POLICY

We acknowledge and respect each individual’s right to privacy and we are committed to keeping personal safe. Upraise Australia Care uses information in line with Privacy Acts and associated legislation, ensuring that data security and confidentiality are maintained.

 

COLLECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

• To provide our service and conduct business, we are required to collect a range of personal information. We primarily collect information to assess, plan, and manage client needs, which is essential to improving the quality of services we provide. Therefore, this information has to be  If a client provides incomplete or inaccurate information to us, we may not be able to provide them with the services they require.
• “Personal information” is any information about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can be reasonably determined from that information, e.g. name, date of birth, etc. “Personal information” also includes sensitive information about individuals, e.g. health information, culture, and religion. The types of personal information Upraise Australia Care collects will depend on the nature of the person's association with us.
• Clients – If clients receive our services we may need to collect personal and medical information in relation to client status, occupational health and safety, processes of work, and other relevant information. The information from clients is only used for the purpose for which it was collected in connection with the delivery of services.
• Staff – We need to collect personal details from staff including but not limited to; name, address, contact details, qualifications, banking details, study, visa/residency status, and police records check. In some cases, we must also collect health information about a person’s health or disability. We use information collected from staff only in connection with the delivery of service.
• Family and Friends – we need to collect the Next of Kin details from clients. We use this personal information only in case of an emergency.
• Sometimes we are legally required to collect personal information, including where there is a threat to public health, or in connection with the monitoring of health services provided by Connect Home Care. Our use of personal information in such instances will be in accordance with our obligations under applicable privacy and health acts.
• Although Upraise Australia Care primarily collects personal information to manage clients’ needs in providing our service to them, we may also collect, use, and disclose personal information about clients for other related purposes, such as:
  • To meet government and regulatory requirements in relation to activities such as quality assurance,
  • compliance issues, and complaint management.
  • For invoicing, billing, and account management

USE AND DISCLOSURE

Upraise Australia Care may at times disclose personal information about clients where it is necessary to deliver services. Upraise Australia Care will not rent, trade or sell personal information about clients to third parties. Personal information may only be disclosed outside of Upraise Australia Care in circumstances where:

• Clients have consented to the disclosure, and
• Disclosure is in accordance with the purpose for which we collected the information,

To meet service needs, Upraise Australia Care may be required to discuss a client’s personal information with other agencies or service providers. Should this be required, the client's consent to share information will be acquired using the Consent to Release of Confidential Information form.

Upraise Australia Care has a legal obligation to disclose personal information to the government under health regulations, or in cases where such disclosure is permitted by law, including under privacy laws.

SECURITY OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

Upraise Australia Care takes all reasonable steps to safeguard the security of the personal information we have collected and hold. We may store personal information electronically on our computer database and/or in hard copy documents kept at our premises.

We have procedures in place to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, use, modification, and disclosure. Upraise Australia Care staff who handle personal information have a duty to protect that information from unauthorised access and are granted access to personal information on a ‘need to know’ basis.

Upraise Australia Care ensures that personal information is no longer required and is destroyed appropriately.

ACCESS AND CORRECTION

Staff and clients have a right to request access to personal information that Upraise Australia Care holds about them and to update or change personal information about them if it is inaccurate, incomplete or outdated.

An exception to this right is where personal information was collected before 21 December 2001 and has not been used since by Connect Home Care.

If a staff member or client wish to exercise their right to seek access to the personal information that Upraise Australia Care holds about them; they must contact Upraise Australia Care Director. Requests for access to personal information must be made in writing stating exactly what personal information you wish to access or correct.

Upraise Australia Care will respond to all requests for access to personal information within 14 working days; depending on the type of personal information the staff member or client have requested access to. Upraise Australia Care reserves the right to charge reasonable costs in the supply of requested information.

 

REFERENCES

Privacy and Personal Information Protection ACT 1998 (VIC)
- promotes the responsible and transparent handling of personal information and balances the free flow of information with the protection of personal information.
Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (VIC) – protects the health information of an individual
The Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth) – Covers the handling of personal information