such other secondary purposes as are related to the primary purpose, or
- any other purpose to which you have consented.
Children and their parents and/or guardians.
The Diocese’s primary purpose of collection of information about children and their parents and/or guardians is to enable it to provide spiritual and pastoral care, including administration of the sacraments, to children of the faithful. Information may also need to be collected if the Diocese offers play groups or social/sporting facilities. The purposes for which the Diocese uses personal information of children and their parents and/or guardians include:
- Keeping parents and/or guardians informed about matters relating to the child’s spiritual life
- Day to day administration
- Seeking donations
- Satisfying the Diocese’s legal obligations and allowing the Diocese to discharge its duty of care.
In some cases where the Diocese requests personal information about a child or parent and/or guardian and the information is not obtained, the child may not be able to receive the sacrament or be enrolled in the Diocese program for which the information was requested.
Where the Diocese is collecting information of this kind, it will issue a copy of its standard collection notice (attachment 1).
Adults.
The Diocese’s primary purpose of collection is to enable it to provide spiritual and pastoral care, including administration of the sacraments, to adult parishioners. Information is used for purposes similar to those relating to children.
Where the Diocese is collecting information of this kind, it will issue a copy of its standard collection notice (attachment 1).
Job applicants, staff members, members of religious congregations, volunteers and contractors.
The primary purpose of collection is to assess the suitability of the person or persons for a particular role in the Diocese and, if successful, employ or engage the person or persons concerned.
The purposes for which the Diocese uses this information include:
- Administering the person’s employment or contract.
- Insurance requirements.
- the Diocese’s legal obligations.
Fundraising.
One specific purpose of collecting information is for raising funds now and into the future. This information is also used for accounting purposes, including complying with taxation requirements.
Where the Diocese is collecting information of this kind, it will issue a copy of its standard collection notice (attachment 1).
To whom might the Diocese disclose personal information?
Subject to the Privacy Act, the Diocese may disclose personal information held about an individual to:
- Another Diocese
- The Diocesan Office of The Anglican Diocese of North West Australia
- Government departments
- Medical practitioners
- People providing services to the Diocese
- Recipients of Diocese publications
- Parents and/or guardians
- Anyone you authorise the Diocese to disclose information to.
The Diocese will not send personal information about an individual outside Australia without:
- Obtaining the consent of the individual (in some cases this consent will be implied), and
- Otherwise complying with the National Privacy Principles.
How does the Diocese treat sensitive information?
In the Diocese context, sensitive information could mean information relating to a person’s parentage, racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion, trade union or other professional or trade association membership, sexual preferences or criminal record.
Sensitive information will be used and disclosed only for the purposes for which it was provided, or for a directly related secondary purpose, unless you agree otherwise, or the use or disclosure of the sensitive information is allowed by law.
Management and security of personal information
Diocesan staff are required to respect the confidentiality of personal information and the privacy of individuals.
The Diocese has in place steps to protect the personal information the Diocese holds from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure by use of various methods including locked storage of paper records and pass worded access rights to computerised records.
Updating personal information
The Diocese endeavours to ensure that the personal information it holds is accurate, complete, and up to date. A person may seek to update their personal information held by the Diocese by contacting the Diocese at any time.
The National Privacy principles require the Diocese not to store personal information longer than necessary.
You have the right to check what personal information the Diocese holds about you
Under the Commonwealth Privacy Act, and with some exceptions, an individual has the right to obtain access to any personal information that the Diocese holds about them, and to advise the Diocese of any perceived inaccuracy. Children will generally have access to their personal information through their parents and/or guardians.
To make a request to access any information the Diocese holds about you or your child, please contact the diocese in writing.
The Diocese may require you to verify your identity and specify what information you require. The Diocese may charge a fee to cover the cost of verifying your application and locating, retrieving, reviewing and copying any material requested.
Consent and right of access to the personal information of children
The Diocese respects every parent and/or guardian’s right to make decisions concerning their children’s religious upbringing and care.
Generally, the Diocese will refer any requests for consent and notices in relation to personal information of a child to the parent and/or guardian. The Diocese will treat consent given by a parent and/or guardian as consent given on behalf of the child, and notices to parents and/or guardians will act as notices given to the child.
Enquiries
If you would like further information about the way the Diocese manages the personal information it holds, please contact the diocese.