Your privacy is important to us. We are committed to protecting your privacy and to ensure that we uphold your trust. Our Privacy Policy is created in compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and covers how we collect, use, disclose, and store your information.
Why we collect your personal information
Altona Evangelical Church is a non-profit organisation committed to raising and equipping committed disciples of Jesus Christ. To accomplish this, we provide a range of Christian programmes including weekly church services, bible study groups and other related activities. To participate in certain programmes or activities, we need to collect certain information from those who want to be involved, enabling us to communicate with them and provide the requested services.
What personal information we collect
The information that we collect about you will vary depending on the nature of involvement and the activities that you choose to be involved in. We endeavour to only ask you for information that is reasonably necessary for the activities you are seeking to be involved in. You are not required to provide the personal and/or sensitive information that we request, but if you choose not to provide it, it may hinder or prevent your involvement or inclusion in some activities and communications and the degree of pastoral care and support that we can provide you with.
The information that we may collect includes:
- contact details (name, address, telephone numbers, e-mail, etc.);
- personal details (birthdate, gender, marital status, etc.);
- family details (spouse, children, etc.); and
- occupation information and qualifications (profession, job title, etc.).
Some personal information is considered 'sensitive information'. At times we collect sensitive information about you, including:
- health information;
- religious information (attendance, denominational details, etc.)
- professional and practice information;
- criminal record; and
- financial and credit card information.
Online privacy
We are committed to protect your privacy on our websites. By using this website, you are giving us your express consent to use the information that we collect about you in the manner described in this Policy. All access to our public website is anonymous, except for any areas where you login with your own account or enter your personal information. Cookies are only used to store temporary information about your current visit, and all data stored in them is encrypted.
When you visit our public website a record of your visit is logged and the following data is supplied by your browser, including:
- The date, time and length of your visit to the website;
- Your IP address and/or domain name;
- Your operating system (type of browser and platform); and
- The pages and resources you accessed and the documents you downloaded.
Our website may contain links to third party websites, and third party websites may also have links to our website. Our privacy policy does not apply to other websites, and the operators of other websites may collect your personal information. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any website you link to from our website.
Our staff and some volunteers and leaders have access to private sections of our public website and to private websites such our staff intranet, which also log access and activities for auditing and security purposes.
How we collect your information
We collect information directly from you, unless it is unreasonable or impractical to do so. Where we collect information from third parties and it is not personal information that is contained in a Commonwealth record, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify the information as required by law. The means by which we collect information includes, but not limited to:
- paper and electronic forms (website contact form, visitor card, event registration, etc.);
- face-to-face meetings;
- email or social media messages;
- phone calls; and
- voice or image recording.
We will advise you of the purposes for collecting the information at the point that it is collected, and of any third parties to whom the information is usually disclosed.
Altona Evangelical Church is committed to protecting the privacy and safety of children. We do not knowingly accept personal information from any person under the age of 18 without verifiable parental or legal guardian consent. If a parent or legal guardian is willing to grant consent, a signed consent form will be required.
Unsolicited collection of personal information
At times we may discover personal or sensitive information about you from a third party. If it is not personal information that is contained in a Commonwealth record, and if it is not necessary for conducting Church activities, or we are unable to advise you, we will take steps to de-identify or destroy the information if it is lawful and reasonable to do so.
Security of your personal information
We take all reasonable steps to protect the personal and sensitive information we hold from interference, misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Our IT systems are password protected and comply with applicable security standards. Only authorised personnel are permitted to access your data. It is our policy to destroy personal information once there is no longer a legal or other need for us to retain it.
How we use your information
We only use your personal and sensitive information for the reason we collect it as outlined above and for the purpose(s) for which it was collected and for any other purposes that you consent to, or as otherwise reasonably expected or permitted by law.
At times we will use your personal information to directly communicate with you about areas that may be of interest or benefit to you, such as church events or training. These communications will typically be in the form of SMS text, social media or e-mail message. We will always give you the ability to opt-out of these communications, unless the communication is required for involvement in a specific event, ministry or other area in which you have chosen to participate.
Accessing your personal information
We take all reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information we hold is relevant, accurate, complete and up-to-date, and you may gain access to your personal and sensitive information by requesting it from us. However, in some circumstances we may need to deny your access request, for example where: granting you access would have an unreasonable impact on someone else's privacy; or for any other reason as consistent with the Privacy Act. In such a situation we will provide you with an explanation in writing for why access is denied.
Disclosure of your personal information
Any information that you provide to us, is obtained through this website, or via mobile communications may be used for Church purposes. We may disclose your personal information to companies providing services on our behalf, or to other affiliated churches and entities for church purposes only. We will not sell, rent or lease your personal information to commercial entities, or otherwise disclose your personal information without your express consent, unless such disclosure is necessary to comply with applicable laws or relevant legal proceedings.
Privacy questions and complaints
If you have any questions or concerns about our Privacy Policy or if you would like to make a complaint about a possible breach of local privacy laws, please contact us directly or use the contact form available on our website.
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We encourage you to periodically review this statement to remain informed as to how Altona Evangelical Church is protecting your information. Notification of any substantial change to this Policy will be made by means of the monthly newsletter or quarterly business meeting.
Last Updated: 17th September, 2022