Last reviewed January 2018
This Privacy Policy explains how AbSec (ABN 22 477 168 898) collects, uses, discloses and otherwise handles personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) which are contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).
For the purposes of this policy, ‘personal information’ means information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable.
If you have any questions or feedback about this policy or the way in which AbSec handles personal information, you can contact us on the details below. You can also request a hard copy of this policy using the details below.
Contacting us
Mail: PO Box 604, Marrickville NSW 1475
Email: admin@absec.org.au
Phone: (02) 9559 5299
The types of personal information that we collect about you will depend on the type of dealings you have with us. For example, if you:
Some personal information, such as information relating to Aboriginality and information related to child protection matters, is sensitive and requires a higher level of protection under the Privacy Act. We will only collect sensitive information when we have your consent and when it is necessary for us to carry out our activities.
In some circumstances we allow individuals the option of not identifying themselves (for example, when viewing our website or making a query over the phone).
We collect personal information in a number of ways, including:
The main purposes for which we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information are set out below.
Direct marketing is the promotion of goods and services directly to you including through emails and the post. We will only send you direct marketing materials if you would reasonably expect to receive them, if you have consented, or if you work in the sector and your work contact details are publicly available online. We will always provide a simple means for you to request not to receive the material (‘opting out’). We will not use your sensitive information for the purposes of direct marketing unless you have given us prior consent.
You can opt out of receiving marketing communications from us by:
We will only share your personal information if we have a specific reason to do so in the course of our work. For instance, we may disclose your personal information to:
In the rare event that we receive information concerning the welfare of a child being put at risk, we may disclose this information to NSW Police, the Child Protection Helpline, the NSW Ombudsman or other relevant government/law enforcement bodies.
If you contact us regarding a complaint or issue with an out-of-home care agency, we may disclose information regarding your complaint to the agency, with your consent.
We may disclose personal information to our contracted information technology service providers that are hosted offshore.
We hold personal information in both hard-copy and electronic formats. Paper files are stored in secure cabinets or drawers in our office.
The security of your personal information is important to us and we use the recommended industry standards when storing and dealing with your personal information. We use a secure server using the latest 128-bit SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption technology to process any financial transactions.
The steps we take to secure the personal information we hold include:
While AbSec strives to protect the personal information and privacy of users of our website, we cannot guarantee the security of any information that you disclose online and you disclose that information at your own risk. If you are concerned about sending your information over the internet, you can contact AbSec by telephone or post (details under ‘Contacting Us’).
You can also help to protect the privacy of your personal information by letting us know as soon as possible if you become aware of any security breach.
Links to third-party websites that are not operated or controlled by AbSec are provided for your convenience. AbSec is not responsible for the privacy or security practices of those websites. Third-party websites should have their own privacy and security policies, which we encourage you to read before supplying any personal information to them.
You have the right to request a copy of your personal information held by AbSec. We will take reasonable steps to provide you with access to your personal information upon request. We may however charge a fee to cover our reasonable costs of locating the information and providing it to you.
We will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information if we are satisfied that it is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading. If we have provided your personal information to third parties we will also notify them of the correction if you ask us to do so, unless it is impracticable or unlawful.
Requests to access and correct your information should be made by email, post or phone using the details provided under the ‘Contacting Us’ heading. Note that we will need to verify your identity before processing your request. We will endeavour to respond to your request within 30 days.
If we do not agree with your request to access or correct your information, we will provide you with written reasons for our decision.
If you have a complaint about how AbSec has collected or handled your personal information, please contact us using the details provided under the heading ‘Contacting Us.’
We will endeavour to respond to your complaint within 30 days of receipt.
If you are unhappy with our response, you can refer your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (see here for further information) or the New South Wales Privacy Commissioner (see here).
Aboriginal Carer Support
Child Protection Helpline
Aboriginal Carer Support
Child Protection Helpline
We acknowledge the Gadigal and Wangal People of the Eora Nation, the land on which our office stands, and pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the Elders, leaders and advocates within our sector and pay our respects to them as knowledge holders within this space and every space.
AbSec acknowledges the Stolen Generations who never came home and the ongoing impact of government policy and practice on Aboriginal children, young people and families.
We acknowledge the Gadigal and Wangal People of the Eora Nation, the land on which our office stands, and pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the Elders, leaders and advocates within our sector and pay our respects to them as knowledge holders within this space and every space.
AbSec acknowledges the Stolen Generations who never came home and the ongoing impact of government policy and practice on Aboriginal children, young people and families.
Get Help Now
If you need immediate assistance, AbSec is here to support you.
We offer resources and guidance for children, young people, carers, and families at risk. Find the help you need and connect with the right support services.
About Us
AbSec is the peak organisation advocating for the rights and well-being of Aboriginal children, young people, and families in NSW.
Learn more about AbSec, our mission, and our commitment to supporting Aboriginal children, families, and communities through advocacy, capacity building, and sector leadership.
Strengthening Our Sector
Building a resilient and effective sector that can better support Aboriginal children, young people, families, and communities.
Our initiatives and programs are designed to enhance the capacity and capability of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and NGOs.
Our Voice
This section offers insights into the key policies and initiatives we champion, representing our commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of Aboriginal children, young people, families, and communities.
Closing the Gap
AbSec is dedicated to closing the gap in health, education, and wellbeing for Aboriginal children and families.
Explore the various initiatives and programs we support to drive systemic change and improve outcomes for our communities.
Get Involved
Discover how you can make a difference with AbSec.
From donating to becoming a carer, there are numerous ways to support our vision and help Aboriginal children, young people, families, and communities thrive.
AbSec would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land in which we work and pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. AbSec acknowledges the Stolen Generations who never came home.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that this website may contain images of deceased people.