Workshops

BECS - Code of Practice (Version 1, January 2013)

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Introduction:
Basa Education and Counselling Services is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information which the organisation collects, holds and administers. Personal information is information which directly or indirectly identifies a person.

Purpose:
The purpose of this document is to provide a framework for Basa Education and Counselling Services in dealing with privacy considerations.

Policy

• Basa Education and Counselling Services collects and administers a range of personal informationfor the purposes of administration, information distribution, attendance registration, financial administration and the general management of Basa Education and Counselling Services. Basa Education and Counselling Services is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information it collects, holds and administers.
• Basa Education and Counselling Services 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 reflected in and supported by our core values and philosophies.
• Basa Education and Counselling Services is bound by Victorian Privacy Laws, the Information Privacy Act 2000, as well as other laws, which impose specific obligations when it comes to handling information. The organisation has adopted the respective Privacy Principles contained in the Victorian Privacy Laws 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.

Basa Education and Counselling Services will adhere to the Procedures outlined below.

Procedures: Collection
Basa Education and Counselling Services will:

• Only collect information that is necessary for the performance and primary function of Basa Education and Counselling Services.
• 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
Basa Education and Counselling Services 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.

Data Quality
Basa Education and Counselling Services 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
Basa Education and Counselling Services will:

• Safeguard the information we collect and store against misuse, loss, unauthorised access and modification.
• Only destroy records in accordance with Administration & Records Management Policy.

Openness
Basa Education and Counselling Services will:

• Ensure stakeholders are aware of Basa Education and Counselling Servicess Privacy Policy and its purposes.

Access and Correction
Basa Education and Counselling Services 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
Basa Education and Counselling Services will:

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

Making information available to other service providers
Basa Education and Counselling Services will:

• 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

• Basa Education and Counselling Services Board of Management is responsible for adopting this policy.
• Basa Education and Counselling Services Board of Management, and all staff members, contractors and volunteers are responsible for the implementation of this policy.

Basa Education and Counselling Services CEO is responsible for monitoring changes in Privacy legislation and for reviewing this policy as and when the need arises.