HES Privacy Policy

Introduction

Higher Ed Services (HES) is an `organisation' within the meaning of the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth). The Privacy Act regulates how organisations collect, use, keep, secure and disclose personal information. HES is bound by the Act including the National Privacy Principles set out in the Act. The Act is available for perusal at http://www.privacy.gov.au/act/index.html.

The National Privacy Principles aim to ensure that organisations that hold information about people handle that information responsibly. They also give people some control over the way information about them is handled.
HES takes its obligations to protect privacy very seriously. This policy statement has been prepared to help us to comply with our privacy obligations and to inform you of your privacy rights.

Privacy Compliance

Our policy is to comply in all respects with our privacy obligations. This policy is binding on HES as an organisation as well as on our staff and officers.

Definition

Under the Privacy Act 1988 personal information is defined as:
"information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database), whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion".

Within this definition there is no distinction as to the source of the information or the forms in which it is held. It is personal information whether it is provided by an individual, an organisation or generated by HES.

Collection, use and control of personal information

HES:

1. collects and uses personal information only where it is necessary for one or more of our functions and activities;
2. when collecting personal information, will do so only by lawful and fair means and not in an unreasonably intrusive way;
3. when collecting information that is regarded under the Privacy Act as sensitive, it will be collected only from the person concerned and with his or her consent;
4. will take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information we collect, store, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up to date; and
5. will take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse and loss, and unauthorised access, modification and disclosure in accordance with this Policy and the Privacy Act.

Requests for access to and correction of your personal information

You have a right of access to your personal information. You may request copies of the personal information we hold about you by writing to us or contacting us during our usual office hours

If you are aware that your personal information we hold is out of date, incomplete or inaccurate, please let us now. We will correct any incorrect personal information and we will not refuse to make a correction without giving you our reasons. However, if we do refuse to make a correction, we will take reasonable steps to place with the disputed information a statement from you saying that in your opinion it is out of date, incomplete or inaccurate.

Cynthia Hansen
Chief Executive Officer
Higher Ed Services

Note: This Privacy Policy has been adapted from the privacy policy of Universities Australia