SILC Privacy Statement

Appendix 1 – SILC Privacy Statement

Our policy is to respect and protect your privacy and confidentiality. This Privacy Statement tells you the kinds of personal information we collect and hold, how and why we collect and hold that information and how we use it. It also tells you how you can access and amend your personal information, how to change your consent and how you may make a complaint if you think that we have breached our privacy obligations.

In dealing with personal information, we abide by our legal obligations such as the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Rules. 

Types of information that we collect

We collect and hold information that is necessary for us to provide supports and services to you and carry out our operations. It includes personal information about you and our employees.

Personal information is information or an opinion about an individual whose identity is reasonably identifiable. Examples include a person’s name, address, date of birth and details about their health or disabilities.

We may also collect ‘health information’ as defined under the Privacy Act, such as doctors you are seeing or health services you are receiving. We will only collect the minimal and necessary amount that is required to provide supports and services and carry out our operations.

How we collect your information

Most of the information that we hold is collected directly from you. We sometimes collect personal information from a third party if you have given us permission to do this, such as collecting information from an allied health professional.

How we use and disclose your information

We collect, hold, use and disclose personal information for the purpose of providing services and supports, conducting our operations, communicating with health service providers, and complying with our legal obligations. For example, sharing information with support coordinators where this is required to deliver services under the your NDIS plan; and to assist health service providers develop your plans.

We do not rent, trade or sell your information. We do not send your personal information overseas.

We will not share any of your personal information with third parties without your permission unless:

This is required or authorised by law, including under the NDIS Act and NDIS Rules
It will prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to someone’s life or health
We believe in good faith that the above situations are genuine and disclosure is necessary to comply with law and cooperate with law enforcement

Storage of your information

We take the security and confidentiality of your information very seriously. We have systems and procedures in place to protect personal information from misuse and loss, as well as from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. These steps include:

All information is stored electronically within secure network storage. Paper-based information is shredded or disposed in security bins once saved electronically
Staff may only access that information which is necessary to perform their role
When no longer required, personal information is destroyed in a secure manner, archived or deleted
All staff are trained in their privacy and confidentiality obligations and have signed a declaration to meet these obligations as part of their employment

Accessing your information, and withdrawing or amending your permission

You can request access to the personal information that we hold about you, and you can ask that we change this information. If you establish that the personal information that we hold about you is not accurate, complete and up to date, we will take steps to make sure that this is rectified.

You can withdraw your consent or amend your prior consent at any time by contacting us below.

How to contact us

Please contact us on staff@silc.coop if you want to:

Access your personal information
Withdraw or amend your prior consent
Discuss your questions about this policy
Lodge a complaint if you think your information has been mishandled

If you are not happy with how we have resolved your complaint, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. 