Personal and Sensitive information
(Australian Privacy Principle 3)
Personal Information
Personal information is information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database) from which it is possible to determine someone's identity.
The information collected by Speech Pathology Australia about a particular person will vary depending on the circumstances of collection. It may include, but is not limited to, a person's contact details (name, email and/or postal address, phone number), date of birth, place of birth, gender, driver's licence number, passport, visa, insurance details, bank account or credit card details, employment history, birth certificate, marriage certificate, identity card, working with children check, next of kin, qualifications or communication history with Speech Pathology Australia.
Sensitive Information
If it is reasonably necessary in the circumstances, Speech Pathology Australia may also collect sensitive information (which is a type of personal information) such as your medical history (including details of any health conditions or any allergies you may have), nationality/ethnicity or disability backgrounds.
Sensitive information is afforded a higher level of privacy protection than other personal information. Where you provide sensitive information to Speech Pathology Australia, you also provide consent to Speech Pathology Australia collecting it in accordance with this Privacy Policy, unless you tell us otherwise.
When SPA collect’s personal and sensitive information?
Information may be collected when you:
- become a member of Speech Pathology Australia or of another body which is affiliated with Speech Pathology Australia (Affiliate);
- join or register for a program of Speech Pathology Australia;
- enter an event conducted exclusively by, or jointly with, Speech Pathology Australia;
- enter personal information into, or agree to having your personal information entered into, one of Speech Pathology Australia’s online systems or by completing any form provided or made available to you by Speech Pathology Australia;
- subscribe to any publication of Speech Pathology Australia, including electronic publications;
- provide details to Speech Pathology Australia in an application, consent form, survey or
feedback form;
- enter personal information into, or agree to having your personal information entered into, one of Speech Pathology Australia's online systems;
- access Speech Pathology Australia's website (https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/) or a website of an Affiliate;
- contact Speech Pathology Australia via email, social media, telephone or mail or engage with Speech Pathology Australia via social media;
- participate in any program, activity, competition or event run, administered or sanctioned by Speech Pathology Australia or an Affiliate (which may include participants submitting photos or videos);
- purchase tickets to an event from Speech Pathology Australia or an authorised agent;
- purchase merchandise, products or services from Speech Pathology Australia or an authorised agent or licensee;
- are elected or appointed to the board or a committee of Speech Pathology Australia;
- are engaged within Ethics proceeding undertaken by Speech Pathology Australia; or
- apply for employment or a volunteer position with Speech Pathology Australia.
Personal information may also be collected where Speech Pathology Australia is required to do so by law (for education, child protection obligations, work health and safety laws, equal opportunity, charitable collections, medical treatment or other legislation in Australia).
Providing information
Depending on the circumstances, some types of information will be required, and others might be optional. If you do not provide some or all of the information requested, this may affect Speech Pathology Australia's ability to communicate with you or provide the requested products or services.
By not providing requested information, you may jeopardise your ability to participate in programs or receive services or apply for employment or volunteer positions with Speech Pathology Australia. If it is impracticable for Speech Pathology Australia to deal with you as a result of you not providing the requested information or consent, Speech Pathology Australia may refuse to do so.
Collection from third parties
Speech Pathology Australia may collect personal information regarding a child from the parent or other responsible person associated with that child.
In many circumstances, Speech Pathology Australia collects information from Affiliates or other third parties.
Examples of such third parties could include, without limitation, other members and participants in the speech pathology profession, members of the public, government agencies, regulatory bodies, other professional associations, health insurance and funding agencies, universities or other education institutions or bodies undertaking relevant research, hospitals and other medical institutions, nonaffiliated organisations or government, and law enforcement bodies.
Information storage and protection
Speech Pathology Australia stores information in different ways, including in paper and electronic form Much of the information we collect from and about our members and from or about people who register their interest in Speech Pathology Australia is added to Speech Pathology Australia’s database. When your information is entered into Speech Pathology Australia 's database, the information may be combined or linked with other information held about you.
