Privacy

This document sets out the principles that the Marrickville Legal Centre (ABN 53 699 012 017) (the Centre or we, us, our) adopts in relation to the protection and handling of personal information.
The Centre is committed to protecting your personal information and does so in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), which are set out in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and any other applicable state or territory legislation.
NOTE: This Policy does not apply to the employee records of employees of the Centre – if you are an employee, please contact the Managing Principal Solicitor, details which are set out below, for more information about your privacy.

Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, regardless of whether the information or opinion is true or not, and whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not. For example. Personal information can include name, address, contact details, next of kin and details of changes or proceedings against an individual. Personal information also includes sensitive information and health information.

Sensitive information is a type of personal information and includes health information, genetics, biometric information, race, ethnicity, political opinion or membership, religion, philosophical beliefs, professional or trade association membership, union membership, sexual preference and criminal record.

Health information is a type of sensitive information which may include information about physical health, mental health or a disability an individual has had at any time, an individual’s express wishes about future provision of health services to him or her, any health service that has been or is to be provided to an individual, any personal information collected in connection with the provision of a health service, information collected in connection with a donation or intended donation of body parts, organs or body substances, genetic information and healthcare identifiers.

The Centre may collect personal information about you in various circumstances including when you contact us, apply for a job or volunteer position, make a donation, use our services or join our mailing list. The type of information we collect may include (but is not limited to):

• your name and date of birth;
• your vaccination status (in compliance with governmental directions and recommendations);
• your contact details, such as home and email addresses, and telephone number;
• details of legal services you have requested and any legal services we have provided to you;
• personal information of your referees;
• government identifiers, such as tax file number;
• information about your personal circumstances (eg: marital status, gender, job title and relevant information about your partner and children);
• information about your background (eg: ethnicity, languages spoken, medical history, health and disability information);
• bank or credit card details; and
• photographs (where your identity is clear or can be reasonably ascertained from the relevant image).

We may also monitor and record details of our interactions with you (including any contact we have with you in person, by email, online or on the telephone), for dispute resolution and training purposes.

We will only collect sensitive information (including health information) where it is reasonably necessary, and we will only do so with your consent (unless an exception applies). You may withdraw your consent for the Centre to collect this information at any time.

The primary purpose for which we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information are to: 

• provide, administer, improve and personalise our legal services;  
• process donations and payments; 
• identify individuals; 
• assess applications for support or assistance; 
• provide support and assistance to those in need; 
• assess employee or volunteer applications; 
• conduct surveys and research; 
• protect our lawful interests; and 
• respond to your queries or concerns. 

Where your sensitive information is collected, it will be used and disclosed by the Centre for the primary purpose for which it as obtained. We may use it for a secondary purpose which is directly related to the primary purpose, as disclosed in this privacy policy, or with your consent, or where permitted or required by law.

We may also collect, use and disclose personal information in connection with lawful information requests from courts, government agencies and lawyers and in connection with suspected fraud, misconduct or unlawful activity.

If you are a donor, mailing list recipient or volunteer, we may use your personal information to provide you with ongoing promotional materials and marketing communications about our events, products, services and fundraising initiatives by telephone, email, online or by other means (unless you opt out or we are subject to legal restrictions).

We may exchange your personal information with other service providers, who may provide you with further assistance or assist us with archival, auditing, accounting, legal, business, banking, payment, delivery, data processing, storage and analysis, research, investigation, website or technology services.

The Centre will not disclose your personal information to overseas recipients except where the Centre holds a reasonable belief that the recipient country has similar privacy laws to that of Australia, or where the recipient is bound by contract to comply with this privacy policy and the APPs in relation to your personal information.

The Centre handles personal information electronically and in hard copy form, both at our own premises and with the assistance of our service providers. In either case, a range of measures are implemented to protect the security of that personal information to protect it from unauthorised use, access, and disclosure. We also take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify personal information where it is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was obtained and where the Centre is not required by law, or by court/tribunal order, to retain it.

Using our websites

When you visit our websites to read, browse or download information, our system may record information such as browser type, operating system, the date and time you visit the websites, the pages accessed, and any information downloaded. This information is used to analyse how people use our websites so that we can improve our offerings.

Cookies

Like many other websites, our websites may use an internet browser feature from time to time called ‘cookies’. A cookie is a small data file that may be placed on a web user’s computer (usually in the browser software folder) the first time that a computer visits a website that operates cookies. Cookies by themselves cannot be used to personally identify you – they only identify the computer used to visit our websites and help us maintain the continuity of your browsing session by remembering your preferences for when you return. You can configure your web browsing software to reject cookies, however this may limit the functionality of our websites or prevent you from accessing some parts of our websites.

Google Analytics 

We use Google Analytics to inform and optimise content based on your past visits to our websites.

Google Analytics informs us of how visitors use our websites based on their browsing habits, so that we can improve our websites, and make it easier to find information. Google also receives this information as you browse our websites and other websites on the Google Display Network using Remarketing.

If you would like to opt-out of customised Google Display Network services and Google Analytics for Display Advertising you can use ad settings. You can also use the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on so your activity is not tracked by Google Analytics.

Third party websites 

Our websites may contain links to other websites that are not owned or controlled by us. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or policies of those websites.

Please contact the Managing Principal Solicitor at info@mlc.org.au if you have any queries or concerns about privacy or wish to access or correct any personal information we may hold about you. We may need to verify your identity.

If you are making an access or correction request, please provide details of the particular information you seek, to help us to locate it. We will respond to your request within a reasonable period in the manner you requested if it is practicable to do so. If we deny any request for access or correction, we will provide written notice of our reasons unless it is unreasonable to do so. Where we decide not to make a requested correction to your personal information and you disagree, you may ask us to make a note of your requested correction with the information.

The Centre takes your privacy concerns very seriously. Where you express any concerns that we have interfered with your privacy, we will respond to let you know who will be handling your matter and when you can expect a further response.

For information about privacy generally, or if your concerns are not resolved to your satisfaction, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.oaic.gov.au and on 1300 363 992.

Publication of this privacy policy
The Centre will publish and update this privacy policy on its website (www.mlc.org.au) and make hard copies available on request.