PRIVACY and CONFIDENTIALITY Section 2 – Policy 2 Date of Issue: January 2013 Date of Review: January 2015
Please note that this agency is required to release non – identifying information about clients (without identifying them by full name or address), to governments and other funding bodies to enable statistics about disability services and their clients to be compiled.
Overview As the BINSA supports some clients with high support needs, staff have access to a great deal of private and confidential information related to clients and their families. Health information is “sensitive information” for the purposes of the National Privacy Principles and is used by BINSA to administer, monitor and evaluate services. This information is required in order to best support clients, however BINSA also has a responsibility to ensure that information held is treated with respect and that clients are aware of how the information is used and who has access to it.
Policy Statement BINSA collects and administers a range of personal information for the purposes of service provision. BINSA is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information it collects, holds and administers. BINSA recognises the essential right of individuals to have their information administered in ways which they would reasonably expect – protected on one hand, and made accessible to them on the other. These privacy values are reflected in and supported by our core values and philosophies. BINSA is bound by the National Privacy Principles set out in the Information Privacy Act 2000, as well as those relating to clients with disability as required under The Disability Service Act 1986 and The Disability Services Act 1993. In broad terms this means that we:
Collect only information which the organisation requires for its primary function
Ensure that stakeholders are informed as to why we collect the information and how we administer the information gathered
Use and disclose personal information only for our primary functions or a directly related purpose, or for another purpose with the person’s consent
Store personal information securely, protecting it from unauthorised access
Provide stakeholders with access to their own information, and the right to seek its correction.
Related Documents & Information Volunteers Protection Act (2001)
G:\Policies & procedures\BINSA POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL 2013\Section 2 - Client Policies and Procedures\2 Privacy Confidentiality Policy Jan 2013.doc
Page 1 of 2
Relevant Legislation / Standards Privacy Act 1988 Information Privacy Act 2009 Compliance with the National Standards for Disability Service
Authorised by: Chairperson: Joanna Andrew .......................................................
G:\Policies & procedures\BINSA POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL 2013\Section 2 - Client Policies and Procedures\2 Privacy Confidentiality Policy Jan 2013.doc
Date: 31/1/2013 ...........
Page 2 of 2