Privacy

This Privacy Policy is the online privacy policy for the Mental Health Commission (Commission). It applies to all personal information . In this policy we explain how and why we collect your personal information, how we use it, and what controls you have over our use of it.

The Commission is committed to complying with Commonwealth legislation governing privacy of personal information by businesses and to protecting and safeguarding your privacy when you deal with us.

Collection of information

Some information provided to us by clients, customers, contractors and other third parties might be considered private or personal. Without these details we would not be able to carry out our business and provide our services to you. We will only collect personal information if it is necessary for one of our functions or activities. 

The Commission collects personal information in the following situations:

1. If you contact the Commission, we may keep a record of that correspondence.
2. When you submit your email address to our website mailing list.

At, or before, the time the personal information is collected by us, we will take reasonable steps to ensure you are made aware of who we are, the fact you are able to gain access to the information held about you, the purpose of the collection, the type(s) of organisations to which we usually disclose the information collected about you, any laws requiring the collection of the information, and the main consequences for you if all, or part of, the information is not collected. 

Use of information collected and disclosure of personal information to others

We may use or disclose personal information held about an individual for the primary purpose for which it is collected (e.g. provision of our services, including administration of our services, notification to you about changes to our services, record-keeping following termination of our services to you and technical maintenance). We may also use such information related to the primary purpose of collection and where it would reasonably be expected by you that we would use the information in such a way. This information is only disclosed to persons outside our business in the circumstances set out in this policy or as otherwise notified to you at the time of collection of the information. 

In addition, we are permitted to use or disclose personal information held about you:

1. Where you have consented to the use or disclosure;
2. Where we reasonably believe that the use or disclosure is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious, immediate threat to someone's health or safety, or the public's health or safety;
3. Where we reasonably suspect that unlawful activity has been, is being or may be engaged in and the use or disclosure is a necessary part of our investigation or in reporting the matter to the relevant authorities;
4. Where such use or disclosure is required under or authorised by law (for example, to comply with a subpoena, a warrant or other order of a court or legal process);
5. Where we reasonably believe that the use or disclosure is reasonably necessary for prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of crimes or wrongdoings or the preparation for, conduct of, proceedings before any court or tribunal or the implementation of the orders of a court or tribunal by or on behalf of an enforcement body.

Links

Our website may contain links to other websites and those third-party websites may collect personal information about you. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other businesses or the content of websites that are linked to our website. The Commission encourages users to be aware when they leave the site and to read the privacy statements of every web site that collects personally identifiable information. 

Security and storage

1. The Commission places great importance on the security of all information associated with our customers, clients and contractors. We have security measures in place to attempt to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of personal information under our control.
2. Personal information is de-identified or destroyed securely when no longer required by us.
3. Information stored within our computer systems can only be accessed by those entrusted with authority and computer network password sanctions.
4. No data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100 per cent secure. As a result, while we strive to protect user's personal information, the Commission cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information transmitted to it or from its online products or services, and users do so at their own risk. Once the Commission receives your transmission, it makes every effort to ensure its security on its systems.
5. Ultimately, you are solely responsible for keeping your passwords and/or account information secret. You should be careful and responsible whenever you are online.

1. The Commission is committed to maintaining accurate, timely, relevant, and appropriate information about our customers, clients and website users.
2. The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) gives you a ​​right to access information held by us, the Department and other Commonwealth agencies. You can request documents we hold, and we will assess your request against the provisions of the FOI Act. We will give you the document unless an exemption applies. Inaccurate information will be corrected upon receiving advice to this effect from you. To ensure confidentiality, details of your personal information will be passed on to you only if we are satisfied that the information relates to you.
3. If we refuse to provide you with access or correct the personal information held about you by us, then we will provide reasons for such refusal.

Complaints

If you have a complaint about our Privacy Policy or the collection, use or safe disposal or destruction of your personal information, your complaint should be directed in the first instance to us via email: We will investigate your complaint and attempt to resolve any breach that might have occurred in relation to the collection, use or destruction of personal information held by us about you in accordance with the Commonwealth Privacy legislation. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of this procedure, you may request that an independent person (usually the Commonwealth Privacy Officer) investigate your complaint.

Pursuant to the National Privacy Principles we may transfer personal information we have collected about you to someone other than you in a foreign country only if such transfer is permitted by the National Privacy Principles and where you have agreed for your information to be shared.

Cookies

When you visit websites, you might notice a prompt asking you to accept cookies. Cookies are small pieces of data stored on your device that help websites remember your preferences, login information, and browsing activity. Accepting cookies can enhance your online experience.

The choice to accept or reject cookies ultimately depends on your personal preferences and priorities. If you value convenience and personalised content, accepting cookies might be beneficial. However, if you prioritise privacy and control over your personal data, you might prefer to decline cookies.

When you visit the Commission’s site to read, browse or download information, our system will record/log your IP address (the address which identifies your computer on the internet and which is automatically recognised by our web server), date and time of your visit to our site, the pages viewed and any information downloaded. This information will only be used for the purpose of site analysis and to help us offer you improved online service. We may automatically collect non-personal information about you, such as the type of Internet browsers you use or the site from which you linked to our websites.

Changes to Privacy Policy

If the Commission decides to change its Privacy Policy, it will post changes on this Privacy Policy page so that users are always aware of what information is collected, how it is used and the way in which information may be disclosed. As a result, please remember to refer to this Privacy Policy regularly to review any amendments.

Contacting us

If you require further information regarding our Privacy Policy, please email

Should you wish to read more information on privacy legislation or the National Privacy Principles we recommend you visit Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Acceptance

You accept that your use of this site includes your acceptance of this Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use.