Privacy Statement

We understand how important the privacy of your information is to you and we are committed to ensuring the confidentiality of your personal information. This Policy Statement informs you how we manage personal information. We are bound by the National Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth). Our staff is trained to respect your privacy in accordance with our standards, policies and procedures.

About this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy outlines how we manage your personal information.
It also describes generally the sorts of personal information held and for what purposes, and how that information is collected, held, used and disclosed.
Our Privacy Policy applies to all your dealings with us whether at one of our branches, through our call centres, via our website or an advisor. We encourage you to check our website regularly for any updates to our Privacy Policy.

Collection

The only personal information, which we collect about you when you use our website, is what you tell us about yourself, for example, by completing an online form such as an assessment form or by sending us an email.
When you visit our website, the web-page server attaches a small data file known as a “cookie” to your hard drive. We use cookies to provide us with aggregate (anonymous) information on how people use our website and to help us to know what our customers find interesting and useful on our website. The information derived from cookies will not be personal information because it does not reveal your identity. The information collected may include your name, postal or email address, date of birth, financial details or other information the organisation considers necessary.

Use and Disclosure

We collect and use your personal information for the primary purpose of:
· Assessing an application by you for a product or service.
· Providing you with the service that you have requested.

Security

We will take reasonable precautions and security measures to keep your personal information secure and protect it from loss and misuse and from unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

Updating your Personal Information

Generally, if you request us to do so, we will amend any personal information about you held by us which is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date. If we disagree with you about the accuracy, completeness or currency of a record of your personal information held by us, we will, if you request us to do so, take reasonable steps to associate with that record a statement to the effect that you claim this to be the case.

Access to Personal Information

You can ask us to provide you with access to your personal information. Requests for a large amount of information, or information that is not currently in use, may attract a fee and require further time before a response can be given. In some cases, we are entitled under the National Privacy Principles to refuse to give you access to your personal information. This includes circumstances where giving you access to your personal information would prejudice negotiations we are having with you, prejudice investigations of lawful activity or prejudice activities carried out by or for a law enforcement agency.
If we deny your request for access, we will advise you of the reason why.

Your sensitive information

Without your consent we will not collect information about you that reveals your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs or affiliations, membership of a professional or trade association, membership of a trade union, details of health, disability, sexual orientation, or criminal record. This is subject to some exceptions including;

· the collection is required by law
· when the information is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of a legal claim