Privacy Policy – Your Personal Information
At WomenCAN Australia, we respect your privacy. We are committed to protecting your personal information and follow all relevant laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic).
This policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you engage with our services or visit our website.
What we collect
We only collect the information we need to support you. This may include:
- Your name, age, date of birth, and contact details
- Gender identity, cultural background, and language
- Emergency contact or next of kin
- Details about your situation, education, work history, and support needs
- Bank details (if needed for payments or reimbursements)
- Photos or images (only with your consent)
Sometimes we receive extra information we didn’t ask for. If we don’t need it, we delete or de-identify it.
If you don’t provide the information we need, we may not be able to support you properly.
How we collect your information
We always ask for your permission (consent) before collecting or sharing your information. You can give consent in writing, online, or over the phone.
We collect information:
- When you fill in a form, talk to us in person, email us, phone us, or use our website
- Directly from you
- From someone who refers you to us (such as a case worker or support worker)
How we use your information
With your consent, we use your information to:
- Provide the services you’ve asked for
- Help you connect with training (e.g. TAFE or an RTO) or employment
- Work with your case worker or referrer to support you
- Make referrals to other services (with your permission)
- Contact you about new opportunities or services
- Ask for your thoughts and feedback, so we can keep improving our services
- Report to our funders in a way that does not identify you
We do not share your information with other organisations for marketing purposes.
We securely destroy or de-identify your information when it’s no longer needed.
When we may share your information without consent
We may need to share your personal information without your consent if:
- There is a serious risk to your safety or someone else’s
- The law, a court, or government agency requires it
We’ll let you know if this happens, unless it’s unsafe or we’re not allowed to.
How we keep your information safe
We protect your information using:
- Locked storage for paper records
- Secure computer systems with passwords and access controls
- Staff training and procedures that limit who can access information
We do not store information on personal USBs, devices, or emails.
Your rights
You can contact us at any time to:
- Ask what personal information we hold about you
- Correct any information that’s wrong or out of date
- Withdraw your consent or ask us to stop using your information (where possible)
We may limit access if it would impact someone else’s safety or break the law.
Children and young people
We will do what we believe is necessary to protect the safety and wellbeing of children and young people when making decisions about privacy.
We maintain a child or young person’s confidentiality except in situations where their safety and wellbeing are at risk.
Website usage and cookies
Our website may collect general usage data (e.g. pages visited, device type, time on site) through tools like Google Analytics. This helps us improve the website experience. We do not use this information to identify you.
You can choose to turn off cookies in your browser settings.
Donations and fundraising
If you donate to WomenCAN Australia or sign up for a fundraising campaign, your personal information is handled in line with our Donations Privacy Policy.
Questions or privacy concerns?
If you have any questions about how we handle your personal information or would like to make a complaint, please contact:
Privacy Officer
📧 contact@womencanaustralia.org
📍 WomenCAN Australia
Level 4, 88 Jolimont St, East Melbourne. Vic. 3002
📞 0434 805 600
If you are not happy with our response, you can contact:
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
📞 1300 363 992
🌐 www.oaic.gov.au
Last updated: June 2025