Privacy

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians

PRIVACY POLICY FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Purpose and Policy

The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to articulate how the College protects personal information.

The College complies with the requirements of the national Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth) (Australia) and the Privacy Act 1993 (New Zealand) and has adopted the Australian National Privacy Principles as the guidelines for ensuring the protection of personal information in its care.

This policy applies to all personal information collected, stored, used and disclosed by the College.

This policy statement explains:

• What personal information the College collects.
• How the College uses/discloses that information.
• How the College stores that information.
• Entitlement to access personal information.

By 'personal information', we mean information about an identifiable individual.

What Personal Information is Collected

The College only collects personal information that is relevant to and necessary for it to serve and work with its Fellows, Trainees, Staff and other individuals (collectively "you") and to comply with legal requirements.

The four main points at which your personal information may be collected by the College are:

• On visiting the College's website.
• On joining or renewing membership of the College as a Fellow or a Trainee.
• When applying to and joining the College as an employee.
• When otherwise contacting or communicating with the College, including making enquiries of the College.

Visiting the College's Website

The only personal information the College collects from you via its website is what you agree to provide.  For example when you complete an online form or application for education or registration to attend a seminar, your personal details provided will be confidentially and securely maintained by the College.

Joining the College as a Fellow or Trainee

Any personal information collected from Fellows and Trainee will be used, stored and disclosed by the College so it can function and provide those services you require and request.

The type of information collected includes but is not limited to:

• Your name, address and date of birth.
• Qualifications and medical training and work history.
• Your medical registration details both in Australia and where applicable from overseas.
• Your hospital affiliation and any other specialist or other relevant memberships.
• Details of continuing professional development that you have completed.
• Your examination results and any other relevant professional training and assessment result details.

Applying to and Joining the College as an Employee

This Privacy Policy applies to all third parties who contact, liaise with or communicate with the College to apply for positions of employment, either by telephone, in writing (including via email) or via the College's website.

Otherwise Contacting or Communicating with the College

This Privacy Policy applies to all third parties who contact, liaise with or communicate with the College either by telephone, in writing (including via email) or via the College's website.

How the College Uses/Discloses that Information

In general terms, personal information held by the College may be used or disclosed for one or more of the following purposes:

• Qualification and exam assessments;
• Membership registration;
• Registration to attend events and seminars (including to third party seminar organisers for the purpose of event registration);
• Communicating with you;
• Offering member benefits and other services to you, such as the College's e-bulletin updates and discounts on products and services available to College members that are provided by external partners to the College.  You may request that this information not be sent to you;
• Sending notices, surveys and information to Fellows about College events, elections and committees;
• Confirming your membership of the College to members of the public;
• To relevant advanced training medical specialty societies and organisations;
• To hospitals and medical Directors of Physician Education/Directors of Paediatric Physician Training and supervisors;
• To external partners with which the College has entered into agreement (subject to strict privacy and confidentialty requirements) to provide services or information to you, or to offer you special membership benefits and services as part of the primary purpose of College membership;
• To regulators and external medical organisations to which the College is required to disclose your details (such as State Medical Boards, Australian Medical Council, Medical Council of New Zealand, Australian Health Practitioners Registration Authority);
• To external managers of the College's members' register.

The College does not sell or rent the personal information it has collected to organisations such as telemarketers, mailing list brokers, pharmaceutical companies or medical equipment companies.

How the College Stores that Information

The College seeks to adopt security procedures and technology to protect the information it holds against unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.  From time to time, the College reviews those procedures and technologies.

Entitlement to Access Personal Information 

You are entitled to request access to your personal information held by the College.  In normal circumstances the College will give you full access to your information.

However, there may be some legal or administrative reasons to deny access.  If the College decides to deny access, the College will provide you with the reason why.

Keeping Information Accurate and Up To Date

The College makes every reasonable effort to keep your information accurate and up to date, which allows the College to provide the best possible service to you.  You can assist by keeping the College informed of any updates such as address change, email change or legal name change.  If you find errors in your personal information, please advise the College and it will make the appropriate corrections.

Contacting the College

If you require any further information or have any questions regarding the College privacy policy or its handling of personal information, please contact the Privacy Officer on telephone: 02 9256 9611.
 

Approved by the RACP Board, 10 December 2010.