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Privacy policy

CFA commitment

The Continence Foundation of Australia (CFA) Limited is committed to complying with all relevant Commonwealth and State legislation governing its operations. This includes the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 that came into effect on 21 December 2001 and the National Privacy Principles. This Act:

  1. amends the Privacy Act 1988 by broadening its scope to protect the privacy of personal information held by organisations in the private sector, and
  2. regulates the appropriate collection, holding, use, alteration, disclosure and transfer of personal information by organisations in the private sector.

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information held by the CFA and explains how the Privacy Principles may apply to you.

Personal information

Personal Information means information or an opinion about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonable be ascertained, from the information or opinion, other than certain health or generally available information.

CFA holds personal information about:

  1. members of the CFA
  2. donors to the CFA, and
  3. members of the public who contact the CFA or the National Continence Helpline to discuss information on incontinence and related matters or request that printed information be sent to them.

Data collection

CFA will only collect information that is required to carry out its functions and activities. All personal information collected by the CFA is handled with care and diligence.

Type of personal information collected

The type of personal information collected by the CFA may include a person's date of birth, current and previous addresses, contact details, membership, subscription and donor history or credit card details. Due to CFA's management of the National Continence Helpline, individuals or their representative may also provide the CFA with sensitive medical and health information.

How personal information is collected

The CFA will only collect personal information about you with your prior knowledge and consent. The CFA collects personal information by phone, email or in document such as membership application forms and bequest letters.

The CFA has its own website. You may access the website homepage and browse the site without needing to disclose personal information. The site does not use cookies (a cookie is a block of data that is shared between a web server and a user's browser. A cookie enables the server to collect information about a user's identity, access history and preferences). The CFA's Privacy Policy does not apply to any websites that are linked to the CFA website over which the CFA has no control.

Use and Disclosure

The CFA will only use personal information provided by you for the purpose for which it is collected. This may include to:

  1. provide members with the services required
  2. administer and manage these member services, including charging, billing and collecting and paying debts
  3. assess and respond to specific requests for information
  4. gain an understanding of needs so that the CFA can provide improved services
  5. research and develop the CFA's services
  6. quality control purposes
  7. enable individuals to participate in activities or promotions, or
  8. create aggregated de-identified data, such as age, gender and other statistics, to comply with the CFA's reporting requirements to the Australian Government relating to Government funded projects and the National Continence Helpline.

The CFA will not disclose personal information to a third party unless it is:

  1. necessary to provide the services or information requested
  2. to meet the purpose for which it was collected
  3. to the extent necessary, to carry out the uses set out above, or
  4. required by law; or consented to by the individual providing the personal information.

Sensitive health or medical information is never disclosed to a third party without your express consent.

Accuracy and Security

The CFA will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information collected, used and disclosed is accurate, complete and current. Individuals who have provided personal information can assist by notifying the CFA of changes to their personal details.

The CFA will endeavour to maintain a secure system for storing personal information. All reasonable steps will be taken to protect the personal information provided by individuals from misuse, loss and unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure. Personal information that is no longer used or relevant will be destroyed or de-identified.

Unfortunately data transmissions over the internet cannot be guaranteed to be totally secure. Therefore the CFA cannot warrant the security, integrity or privacy of the personal information submitted in this way.

Access and Correction

You have a right to access and, if necessary, to correct, complete or update the personal information provided to and held by the CFA. Should you wish to access your personal information, make a correction, or seek further information about privacy, please contact the CFA's Privacy Officer:

The Privacy Officer
Continence Foundation of Australia
Level 1, 30-32 Sydney Rd
Brunswick VIC 3056

Tel: (03) 9347 2522
Fax: (03) 9347 2533
Email: info@continence.org.au

For security reasons, personal identification documentation (such as driver's license or passport) and a written request for access may be required.

Anonymity

In transactions with the CFA, it is preferred individuals provide personal information due to practical reasons, such as the delivery of information and referral to local services. Where lawful and practicable, the CFA will agree to the option of individuals not identifying themselves.

External contractors

CFA staff usually handles personal information, however certain functions may be outsourced to contractors. It is understood that these contractors are required to comply with the Privacy Act in all respects.

Complaints

The CFA is committed to responding to all complaints fairly. We recognise complaints can provide valuable information on the provision of our services. If you are not satisfied with the CFA's handling of your personal information, you may make a complaint to the CFA's Privacy Officer (Telephone: 03 9347 2522). Your complaint will be attended to as soon as possible.

Should you feel that your complaint has not been properly managed or adequately resolved by the CFA, complaints may be directed to the Privacy Commissioner.

Office of the Privacy Commissioner (Australia)

Tel: 1300 363 992 (for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia)

TTY: 1800 620 241 (this number is dedicated for the hearing impaired only, no voice calls)

Post: GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001

Fax: +61 2 9284 9666

E-mail: privacy@privacy.gov.au

© 2012 CFA. National Continence Helpline freecall 1800 33 00 66