Privacy Policy

The Senior Medical Staff Association Of Peninsula Health is committed to providing quality services to you and this policy outlines our ongoing obligations to you in respect of how we manage your Personal Information.

We have adopted the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act) and the Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) under the Victorian Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (PDP Act). The Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) govern the way in which we collect, use, disclose, store, secure and dispose of your personal information. SMSPH is also subject to the Health Privacy Principles (HPPs) under the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) (HR Act) in respect of health information. The NPPs govern the way in which we collect, use, disclose, store, secure and dispose of your Personal Information.

A copy of the Australian Privacy Principles may be obtained from the website of The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at https://www.oaic.gov.au/.

What is Personal Information and why do we collect it?

Personal Information is information or an opinion that identifies an individual. Examples of Personal Information we collect includes names, addresses, email addresses, phone and facsimile numbers.

This Personal Information is obtained in many ways including interviews, correspondence, by telephone and facsimile, by email, via our website, from our website, from media and publications, from other publicly available sources, from cookies] and from third parties. We don’t guarantee website links or policy of authorised third parties.

We collect your Personal Information for the primary purpose of providing our services to you, providing information to our clients and marketing. We may also use your Personal Information for secondary purposes closely related to the primary purpose, in circumstances where you would reasonably expect such use or disclosure. You may unsubscribe from our mailing/marketing lists at any time by contacting us in writing. Examples of Personal Information we collect via our website include names, billing addresses, payment information (including credit card numbers), email addresses and phone numbers, work status and job position or title.

When we collect Personal Information we will, where appropriate and where possible, explain to you why we are collecting the information and how we plan to use it.

Sensitive Information

Sensitive information is defined in the Privacy Act to include information or opinion about such things as an individual's racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of a political association, religious or philosophical beliefs, membership of a trade union or other professional body, criminal record or health information.

• Sensitive information will be used by us only:

• For the primary purpose for which it was obtained

• For a secondary purpose that is directly related to the primary purpose

• With your consent; or where required or authorised by law.

Anonymity

It is impracticable for SMSAPH to deal with individuals who do not want to identify themselves because we need to know we are dealing with the correct people within our member organisations and other organisations we deal with.

Where practicable, such as in surveys, SMSAPH may provide individuals the opportunity to not identify themselves.

SMSAPH cannot consider applications for membership on an anonymous basis.

Third Parties

Where reasonable and practicable to do so, we will collect your Personal Information only from you. However, in some circumstances we may be provided with information by third parties. In such a case we will take reasonable steps to ensure that you are made aware of the information provided to us by the third party.

Use of Personal Information

The main purpose for which SMSAPH uses your Personal Information is providing services to our members. Other purposes we use Personal Information for include:

• to conduct our organisational objectives;

• to provide services and supports to you directly: we use your Personal Information to tailor our services based on your needs;

• to provide information or market our services that may be of interest to you;

• to communicate with you and manage our relationship with you; and

• to communicate with sponsors and organisations about our members.

We may occasionally hire other companies to provide services on our behalf, including but not limited to consultants, IT support, Customer Record Management systems. We will only disclose to these companies the Personal Information they need to deliver the service. SMSAPH takes reasonable steps to ensure these companies are bound by confidentiality and privacy obligations in relation to the security and protection of your Personal Information.

Disclosure of Personal Information

Your Personal Information may be disclosed in a number of circumstances including the following:

• Third parties who assist us with delivery of our services or the operation of our business

• Preferred partner and sponsors;

• Government organisations or in compliance with our funding obligations;

• Courts, tribunals and regulatory authorities

• Other third parties where you consent to the use or disclosure; and

• Where required or authorised by law.

Security of Personal Information

Your Personal Information is stored in a manner that reasonably protects it from misuse and loss and from unauthorized access, modification or disclosure.

When your Personal Information is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was obtained, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify your Personal Information. However, most of the Personal Information is or will be stored in client files which will be kept by us for a minimum of 7 years.

Credit card and online security 

SMSAPH does not keep or record credit card numbers via its website payment system. Those details are routed direct via a secure link to our e-commerce payments gateway and, through them, to your financial institution. When credit cards numbers are entered on SMSAPH’s registration or membership forms, that information is encrypted using secure socket layering (SSL). SMSAPH observes commonly accepted industry standards to protect the Personal Information submitted, both during transmission and once it is received.  While we take reasonable and appropriate measures to protect data that you submit directly to us, remember that the Internet is a global communications vehicle open to threats, viruses and intrusions from others and we cannot promise, and you should not expect, that we will be able to protect your information at all times and in all circumstances.

Access to your Personal Information

You may access the Personal Information we hold about you and to update and/or correct it, subject to certain exceptions. If you wish to access your Personal Information, please contact us in writing.

SMSAPH will not charge any fee for your access request, but may charge an administrative fee for providing a copy of your Personal Information.

In order to protect your Personal Information we may require identification from you before releasing the requested information.

Maintaining the Quality of your Personal Information

It is an important to us that your Personal Information is up to date. We  will  take reasonable steps to make sure that your Personal Information is accurate, complete and up-to-date. If you find that the information we have is not up to date or is inaccurate, please advise us as soon as practicable so we can update our records and ensure we can continue to provide quality services to you.

Policy Updates

This Policy may change from time to time and is available on our website.

Privacy Policy Complaints and Enquiries

If you have any queries or complaints about our Privacy Policy please contact us here