Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy For Customers:

Volunteering Gold Coast (VGC) is committed to the protection of personal and organisational information in whatever forms it takes, in accordance with all relevant legislation. VGC acknowledges that personal information is sensitive and is committed to accountable, robust, and diligent privacy management processes.
VGC commits to fulfilling its management and reporting obligations in the event that privacy breaches occur.

Guiding Principals

Legislative Compliance:
• VGC respects and upholds the privacy of individuals and affirms the organisation’s commitment to comply with its organisational responsibilities, including those outlined in the Privacy Act 1998 (Cth), the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld), and any other relevant Act;
• A privacy breach occurs when there is a failure to comply with one or more of the Privacy Principles set out in the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld).
VGC’s Privacy Officer:
• The Privacy Officer is a delegate of the Chief Executive Officer and will oversee and direct the organisation’s privacy practices. The Privacy Officer, in collaboration with other managers, will maintain up-to-date knowledge of privacy issues and provide advice and guidance to staff members to ensure legislative compliance is maintained.

Awareness:
In ensuring that all staff members, service recipients, supporters, and stakeholders are aware of their rights and responsibilities in respect to privacy, VGC will ensure that:
• All staff members are aware of and are supported to comply with, any relevant governing legislation and guidelines in relation to privacy through training, advice, and review
• All staff members are made aware of their responsibility to uphold the privacy of service recipients and stakeholders both during and after their employment with VGC
• Service recipients, supporters, and stakeholders are aware of how VGC collects, uses, and stores their personal information
• Service Recipients, supporters, and stakeholders are aware of privacy provisions and have access to this Privacy Policy

Collection and Use:
VGC recognises that the collection of information enhances the organisation’s ability to deliver services. VGC will ensure that robust, accountable processes are developed regarding the collection of this information, ensuring that information sought and used is relevant to the organisation’s business and is appropriately managed. This includes:
Ensuring that service recipients, supporters and stakeholders are aware of the reasons for the collection of information;
• Ensuring that information collected is accurate, up-to-date, and complete;
• Advising how the information will be stored and used;
• Advising how information can be accessed, and
• Obtaining individual consent for the collection of personal information.

Storage and Security:
VGC invests substantial resourcing into the establishment of secure information storage systems and will ensure that service recipients, supporters and stakeholders are aware of how their information is stored. Personal information will not be transferred to third parties outside Australia unless they are subject to similar privacy laws or the consent has been obtained.

Access:
• Any person receiving services has a right to access their personal information and all formal applications will be addressed to the VGC Privacy Officer and responded to within a reasonable period. Regular informal requests for information may be assessed and granted by the Privacy Officer as required, and the Privacy Officer can be consulted as needed.
• Access to employment records are subject to different legislative conditions and, as such, the Privacy Officer and the Chief Executive Officer will manage such situations on a case-by-case basis.

Disclosure:
VGC will use personal information for the purposes intended at the time of collection. Where the information is required for another use or disclosure, VGC will obtain consent for the revised use, unless a reasonable exception exists.

Anonymity:
VGC will support a service recipient’s request to remain anonymous in the provision of personal information where it is reasonable and practicable to do so. VGC will advise recipients, supporters, and stakeholders of the limitations to this prior to the collection of the information.

Complaints and Appeals:

• Service recipients, supporters, and stakeholders will be made aware of their rights to report actual, suspected, or perceived breaches of privacy and how they can make these complaints. These complaints can be lodged internally at a service level or with the Privacy Officer
• External complaints can be lodged with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) or other statutory bodies.

Privacy and Data Breaches:
Privacy breaches can occur because of a technical problem, human error, inadequate policies and training, a misunderstanding of the law, or a deliberate act. Some of the more common privacy breaches happen when personal information is lost, stolen, or mistakenly disclosed (for example, a USB flash drive is lost or an email is sent to unintended recipients)

  • In the event of a privacy breach, VGC has a legal obligation under the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) to manage and report the breach – see ORG PROC – Privacy and Data Breaches.

Related Documents:
Human Services Quality Standards Aged Care Quality Standards Disability Services Act 2006 (Qld) Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth), Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) VGC Policy and Procedures Manual, ORG PROC – Privacy and Data Breaches.

Privacy Policy For Website Users:

This Privacy Policy explains how Volunteering Gold Coast Ltd ABN 47 631 886 431 (‘VGC’) deals with privacy issues relating to personal information which is provided by a person or entity (‘User’) who uses the website (‘Website’).

This Privacy Policy will describe:

  • How VGC will collect and handle a User’s personal information;
  • The kinds of personal information that VGC will collect and store;
  • The purpose for which VGC collects personal information.

The User’s Agreement to this Privacy Policy

By using the Website a User consents to the privacy practices as disclosed in this Privacy Policy noting that personal information about the User may be collected by VGC or its Associates in accordance with this Privacy Policy:

  • To contact the User in response to a query or feedback from the User or due to the information provided by the User;
  • To enable VGC or an Associate of VGC to provide the User with information;
  • To search and apply for volunteering positions or volunteering opportunities;
  • For any other purpose at VGC’s sole discretion.

Personal Information

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy personal information includes:

  • The User’s name;
  • The User’s contact details including telephone numbers, address and email address;
  • The User’s age, employment details, and other private information;
  • Any information the User enters into or provides to the Website.

Collecting the User’s Personal Information

VGC will not collect personal information about a User without that User’s consent and will only collect that personal information that a User voluntarily provides to VGC or makes available to VGC. 

The use of third party cookies may be used for remarketing purposes via Facebook. You will be advised of this when you enter the website and are given the opportunity to opt-out of this if you choose. 

Protecting the User’s Personal Information

VGC will take all reasonable steps to protect the User’s personal information from loss, misuse, and unauthorised access.

VGC will also destroy or de-identify any personal information which belongs to a User if that User requests that VGC do so.

Use of personal information for research purposes

VGC may use a User’s de-identified personal information for research purposes without obtaining the User’s consent.

Individuals’ Right of Access

A User can request to delete or amend any personal information stored by VGC or its Associates by contacting VGC. VGC will take all reasonable steps to allow a user to access the User’s personal information unless such access would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of other individuals and other Users.

VGC reserves the right to amend and update this Privacy Policy at any time without giving notice.