Privacy

Policy Statement

Homelessness NSW is committed to protecting and upholding the right to privacy of clients, staff, volunteers, Board members and representatives of agencies we deal with.

Homelessness NSW requires staff, volunteers and Board members to be consistent and careful in the way they manage what is written and said about individuals and member organisations and how they decide who can see or hear this information.

Homelessness NSW will follow the guidelines of the Australian Privacy Principles in its information management practices.

Homelessness NSW will ensure that:

• it meets its legal and ethical obligations as an employer and service provider in relation to protecting the privacy of member organisations and organisations
• Clients and member organisations are provided with information about their rights regarding
• Clients and organisational personnel are provided with privacy when they are being interviewed or discussing matters of a personal or sensitive
• All staff, Board members and volunteers understand what is required in meeting these obligations

This policy conforms to the Federal Privacy Act (1988) and the Australian Privacy Principles1 which govern the collection, use and storage of personal and organisational information.

This policy will apply to all records, whether hard copy or electronic, containing personal information about individuals or member organisations.

Procedures

Dealing with information

In dealing with personal and member organisational information, Homelessness NSW will:

• ensure privacy for clients, staff, volunteers or Board members when they are being interviewed or discussing matters of a personal or sensitive nature
• only collect and store personal or member organisation information that is necessary for the functioning of the organisation and its activities
• use fair and lawful ways to collect personal and organisational information
• collect personal and organisational information only by consent from an individual or organisational representative with authority to do so
• ensure that people know what sort of personal or organisational information is held, what purposes it is held it for and how it is collected, used, disclosed and who will have access to it
• ensure that personal organisational information collected or disclosed is accurate, complete and up-to- date, and provide access to any individual to review information or correct wrong information about themselves
• take reasonable steps to protect all personal or organisational information from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure
• destroy or permanently de-identify personal or organisational information no longer needed and/or after legal requirements for retaining documents have

Responsibilities for managing privacy

• All staff are responsible for the management of personal or organisational information to which they have access, and in the conduct of research, consultation or advocacy
• The CEO is responsible for content in Homelessness NSW publications, communications and web site and must ensure the following:
  • appropriate consent is obtained for the inclusion of any personal information about any individual including Homelessness NSW personnel
  • information being provided by other agencies or external individuals conforms to privacy principles
  • that the website contains a Privacy statement that makes clear the conditions of any collection of personal information from the public through their visit to the
• The CEO is responsible for safeguarding personal information relating to Homelessness NSW staff, Board members, volunteers, contractors and Homelessness NSW
• The Privacy Contact Officer: The Privacy Contact Officer will be the CEO. The CEO will be responsible for:
  • ensuring that all staff are familiar with the Privacy Policy and administrative procedures for handling personal information
  • ensuring that relevant individuals are provided with information about their rights regarding privacy
  • handling any queries or complaint about a privacy issue