Security of personal information is important to Speech Pathology Australia. Speech Pathology Australia has taken steps to protect the information we hold from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Some of the security measures Speech Pathology Australia uses include strict confidentiality requirements of our employees, volunteers, Affiliates and service providers, security measures for system access and security measures for our website.
We seek to protect your personal information from any unauthorised loss, disclosure or access. However, if a serious data breach occurs, we must notify you if required under the Privacy Act regarding the circumstances of the breach and may also need to advise the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
How does Speech Pathology Australia use and disclose personal and sensitive information?
Speech Pathology Australia, and third parties to whom we may disclose personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy, may use your personal information to:
- verify your identity;
- complete background checks;
- administer your membership of Speech Pathology Australia and deal with any and all associated matters;
- provide referrals to the general public (where you have consented to receive referrals);
- research, develop, run, administer, conduct and market the speech pathology profession, events, programs, activities and other events related to Speech Pathology Australia;
- communicate and cooperate with other health organisations and professional bodies and government departments and agencies;
- collate data about the speech pathology profession;
- research, develop and market products, services, merchandise and special offers made available by us and third parties including but not limited to Affiliates and our licensees, preferred suppliers or sponsors; see Direct marketing;
- to enable us, corporate partners, preferred suppliers and sponsors, as well as their related bodies corporate, to market and promote their products and services to you;
- respond to emergency situations involving or requiring medical treatment;
- administer, manage and provide you with access to Speech Pathology Australia's website and social media channels;
- administer Speech Pathology Australia's customer relationship database;
- provide you with news and information about Speech Pathology Australia and its products and services;
- manage and enhance Speech Pathology Australia's products and services;
- administer our relationships with third parties including contractors and agents;
- perform any of our permitted functions and activities;
- investigate your activity that we suspect to be a breach of any of Speech Pathology Australia's terms and conditions, and administer applicable grievance and disciplinary processes;
- keep you informed of news and information relating to various events and activities of Speech Pathology Australia, activities and opportunities via various mediums;
- publish (on our website, in submissions, reports and publications) aggregated data about the number and types of complaints Speech Pathology Australia receives and aggregated data about the outcomes of complaints; and
- publish (on our website, in submissions, reports and publications) deidentified case studies about complaints we receive.
Speech Pathology Australia may use health information to ensure that programs we operate are run safely and in accordance with any special health needs participants may require. Health information may also be kept for insurance purposes. In addition, we may use de-identified health information and other sensitive information to carry out research, to prepare submissions to government, or to plan events and activities.
Disclosure
Speech Pathology Australia may disclose your personal information to a range of organisations which include, but are not limited to:
- participants in the speech pathology professionals
- members of the public in relation to referrals or other matters relating to the speech pathology
profession (where you have consented to receive referrals);
- government agencies;
- regulatory bodies;
- other professional associations;
- health insurance and funding agencies;
- universities or other education institutions or bodies undertaking relevant research;
- hospitals and other medical institutions;
- SPA's members, third party service providers, professional advisers and companies we engage to carry out functions and activities on our behalf, including direct marketing; see Direct marketing
- Affiliates (i.e. Member Advantage);
- companies we work with in staging events or providing services;
- companies we engage to carry out functions and activities on SPA's behalf, including direct marketing; see Direct marketing.
- our third party service providers in connection with any of the categories of use identified above;
- our professional advisers, including our accountants, auditors and lawyers; our insurers;
- Federal and State/Territory Departments of Health;
- and in other circumstances permitted by law; see Other Disclosures.
While not generally, in some circumstances, personal information may also be disclosed outside of Australia. In such circumstances, Speech Pathology Australia will use its best endeavours to ensure such parties are subject to a law, binding scheme or contract which effectively upholds principles for fair handling of the information that are suitably similar to the Australian Privacy Principles.