Privacy Policy

Access Sydney Community Transport Ltd (ABN 23 985 892007) (‘Access Sydney’) is committed to responsible privacy practices and to complying with the Australian Privacy Principles (APP) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (‘Privacy Act’). This privacy policy describes how we manage personal and sensitive information including how we collect personal information and the purposes for which we use this information in accordance with the Privacy Act and the Privacy and Personal Information Act 1998 (NSW). We may change our Privacy Policy from time to time at our discretion. At any time, the latest version of our Privacy Policy is available from our website at www.accesssydney.org.au.

Types of Information

The Privacy Act 1998 (Cth)(Privacy Act) defines types of information, including Personal Information and Sensitive Information.

Personal Information means information or an opinion about an identified individual or an individual who is reasonably identifiable:

1. whether the information or opinion it is true or not; and
2. whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not.

If the information does not disclose your identity or enable your identity to be ascertained, it will in most cases be classified as “Personal Information” and will not be subject to this privacy policy.

Sensitive Information is defined in the Privacy Act as including 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 only be used:

1. for the primary purpose for which it was obtained;
2. for a secondary purpose that is directly related to the primary purpose; and
3. with your consent or where required or authorised by law.

What information do we collect?

For the purposes of providing community transport services:

In order to provide appropriate transport services, we may collect personal and sensitive information about individual service users, for example, name, address, age, health/medical and mobility issues. This information is collected directly and voluntarily from service users, or from referring organisations or individuals with the service user’s consent.

You do not have to provide us with the information we request. However, if you do not provide the requested information, we may not be able to provide a service to you.

Who will collect personal information?

Service user information, including personal and sensitive information, will be collected by appropriately trained and qualified staff at Access Sydney. All staff and volunteers are subject to a Confidentiality Agreement.

How will personal information be used?

Any information collected will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected. We will not disclose personal information to any third party without the individual’s consent (for personal and sensitive information).

Exceptions to this are:

• If required by law
• If there is believed to be a serious threat of harm to an adult or child
• If required in relation to an insurance claim or proposal

Unless you inform us otherwise, we may use your name and email address to send occasional newsletters and other communications which provide information and updates on services.

It is our policy to only email individuals and organisations who give us permission to do so. If we send you an email for marketing purposes, we will give you the option of not receiving further communications of this nature and instructions on how to unsubscribe.

Access Sydney Community Transport Inc. does not send information overseas to third parties for IT/electronic data storage. We will never sell information to third parties.

Government reporting

As Access Sydney receives funding from the Government, we are required to provide regular reports to the Commonwealth and State Government which include de-identified, aggregated data.

How will personal information be stored?

Personal information will be stored electronically on computers which are password protected and/or hard copies will be stored in locked filing cabinets. Only authorised personnel of Access Sydney have access to personal information.

How will personal information be disposed of?

Once your information is no longer required for the purpose for which the information was disclosed, we will take reasonable steps to destroy the information. Potentially sensitive personal information will be deleted from the computer system and hard copies will be shredded. We follow applicable laws and regulations regarding the period of retention of records and information. Our files and records are kept for a minimum of seven years to fulfill our record keeping obligations.

How will data be maintained?

We maintain and update personal information when we are advised by individuals that their personal information has changed or when we become aware of changed information through our service delivery processes (such as re-assessment).

We audit contact lists to check the currency of the information. We will remove contact information of individuals who advise us that they no longer wish to be contacted.

Access and correction of information

Subject to some exceptions which are set out in the APP (Principles 12 and 13 – Access and Correction), individuals have a right to see and have a copy of personal and sensitive information about them that we hold.

To access your information or request a correction:

Contact
Client Services
Access Sydney Community Transport Ltd
Unit 48/378 Parramatta Road
Homebush West 2140
Email: admin@accesssydney.com.au

Phone
02 8241 8000
(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

For security reasons, individuals will be required to put their request in writing and provide proof of identity to ensure protection of information.

If we deny access to information, we will set out reasons for denying access in writing. Where there is a dispute about the right of access to information or forms of access, this will be dealt with in accordance with our Complaints Policy.

If an individual advises that personal or sensitive information that we hold about them is not accurate, complete and up to date, we will take reasonable steps to correct it. If we are unable to agree that personal or sensitive information that we hold about an individual is incorrect, the individual concerned may ask us to place with the information a statement by them that claims that particular information is incorrect.

Making a complaint

If you have any complaints about our handling of personal information including any contravention of the APP, please email or mail your complaint to the contact provided below. We will acknowledge your complaint within 2 days and we aim to resolve complaints within 2 weeks. We may seek further information from you to clarify your concerns.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint, you have the right to take your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: www.oaic.gov.au

Contact details

If you have any questions about this policy, or wish to discuss any personal information held by us:

Contact
Chief Executive Officer
Access Sydney Community Transport Ltd
Unit 48/378 Parramatta Road
Homebush West 2140
Email: admin@accesssydney.com.au

Phone
02 8241 8000
(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

For more information

For more information about the Australian Privacy Principles please go to the Australian Government Office of the Information Commissioner website at www.oaic.gov.au