Privacy Policy
Invertebrates Australia respects privacy and is committed to protecting sensitive and personal information, in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) in the Privacy Act 1988. This Policy sets out how we collect, use and disclose your personal information. This policy may be modified over time and we will publish those changes on the Invertebrates Australia website.
Collecting Personal Information
Types of Personal Information Collected
Personal Information is any information that can be used to identify an individual ie, their name, address, telephone number and/or email address. In addition, the Privacy Act recognises that some Personal Information, referred to as Sensitive Information, requires a higher level of protection.
Invertebrates Australia collects Personal Information from individuals who are connected to its operations and activities including;
demographic information; name, date of birth, street address and/or email address
Financial information as a result of a donation (e.g. bank account and credit details)
Volunteer history
Information that you provided directly through the website and/or surveys or feedback forms
Invertebrates Australia will explain why it is collecting Personal Information when collected and how it plans to use it.
How Personal Information is Collected
Invertebrates Australia collects Personal Information from a variety of sources including donors, directors, members, employees, volunteers, researchers/research organisations and other individuals and/or entities who may have information relevant to Invertebrates Australia activities.
Invertebrates Australia will generally collect information directly from the individual to whom it relates. However, where it is not reasonable or practicable for it to collect this information directly from the individual, it may collect information from a third party, such as a contractor or third-party service provider.
Where Personal Information is not collected directly from the individual concerned, Invertebrates Australia will take reasonable steps to notify stakeholders of the collection or otherwise make parties aware of it. Personal Information will only be collected in a manner that is lawful and fair.
Purpose of collection of Personal Information
Invertebrates Australia collects Personal Information from a variety of sources for the purposes of carrying out its functions as a conductor/funder of research, fundraising organisation, employer and other associated functions. The types of Personal Information Invertebrates Australia collects, and the purposes of collecting that information, include the following:
To communicate with members, volunteers, donors and supporters. Personal Information (such as names, addresses and other contact details) is collected about Invertebrates Australia members, volunteers, current and potential donors and supporters so that it can encourage, record and acknowledge support and communicate Invertebrates Australia activities, initiatives and programs.
Assisting with queries. Individuals may choose to provide Invertebrates Australia with their name or other contact details when they contact Invertebrates Australia using its website so that Invertebrates Australia can respond to requests for information or comments.
Reporting to funding bodies or government agencies. Invertebrates Australia provides aggregated or de-identified information to funding bodies and government agencies for the purposes of reporting its research. Though Invertebrates Australia will take steps to ensure that Personal Information is not passed on in such reports, in some cases, Personal Information may be disclosed.
As part of Invertebrates Australia’s general organisational activities. Invertebrates Australia collects Personal Information about individuals who are, or are employed by, its volunteers, researchers/research organisations, suppliers (including service and content providers), contractors, dealers, agents and other individuals and/or entities who may have information relevant to Invertebrates Australia activities.
Employees, volunteers and contractors. When individuals apply for a job (as a volunteer or employee) or contract with Invertebrates Australia, Personal Information may be collected from them (including name and contact details, information about working history and relevant records checks), from any recruitment consultant and from previous employers and others who may be able to provide information to assist Invertebrates Australia in its decision on whether or not to make an offer of employment or contract.
To comply with the law. Invertebrates Australia may collect Personal Information because it is required or authorised by an Australian court or tribunal order to collect that information. Invertebrates Australia will advise individuals if the collection of this information is required or authorised by law and provide individuals with details of the law, court or tribunal order.
Collecting Sensitive Information
Sensitive Information means information (or an opinion) about an individual's race or ethnic origin, political opinions or membership of a political association, membership of a trade union or professional/trade association, religious beliefs or affiliations, philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation or practices, health information (including genetic information and biometric information/templates) and criminal records. The Invertebrates Australia will not collect Sensitive Information unless:
the information relates to the Invertebrates Australia's activities and the information relates solely to the members of the Invertebrates Australia or to individuals who have regular contact with the Invertebrates Australia in connection with its activities (where it is permitted to do so);
Invertebrates Australia is authorised or required by law to do so; or
individuals have consented to Invertebrates Australia collecting that information from individuals for a particular purpose, in which case Invertebrates Australia will only use the information for that purpose.
Use and Disclosure of Personal Information
Invertebrates Australia will only hold, use, or disclose Personal Information for the purpose(s) for which it was collected, in order to carry out its functions (including as described above), or otherwise as required or authorised by law. Where Personal Information is disclosed to an external individual or organisation, Invertebrates Australia generally require that third party to protect Personal Information in the same way Invertebrates Australia does.
For the purposes described, Invertebrates Australia may disclose Personal Information:
to any partners or related bodies corporates;
to suppliers (including contractors and service providers), professional advisers, dealers and agents or other individuals/organisations who collaborate with Invertebrates Australia;
to anyone to whom Invertebrates Australia assets or business (or any part of it) is transferred or disclosed;
where individuals have otherwise consented; or
as otherwise required or authorised by law.
Generally, Invertebrates Australia will only transfer or disclose Personal Information overseas where the individual expressly consents to such transfer or disclosure. However, given the amount of electronic information collected by Invertebrates Australia and that many software vendors and service providers are outside of Australia, Personal Information may be disclosed, transferred to, accessed from, processed in, stored or shared outside of Australia in the course of managing that information. Invertebrates Australia will therefore take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to ensure that overseas recipients of Personal Information do not breach the APPs in relation to the information.
Where Personal Information is Stored
Reasonable steps are taken to seek to protect all Personal Information from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Invertebrates Australia uses a variety of electronic security measures, including restricting access to electronic personnel files, IT firewalls and anti-virus software to seek to protect Invertebrates Australia electronic systems more broadly. However, the internet is not a secure environment. If Personal Information is sent via the internet, including an email address, it is sent at the senders’ own risk.
Personal Information will be stored on a protected electronic database, which may be Invertebrates Australia’s database, a database maintained by an overseas cloud hosting service provider or other overseas third-party database storage or service provider.
Using our website
When visiting or downloading information from the Invertebrates Australia website, the website tracks a record of each visit and records information including a user’s internet address, domain name (if applicable), and the date and time of the visit. Invertebrates Australia’s ISP also collects information such as the pages users’ access, the documents downloaded, links from sites they followed to reach Invertebrates Australia’s site, and the type of browser they use. This information is anonymous and is used for statistical and website development purposes only.
Our website may have links to websites operated by third parties. Those links are provided for convenience and may change over time. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content on those linked websites. We encourage users to seek out privacy policies before using third party websites.
Access to Personal Information
You have a right to access and seek correction of Personal Information Invertebrates Australia holds about them at any time. There are some circumstances where Invertebrates Australia is permitted to deny access to Personal Information such as (but not limited to) where the access would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others or where granting access is unlawful or denying access is required or authorised by law. If access is denied, Invertebrates Australia will provide reasons for refusal. Invertebrates Australia is allowed to impose reasonable charges for providing access. For any concerns contact our Privacy Compliance Officer via details below.
Complaints
If you have any concerns about the manner, in which Invertebrates Australia has collected, handled, used or disclosed Personal Information (including suspected breaches of the Australian Privacy Principles) please contact our Privacy Compliance Officer via details below. Complaints will be investigated and responded to promptly.
Privacy Compliance Officer