Act Right Now Counselling Services is committed to providing quality services to you, and this policy outlines our ongoing obligations to you regarding how we manage your Personal Information.
We have adopted the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act). The APPs govern how we collect, use, disclose, store, secure, and dispose of your Personal Information.
A copy of the Australian Privacy Principles may be obtained from the website of The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.aoic.gov.au.
WHAT IS PERSONAL INFORMATION, AND WHY DO WE COLLECT IT? Personal Information is Information or an opinion that identifies an individual. Examples of Personal Information we collect include names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers.
This Personal Information is obtained in many ways, including membership applications, renewal notices, interviews, correspondence, by telephone, email, via our website theaca.net.au, from your website, media and publications, other publicly available sources, and third parties. We do not guarantee website links or the policy of authorized third parties.
We collect your Personal Information to provide our counselling services, improve client communication, and market relevant services. We may also use your Personal Information for secondary purposes closely related to the primary goal in circumstances where you reasonably expect such use or disclosure. You may unsubscribe from our mailing/marketing lists at any time by contacting us in writing or unsubscribing at the bottom of the newsletter/communication.
When we collect Personal Information, we will, where appropriate and where possible, explain to you why we are collecting the Information and how we plan to use it.
SENSITIVE INFORMATION Sensitive Information is defined in the Privacy Act to include Information or opinion about such things as an individual’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of a political association, religious or philosophical beliefs, membership of a trade union or other professional body, criminal record, or health information.
Sensitive Information will be used by us only:
- For the primary purpose for which it was obtained.
- For a secondary purpose that is directly related to the primary goal.
- With your consent or where required or authorized by law.
THIRD PARTIES Where reasonable and practicable to do so, we will collect your Personal Information only from you. However, in some circumstances, third parties may provide us with Information. In such cases, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that you are made aware of the Information provided to us by the third party.
DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION Your Personal Information may be disclosed in several circumstances, including the following:
- Third parties where you consent to the use or disclosure.
- Where required or authorized by law.
SECURITY OF PERSONAL INFORMATION Your Personal Information is stored in a manner that reasonably protects it from misuse, loss, and unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure. We implement security measures such as encryption, restricted access, and regular data backups to safeguard your Information.
When your Personal Information is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was obtained, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify your Personal Information. However, most of the Personal Information is or will be stored in client files, which we will keep for a minimum of 7 years.
ACCESS TO YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION You have the right to access the Personal Information we hold about you and update and correct it, subject to certain exceptions. To access your Personal Information, please get in touch with us in writing.
Act Right Now Counselling Services will not charge any fee for your access request but may charge an administrative fee for providing a hard copy of your Personal Information,
