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Médecins Sans Frontières Australia (MSF-A) respects your right to the protection of your personal information. This Privacy Policy details how we collect, use, disclose and hold this information.

In this privacy policy, personal information, as defined in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act) means 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.

PART 1 - PERSONAL INFORMATION HANDLING PRACTICES

What we collect and how we collect it

We collect information, such as:

• Name and address
• Telephone/e-mail contact details
• Bank account/credit card numbers
• Employment/education history

The personal information we actually collect varies depending on the purposes for which it was collected. For more information, see Part 2 of this Privacy Policy – “Specific Information Collection Details”.

It is our usual practice to collect personal information directly from the individual. From time to time, MSF-A may also collect personal information from publicly available sources such as telephone directories or mailing lists, provided that the collection is conducted in a fair and lawful manner and the information is necessary for our functions or activities. We may also collect anonymous traffic data on our website to improve our services.

Why we collect your personal information and what it is used for

We only collect, use and disclose personal information for the purposes for which it was given to us, or for purposes which are directly related to one or more of our functions or activities.  These include:

• Processing of donations
• Recruitment of field staff
• Communication with our supporters on our field activities
• MSF-A membership management
• Marketing activities
• Recruitment of volunteers

We use your information to process your donations, to advise you on how your support is helping, and to keep you updated on events and our work in the field. We also use information provided to us to process applications for field work, and from time to time we may use your personal information to send you direct marketing materials. Where you no longer wish to receive direct marketing materials from us in future, you may contact us at any time using the contact details provided below.

You may request at any time that you remain anonymous when dealing with us, and to the extent that it is lawful and practicable for us to enable you to do so, we will accommodate that request. However, if personal information is not provided in full where we have indicated that it is required, we may not be able to process your donations, recruit you as field staff or enable you to become a member of MSF-A.

We only disclose personal information for the purposes for which it was given to us, or for purposes which are directly related to one of our functions or activities, unless required to disclose it by law, unless we have your consent, or unless one of the following situations apply:

Transfer within Médecins Sans Frontières for the recruitment of field staff

Médecins Sans Frontières is an international organisation working in more than 70 countries. Médecins Sans Frontières is made-up of 5 operational centres (Europe-based), 14 other sections and 1 international office (Geneva). In the course of recruitment for field staff, personal information may be transferred between MSF-A and the operational centre/field operations as well as bodies such as embassies , to facilitate the recruitment process. This personal information may also include your health information, which is sensitive information for the purposes of the Privacy Act. We will not disclose your health information without your consent, unless the disclosure is directly related to the purpose of collection. Furthermore, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure that Médecins Sans Frontières’s various operational centres, sections and offices will comply with the Privacy Act and this Privacy Policy when they handle your personal information and are only authorised to use your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected.

Outsourcing

We may also occasionally use external service providers to provide us with certain outsourced services, such as helping us with our mailings. These service providers are required to sign confidentiality agreements to maintain the privacy of your information and we only disclose your personal information to them to the extent necessary for them to perform the services we have requested. Some of these external service providers may be based overseas. Where we do provide your personal information to such external service providers, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure that those external service providers comply with the Privacy Act and this Privacy Policy when they handle your personal information and are only authorised to use your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected.

We do not give information about you to government agencies, organisations or anyone else unless one of the following applies:

• You have consented
• You would expect us to or we have told you we will
• It is required or authorised by law
• It will prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to somebody’s health or life
• The disclosure is reasonably necessary for law enforcement or for the protection of public revenue

Information quality, access and correction

We take reasonable steps to make sure that the personal information we collect is accurate, complete and up-to-date. 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.

You are in control of any personal information you provide to us. If at any time, you would like to correct the personal information we have about you or if you would like to change your preferences for contact from us, you can let us know by contacting us at the email or postal addresses listed below.

You can access the personal information we currently hold about you or request that we change that personal information at any time. We will allow access or make the changes unless we consider that there is a sound reason under the Privacy Act or other relevant law to withhold the information. If we cannot agree to make requested changes to personal information, you may make a statement about the requested changes and we will attach this statement to our records. You may also request access to personal information we hold about you in archive for legal and administrative reasons, which are not current records [but if you do, we may charge you for the cost of providing access].

