Privacy Policy

Policy Statement

 

The Workforce Council is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information which the organisation collects, holds and administers. The Workforce Council is also committed to safeguarding written and verbal information which is confidential within the domain of its operations and activities. The policy applies to all Workforce Council staff including the Board and its members.

 

 

 

Regulatory or Statutory Compliance

 

The Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth)

Criminal Law (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act 1986

 

 

Practice Principles

 

• All information gained by the Workforce Council should be used for the purpose intended and not misused.

 

• The Workforce Council recognises the essential right of individuals to have their information administered in ways which they would reasonably expect - protected on one hand, and made accessible to them on the other.  These privacy values are supported by our core values and philosophies.

 

• The Workforce Council has adopted the respective Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 as minimum standards in relation to handling personal information.

 

In broad terms this means that we:

• Collect only information which the organisation requires for its primary function
• Ensure that stakeholders are informed as to why we collect the information and how we administer the information gathered
• Use and disclose personal information only for our primary functions or a directly related purpose, or for another purpose with the person's consent
• Store personal information securely, protecting it from unauthorised access and
• Provide stakeholders with access to their own information, and the right to seek its correction.

 

Collection

 

The Workforce Council will:

• Only collect information that is necessary for the performance and primary function of the Workforce Council.
• Notify stakeholders about why we collect the information and how it is administered.
• Notify stakeholders that this information is accessible to them.

 

Use and Disclosure

 

The Workforce Council will:

• Only use or disclose information for the primary purpose for which it was collected or a directly related secondary purpose.
• For other uses we will obtain consent from the affected person.
• In specific circumstances, release information to assist police enquiries, ATO and Centrelink.

 

Data Quality

 

The Workforce Council will:

• Take reasonable steps to ensure the information we collect is accurate, complete, up-to-date, and relevant to the functions we perform.

 

Data Security and Retention

 

The Workforce Council will:

• Safeguard the information we collect and store against misuse, loss, unauthorised access and modification.
• Only destroy records in accordance with theRecords Management Policy which meets the requirements of the Quality Management System and is endorsed by the Board

 

Openness

 

The Workforce Council will:

• Ensure stakeholders are aware of the Workforce Council's Privacy Policy and its purposes.
• Make this information freely available in relevant publications and on the organisation's website.

 

Access and Correction

 

The Workforce Council will:

• Ensure individuals have a right to seek access to information held about them and to correct it if it is inaccurate, incomplete, misleading or not up-to-date.

Anonymity

 

The Workforce Council will:

• Give stakeholders the option of not identifying themselves when completing evaluation forms or opinion surveys.

Making information available to other service providers

 

The Workforce Council:

• Can only release personal information about a person with that person's expressed permission. For personal information to be released, the person concerned must sign a release form.
• Can release information to third parties where it is requested by the person concerned.

 

Responsibility

 

The Workforce Council Board is responsible for adopting this policy.

 

The Workforce Council's Board, Executive Director and all staff members, including contractors and individuals on work experience/placement are responsible for the implementation of this policy.

 

The Workforce Council is responsible for monitoring changes in Privacy legislation and for reviewing this policy when the need arises in accordance with its Quality Management System.

 

Breach of this Policy

 

In the event of a breach of this policy the Workforce Council may consider the following course/s of action where it is assessed as most appropriate to the situation at hand:

• The issuing of an apology to the person/s affected;
• The issuing of a formal warning to the staff member/s involved;
• Disciplinary action - the counselling of the staff member's involved; or
• Dismissal of the relevant staff member/s;

 

Situations in violations of this policy include, but are not limited to:

A)    "Loose" talk amongst employees regarding information about any client, associate or fellow employee.

B)    Allowing unauthorized access on computers to confidential information, financial data, confidential research data or employee personal information.

C)    Sharing of information acquired by persons in the course of their work to others who do not have the need for that information, and,

D)    Accessing information that the individual doesn't have the authority to access in the course of their work, or doesn't have a need to know in order to carry out their job duties.

 

Definitions

 

Confidential information - Information that is given in confidence that is maintained electronically, on video or in print form and/or verbal information. Confidential information should not be accessed, disclosed or released in any format, whether dealing with actual records, projects or conversations, to or by any person/business that does not have a "need to know" without the proper consent of the individual involved and/or Workforce Council.

 

Privacy - That which is confined to, or intended only for the person or persons immediately concerned.

 

Staff - all employees, including individuals on work experience/placement and contractors.

Personal Information - Information which directly or indirectly identifies a person. Includes information relating to:

• Ethnic or racial background
• Political opinions
• Criminal history
• Trade union membership
• Religious beliefs
• Health, or
• Sex life