Protecting your personal information is of utmost importance to us at Special Children Services Centre (SCSC). We adhere to Australian privacy legislation, ensuring that your personal information is handled with care and in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles.

Our Privacy Statement, which outlines our responsibilities, your rights, the information we may collect, and its usage, is available upon request in hard copy. We aim to provide transparency regarding our practices and ensure you have a clear understanding of how we handle your personal information.

Principles

SCSC strictly complies with the Australian Privacy Principles as set out in the Privacy Act 1988. These principles apply to personal information collected from various sources, including clients/beneficiaries, business partners, donors, members of the public, and SCSC personnel, such as members, volunteers, employees, delegates, candidates for volunteer work, and prospective employees.

Information Collection and Usage

The primary purpose of collecting personal information is to provide services to vulnerable children. This includes activities such as planning, funding, monitoring, and evaluating our services. The specific information collected depends on your relationship with SCSC, whether you are a client, donor, business partner, employee, volunteer, member, or online user of our website.

We collect personal information through various means, including filled-out forms, face-to-face meetings, interviews, telephone calls, facsimiles, emails, and occasionally through the use of contractors or consultants. Only information necessary for SCSC's activities will be collected and recorded, and any information given in confidence will be treated as confidential.

Cookies

To enhance your browsing experience on our website, we may utilise cookies. These small pieces of information are sent by SCSC and stored on your computer's hard drive. Cookies allow us to recognise you as a user when you revisit our website. You can configure your browser settings to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, or notify you when a cookie is sent. Please consult your browser's "help" menu to learn how to adjust your cookie preferences. However, please note that disabling cookies may impact your ability to use our website as intended.

Personal Information Provided by Third Parties

In certain circumstances, SCSC may receive personal information about an individual from third parties, such as references or referrals. Such information will be treated in accordance with this Privacy Statement.

Information Disclosure and Overseas Transfer

SCSC collects, holds, uses, and discloses personal information for specific purposes, which include verifying identities, providing programs and services, managing relationships, processing donations, and communicating with individuals about their contributions and relevant information. We may also disclose information to government or funding bodies, third-party service providers, and overseas recipients if necessary. However, we will not disclose personal information without your permission, except as required or authorised by law or the Australian Privacy Principles.

We take reasonable steps to ensure that overseas recipients of your personal information comply with privacy obligations. This includes the secure transfer, storage, processing, and usage of information.

Management and Security

All SCSC staff are bound by confidentiality agreements and are obligated to respect the privacy of individuals and the confidentiality of information. We take reasonable measures to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and currency of the personal information we collect, use, retain, or disclose. Additionally, we employ safeguards to protect information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.

Access, Correction, and Complaints

At any time, you have the right to request access to and correction of your personal information held by SCSC. If you believe there has been a breach of your privacy, you can make a complaint, submit a query, or express concerns about our information handling processes. To exercise these rights or contact our privacy officer, please write to us at info@specialchildrenservices.org or send a letter to Special Children Services Centre, Unit 20 6-8 Holden Street, Ashfield, NSW 2131. We may require proof of identity to process your request, and we strive to respond within 30 days.

We take privacy complaints seriously and handle them promptly and confidentially. Our privacy officer will initiate an investigation into your complaint, and you will be notified of the outcome within a reasonable period. In case of unresolved privacy concerns, you have the option to escalate the complaint to the Privacy Commissioner, who possesses the authority to conduct investigations and impose penalties or compensation.

Communication Preferences

To update your communication preferences, including opting out of receiving further information from us, please contact us via info@specialchildrenservices.org. We are committed to accommodating your preferences promptly, and it may take up to 28 days for your request to be processed and take effect. If you wish to stop specific communication channels, such as email or text messages, you can use the provided unsubscribe function in those correspondences.

We value your privacy and aim to maintain a high standard of data protection. Should you have any questions or require further information, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.