Privacy Policy

Our organisation is committed to respecting the privacy of your personal information. It is bound by a set of National Privacy Principles and Victorian Health Privacy Principles that establish the benchmark for how personal information should be handled. These principles have been embraced by UnitingCare Community Options as part of standard operating procedures. What this means is that all personal information that enters UnitingCare Community Options is dealt with in a uniform manner and the highest regard is taken for maintaining its security at all times. Our organisation holds and maintains a participate record that includes date of birth, next of kin information and significant contacts with participates, family and service providers in relation to participates’ ongoing care. It also holds limited social, health and financial information.

The main purpose for which our organisation holds this information is to assess the level of care appropriate to participates’ needs, to arrange support and monitor the ongoing well being of participates. Our organisation may, from time to time, disclose some of this personal information to the Commonwealth or Victorian Government or its agencies. This will be done in accordance with the provisions of the Disability Services Act (Victoria), Aged Care Act or other relevant law, and will be done for the purpose of informing decisions about funding and services. The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments are also subject to laws dealing with privacy and have their own policies that are designed to safeguard your personal information.

If you are concerned that our organisation may have handled your personal information inappropriately, please contact our Privacy Officer, on 9890 6933. All complaints are taken seriously and we will endeavour to deal with them promptly. In some cases, we may require that you put your complaint in writing.

If you would like to know more about our privacy practices, including your right to request access to any personal information held by our organisation, please contact our Privacy Officer, on the above number. It is the policy of our organisation that all requests for access to be made in writing. Our Privacy Officer will arrange for an access form to be sent to you and can assist with any enquiries you may have about the process. Our organisation will respond to all requests for access within 45 days and, in most cases, will be able to respond well before that time.