There is no cost associated with making a request for access to or correction of your personal information [but there may be a cost associated with actually changing or accessing that personal information].You can obtain further information about how to request access or changes to the information we hold about you by contacting us (see details below).

If you wish to allow another person to access your details (eg family member) you need to notify us in writing and it will be noted on your record.

Information security

We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
These steps include a properly configured firewall, encrypted transmission of electronic data, up-to-date anti-virus software, regular monitoring of all network traffic and strict access control policies on electronic data. There is also securing of paper files in locked cabinets and physical access restriction to these files.
When no longer required, personal information is destroyed in a secure manner or deleted.

PART 2 - SPECIFIC INFORMATION COLLECTION DETAILS

This section further details the specific methods of personal information collection we undertake and how that information is used.

Donation Information

We collect personal information from donors in order to process/receipt their donations and to send out periodic mailings relating to our work in the field and how donors can further support this work.

This personal information will include

• Name and address
• Your date of birth
• Telephone/e-mail contact details
• Credit card and/or bank account details
• Bequest intentions.
   

Donor questionnaire responses

We also collect personal information from donors through questionnaires posted out to help us better understand your needs.

The information collected will depend on what you choose to provide us with but may include the following:

• Reason for donating
• What other charities and causes you may support
• What publications you read and how frequently
• What your interests and hobbies are
• What television stations you watch, which types of programs and how often
• Your travel destinations
• Your date of birth
• The industry you work in
• This information is used to more effectively communicate with you personally on specific areas of interest. It is also used as aggregated, de-identified data to assist us in making cost-effective fundraising method choices.

Field staff information

We collect personal information from applicants for field work and field staff to enable the recruitment/ongoing employment process, to contact relatives/friends in the case of a health/security incident in the field and to send out periodic mailings relating to our work in the field and internal events.

This information will include:

• Name, address, date of birth, telephone/e-mail contact details (including relatives/friends)
• Bank account details
• Passport details
• Employment history
• Police reports
• Educational history
• Health information (relevant to field work)
• Contact log
• Information pertaining to your employment references

Where necessary, to facilitate the recruitment process, personal information will be sent overseas, to other Médecins Sans Frontières offices, but only where the applicant has consented by signing an application form for field work which explains this process.

De-identified information is used to monitor recruitment processes, for data presentation in our annual report and for internal Médecins Sans Frontières international reporting.

MSF-A Association members data

We collect personal information on MSF-A Association members to maintain the MSF-A Membership Registry (under the Corporations Act 2001), issue receipts for annual fees and to send out periodic mailings relating to internal events and our work in the field.

This information will include:

• Name and address
• Telephone/e-mail contact details
• Credit card and/or bank account details
• Meeting attendance
• Contact log

Our website

The only personally-identifying information collected from visitors to our website www.msf.org.au is that which is provided to us on a voluntary basis. We only use cookies to collect non-identifying statistical information on how many people visit our website, what country/city/region they are from, which browser/operating system they are using and pages viewed on the website.

Any personal information you provide to us (such as an e-mail address) will only be used for the purpose for which it is collected. We do not trade, sell or rent to any third party information captured or voluntarily submitted on this website.

Any external websites linked to/from MSF-A website are not controlled by MSF-A and therefore we cannot take responsibility for content, claims or adherence to the privacy laws here or overseas.

Contact Us

Questions/complaints about privacy:

Cost of a local call 1300 136 061 or (02) 8570 2600
By e-mail to jocelyn.woodman(at)sydney.msf.org
Mail us at Privacy Officer, Médecins Sans Frontières Australia, P O Box 847, Broadway NSW 2007
 

Updating your information through our Service Centre Team:

Cost of a local call 1300 136 061
By e-mail to office(at)sydney.msf.org
Mail us at Médecins Sans Frontières Australia, P O Box 847, Broadway NSW 2007
 

For more information please contact our office in Sydney: 

This Privacy Policy may change from time to time. This policy was last updated on 29/4/08.