Privacy Policy

STATEMENT ON THE COLLECTION, USE AND CONTROL OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

Introduction

Universities Australia is an ‘organisation’ within the meaning of the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth).  The Privacy Act regulates how organisations collect, use, keep, secure and disclose personal information.  Universities Australia is bound by the Act including the National Privacy Principles set out in the Act. The Act is available for perusal at http://www.privacy.gov.au/act/index.html.

The National Privacy Principles aim to ensure that organisations that hold information about people handle that information responsibly. They also give people some control over the way information about them is handled.

Why we have this Policy

Universities Australia takes its obligations to protect privacy very seriously. This policy statement has been prepared to help us to comply with our privacy obligations and to inform you of your privacy rights.

Privacy Compliance

Our policy is to comply in all respects with our privacy obligations. This policy is binding on Universities Australia as an organisation as well as on our staff and officers.

Definition

Under the Privacy Act 1988 personal information is defined as:

Within this definition there is no distinction as to the source of the information or the forms in which it is held.  It is personal information whether it is provided by an individual, an organisation or generated by Universities Australia.

Collection, use and control of personal information

Universities Australia:

1. collects and uses personal information only where it is necessary for one or more of our functions and activities;
2. when collecting personal information, will do so only by lawful and fair means and not in an unreasonably intrusive way;
3. when collecting information that is regarded under the Privacy Act as sensitive or health information, will collect it only from the person concerned and with his or her consent;
4. at or before the time we collect personal information (or if that is not practicable, as soon as practicable thereafter) will provide the person it concerns with a statement outlining basic facts about us and our information handling practices as required by the Privacy Act;
5. take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information we collect, store, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up to date; and
6. will take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse and loss, and unauthorised access, modification and disclosure in accordance with this Policy and the Privacy Act.

Requests for access to and correction of your personal information

You have a right of access to your personal information.

You may request copies of the personal information we hold about you by writing to us or contacting us during our usual office hours.

If you make such a request, we may ask you to complete a form for this purpose.  There is no charge for lodging a request for access to your information, but we may make a small charge for our time involved in providing this access and for associated costs such as photocopying.  Access may be withheld, or provided in particular ways, where the Privacy Act allows this to be done.

If you are aware that your personal information we hold is out of date, incomplete or inaccurate, please let us now.  We will correct any incorrect personal information and we will not refuse to make a correction without giving you our reasons.  However, if we do refuse to make a correction, we will take reasonable steps to place with the disputed information a statement from you saying that in your opinion it is out of date, incomplete or inaccurate.

Privacy Officer

To assist the proper and fair application of the policy, and to assist you if you have any concerns or inquiries, Universities Australia nominates Mrs Rosemary Hurley Office Manager to handle issues relating to privacy and confidentiality.