Privacy Statement

This statement has been written in accordance with the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 and the National Privacy Principles.

The Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc is committed to protecting your privacy and any personal and/or sensitive information that you give in order for us to provide you with a quality service.

Personal and/or sensitive information

This information will include:

• Your name, date and place of birth, address and contact details
• Names and dates of birth of your children
• Specific information relating to family court, domestic violence or child protection legal matters (including copies of relevant documents)
• Case notes of crisis interventions, contacts and counselling sessions

Collection and storage of information

Information will be collected, recorded and stored on case files and a client database. This information is confidential and necessary precautions will be taken to keep it safe and secure. All files are stored in secure locked cabinets and the database has a password and firewall system. The premises of the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc are located in a building that has adequate security measures in place.

Disclosure of information

The personal and/or sensitive information you provide will not be disclosed or shared with anyone else without your prior verbal and/or written agreement. There are instances when personal and/or sensitive information will be disclosed:

• If required by law, for example when documents are subpoenaed by the Court.
• When there is a duty of care to protect the safety of clients, children, staff or other third parties

Non identifying statistical information will be provided for research and funding purposes.

Accurate Information

The Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc. will attempt to ensure that personal and/or sensitive information is accurate and up to date, but you are responsible for informing us of any changes to your personal details or circumstances.

Access to information

You can ask for access to your information verbally or in writing and we will undertake to provide this as soon as possible. You will be required to sign a consent form and your information can be posted to you, or to your legal representative if required, by registered post.

Complaints about Information

If you have any complaints about the privacy of your personal and/or sensitive information you can make a complaint in writing to the Director of the Centre.

How to find out more

More information about privacy can be obtained from the Federal Privacy Commissioner's website at www.privacy.gov.au