C4C Bendigo respects your privacy

We’re committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) [i], and other relevant laws. We only collect, use and disclose your information in ways that comply with these laws.

What are your rights under the Privacy Act (1988)

The Privacy Act 1988 regulates the way personal information is handled, and it gives you greater control over how your information is handled. The Privacy Act allows you to:

  • Know why your personal information is being collected, how it will be used and who it will be disclosed to.
  • Have the option of not identifying yourself, or of using a pseudonym in certain circumstances.
  • Ask for access to your personal information.
  • Stop receiving unwanted direct marketing.
  • Ask for your personal information that is incorrect to be corrected.
  • Make a complaint about an organisation or agency the Privacy Act covers, if you think they’ve mishandled your personal information.[ii]

Why do we collect your personal information?

C4C Bendigo provides a range of services including:

  • Supported Playgroups,
  • Community consultations to design and/or improve service delivery,
  • Training for workers in the community, early years and health sectors, and
  • Provision of information and resources to families and workers.

To provide these services effectively we often need to collect personal information.

What information do we collect?

We only collect what is needed.

  1. In delivering services to families, we may ask for:
    • your name, address and telephone number;
    • details about who are the important people in your life, such as immediate family members, and other services you access; and
    • details about your circumstances which help us to understand your situation and requirements.

    You do not have to provide us with any personal information that you do not want to, however, without relevant information we may not be able to provide you with the service you require.

    Some families may have significant reasons for not wanting to provide identifying information. In certain circumstances we can create pseudonyms for these families, as well as deidentify addresses and dates of birth.

  2. In delivering services to workers, we ask for:
    • Your name, position title, employer, work phone number and e-mail address.
  3. In operating this website, we have installed Google Analytics to track, collect and process data on visits to our website via cookies. Cookies are pieces of information that our website transfers to your computer’s hard drive for record keeping purposes. Most web browsers are set to accept cookies. We collect data on the date, time and duration of visits and which pages are viewed. This information is used to help us administer and improve our website.While cookies do not personally identify you, they do identify your browser.

    Default cookie settings of most internet browsers are set to accept all cookies by default. You can adjust your cookie settings by accessing their browser’s settings such as erasing cookies from your computer, blocking all cookies, or opt to receive the warning before a cookie is stored. However, some parts of this website may not function fully if you disallow cookies.

Disclosure of your personal information

We do not provide your personal information to other people or organisations unless we have your consent to do so, or when such disclosure is otherwise allowed or required by law.

We are obliged to try and protect you and/or others if the information you provide us tells us that:

  • you are being seriously hurt by someone else.
  • you are thinking of seriously harming yourself.
  • someone else is being, is likely to be, seriously hurt by you or another person.

If we are obliged to share your information, where possible we will work with you openly, letting you know if our concerns reach the point where we need to involve other services.

Storage and security of your personal information

C4C Bendigo takes all reasonable measures to ensure that your personal information – whether stored in computer systems or within paper files – is securely protected from unauthorised access, loss, misuse, disclosure, or alteration.

Despite all the measures we take, it is important to note that no data transmission over the Internet is totally secure. Therefore, C4C Bendigo gives no warranty and cannot ensure the security of any
information which you send online. Accordingly, any information which you transmit to C4C Bendigo
via the Internet is transmitted at your own risk.

If you are concerned about sharing your information with us via our website, you do not have to use the forms on our website. You can contact us by ringing the relevant partner.

Embedded forms on our website use three third party providers:

  • Gravity Forms is used to create the Participation Forms and the Contact Us Enquiry Form. Gravity Forms Privacy Policy is located at https://www.gravityforms.com/privacy/
  • MailChimp is used for the Community Connections sign up form. MailChimp’s privacy policy is located at https://mailchimp.com/legal/prior-privacy-policy/
  • Qualtrics is used for the Early Years Family Violence Training surveys. Qualtrics Privacy Statement is located at https://www.qualtrics.com/privacy-statement/

Requesting access to your personal information

C4C Bendigo recognises that you have a right to access your information which we have collected. You are encouraged to contact us at any time and ask to access your information. We will only restrict this access, in part or full, when we have a good reason to do so which is allowed or required by law (such as to protect another person’s privacy or safety).

We require proof of identity before providing you with access to your personal information. This ensures personal information remains secure and confidential.

Requesting access to another person’s personal information

If you are trying to access someone else’s information because you are their authorised representative (such as a lawyer, advocate, social worker, etc.), or you are the next-of-kin of a former client who is now deceased, you must make your request in writing. You will also need to provide evidence of your authority to act on the person’s behalf or, with regard to deceased former clients, proof of the former client’s death and that you are their next of kin.

How long do we hold your information?

Information collected by Participation Forms and the Contact Us Enquiry Form is held on this website for one month, then it is permanently deleted.

Information collected by the Community Connections sign up form is held on the MailChimp platform. Data is deleted when workers advise C4C Bendigo that they no longer want to be on this mailing list, or C4C Bendigo ceases using this provider.

Information collected via Early Years Family Violence Training survey’s is held on the Qualtrics platform indefinitely.

When referrals for C4C Playgroups and Parent Child Mother Goose are submitted, the data is transmitted from the C4C Bendigo website direct to Shine Bright or Baptcare via e-mail. The Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 requires that Baptcare and Shine Bright hold family information for 3 years from the date the family last received a service. This includes:

  • Referral information,
  • Assessments,
  • Evaluations,
  • Photos, and
  • Attendance records.

After this date this information is destroyed.

There are exceptions to this such as:

  • A record relating to an incident, illness, injury or trauma suffered by a child must be kept until the child is 25 years of age.
  • A record relating to the death of a child while being cared for by the service or may have occurred as a result of an incident must be kept in a safe and secure place until seven years after the death.

Making a complaint

If you think C4C Bendigo has mishandled your personal information, you are encouraged to make a complaint.

We recommend you to initially complain to the worker you have been communicating with. If this is not possible, or your complaint is unresolved, please contact the relevant manager. These are:

For advice on how to make a complaint, this page on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s website may be helpful.

If you are not satisfied with the response from C4C Bendigo, you can lodge a complaint with the Department of Social Services (DSS). For details on this process click here.

[i] https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/03_2022/communities-children-facilitating-partner-operational-guidelines-2021.pdf

[ii] https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-legislation/the-privacy-act/rights-and-responsibilities

Last updated on 17/05/2023