PRIVACY POLICY

Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) is strongly committed to protecting your personal information when you interact with us, our content, products and services. This Privacy Policy details how we keep this commitment and how we comply with the Australian Privacy Principles.

ACNP is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988. We follow the guidelines of the Australian Government Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) in the collection, handling, use and disclosure of personal information. The purpose of this privacy policy is to:

• clearly communicate our personal information handling practices
• enhance our transparency, and
• give individuals a better and more complete understanding of the sort of personal information that ACNP holds, and the way we handle that information.

Outline of Policy

Part A — Personal Information Handling Practices' explains our general information handling practices across the agency including:

• Why we collect personal information
• How we collect personal information
• How we use your information
• Security of your personal information

Part B — Contacting ACNP - Explains how you can access your personal information; our complaint handling processes and how you can contact us.

Part A — Personal Information Handling Practices

1.      Why we collect personal information

ACNP only collects personal information for purposes which are directly related to our functions or activities and only when it is necessary for or directly related to those purposes.

ACNP collects personal information:

• because an individual has provided it to us, for instance if an individual register to attend an ACNP event, join as a member, contacts us to participate in social media forums, make complaints or to ask us questions about our services;
• because we need it to provide a product or service that an individual has requested, for instance, if they subscribe to an email list or, enter a competition, or purchase products from ACNP or register for or attend an ACNP event;
• because we would like to improve our services, for instance through the collection and analysis of statistical and research data and use of cookies (see below);
• because an individual works for us or applies to us for a job or scholarship.

2.      How ACNP collects information when an individual use written or a digital service (including online and mobile services)

There are two types of information or data ACNP collects:

a.       Information that an individual gives us directly such as when they are filling in a form or when they sign up to a service or event online or in writing. This type of information may include an individual’s name, email address or other personal information.

b.       Information which tracks an individual’s activity such as personal information collected automatically to monitor the use of our online and mobile services, like the numbers and frequency of visitors to ACNP’s website. This helps us identify what users of our site are most interested in and it can also help us identify if there are any problems that need fixing. Most of the data we collect is aggregated, and this information is effectively anonymous to us.

In some cases, we may collect data that can be linked to a user individually. For example, when an individual log in to the Corporate Partner website as an ACNP member, we may store records of information such as the pages viewed, or links clicked on. Similarly, if an individual uses our email newsletters, we may collect data about the mailings they open and the links they click on.

We use Google Analytics, a US-based service, to analyse browsing information and produce reports on how visitors use our website. Google may transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You can opt out of the collection of information via Google Analytics by downloading the Google Analytics Opt-out browser add on. See also Google privacy policy.

When engaging with our social media content you can choose to not identify yourself by using a pseudonym.

3.      How we use personal information

We only use personal information for the purposes for which we collected it - purposes which are directly related to one of our functions or activities.

We do not give personal information about an individual to anyone else unless one of the following applies:

• The individual has consented to the disclosure,
• The individual would reasonably expect, that information of that kind is usually disclosed to individuals, bodies or agencies (to provide the service you wish to use, for example disclosure of name and address to a third-party publisher to facilitate your receipt of ACNP printed materials),
• Disclosure is required or authorised by law or is reasonably necessary for the enforcement of the law, or
• Disclosure will prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to life or health.

ACNP is assisted by a variety of third parties to deliver the services we offer. These third parties change from time to time and include technology service providers for Internet, App services, cloud service, publishing and printing services. These third parties may be in Australia or overseas locations, including but not limited to Singapore and the USA.

Wherever possible, ACNP imposes contractual restrictions equivalent to those imposed on the ACNP under the Privacy Act in respect of collection and use of personal information by those third parties.

ACNP will obtain an individual’s specific consent prior to disclosing information for the purposes of direct marketing of the ACNP’s services. An individual will be able to opt-out of direct marketing at any time if they so choose.

Under no circumstances will ACNP sell or receive payment for licensing or disclosing an individual’s personal information.

4.      Data quality

We take steps to ensure that the personal information we collect is accurate, up to date and complete. These steps include maintaining and updating personal information when we are advised by individuals that their personal information has changed, and at other times as necessary.

5.      Security of personal information

ACNP takes steps to protect the personal information we hold against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure, and against other misuse. When the personal information that we collect is no longer required, we destroy or delete it in a secure manner.

All credit card details are only stored and transmitted in encrypted form. Unencrypted credit card information is NOT stored on our internet servers. Online credit card payments are currently processed using a third-party payment gateway service run by E Way. E Way provides a plastic card industry data security scheme compliant payment gateway service to ACNP that is used to securely process customer payments. Credit card information is never stored in a cookie.

If an individual use their credit card and the transaction is manual rather than electronic, the record will be stored by ACNP for the period that financial records are required to be retained following which it will be destroyed in a secure manner.

There are inherent risks in transmitting information across the internet and we do not have the ability to control the security of information collected and stored on third party platforms. In relation to our own servers, we take all reasonable steps to manage data stored on our servers to ensure data security.

Part B – Contact ACNP
 
6.      Accessing personal information

Individuals can access the personal information that we hold about them, and they can ask us to correct the personal information we hold about them. ACNP will take reasonable steps to make appropriate corrections to personal information so that it is accurate, complete and up-to-date unless we consider that there is a sound reason under the Privacy Act or other relevant law to withhold the information, or not make the changes. If ACNP does not agree to make requested changes to personal information an individual may make a statement about the requested changes and ACNP will attach this to the record.

If an individual is listed on our network or email lists, they are given the opportunity to opt out at any time. An individual can unsubscribe by using the ‘unsubscribe’ options noted in our emails.

7.      Complaint Handling Processes

An individual may complain to ACNP about the way we handled their personal information. A complaint should be handled in a timely manner and, where appropriate, resolved quickly and informally. Complaints about ACNP actions should be made in writing. On receipt, the complaint is referred to the ACNP President.

A complaint received should always be examined to see whether ACNP acted appropriately. If not, it may be appropriate to provide an explanation or apology. If further action is deemed to be required, the matter may be referred to the ACNP Board for consideration. All responses to complaints will be made in writing.

Under the Privacy Act an individual can make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner about the handling of their personal information by private sector organisations covered by the Privacy Act.

8.      Contact ACNP

For further information contact ACNP at admin@acnp.org.au or alternatively write to ACNP at Domain LPO PO BOX 33175 Melbourne VIC 3004 or call us on 1300 433 660.