Privacy policy.
Rubin Blight Hardy Family Lawyers & Mediators (“RBH”) are committed to protecting our client’s privacy and security. Our Privacy Policy sets out our general handling information practices. We are committed to complying with both the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (“Privacy Act“) and the Australian Privacy Principles (“APP“).
1. WHAT IS PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, whether the information or opinion is true or not, and whether or not the information or opinion is recorded in a material form.
Sensitive information is a subset of personal information and includes information or an opinion about an individual’s race or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, sexual preferences, criminal record, health record or professional or trade association memberships.
RBH may collect and hold information about clients, potential clients and business associates and their employees, suppliers and their employees, employees, prospective employees and contractors and others.
2. INFORMATION COLLECTED
The personal and sensitive information collected and stored by RBH about you generally includes information such as (but not limited to) your name, address, telephone numbers, email addresses and other information as provided to us. RBH require this information to enable RBH to contact you as part of our day to day business dealings and correspondence.
If you are a visitor to our website, RBH may collect your personal information for a number of reasons such as:
For the purposes of measurement, including the number of visitors to the site each day, the number of pages visited, and the length of time people spend on those pages. Like many websites, our website may use “cookies” which store small amounts of information on computer hard drives or memory that access the website to collect this information. You should be able to configure your computer so that it disables cookies or does not accept them. You may be enquiring about our services and will need to register your details with us so that the appropriate person can contact you. RBH will use your personal information in accordance with the APP, such as for the purposes for which it is collected, to provide you with information on our products and services.
3. HOW DO WE COLLECT PERSONAL INFORMATION?
RBH will generally collect personal information by way of forms filled out by people, during conferences either face-to-face or via video link, telephone conversations, emails and from third parties.
If RBH receive personal or sensitive information about you that RBH has not requested, and if RBH determine that RBH could not lawfully have collected that information had RBH requested it, RBH will destroy that information, if it is lawful and reasonable to do so.
4. USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
RBH will use your personal information in order to provide services and to conduct RBH’s business.
RBH may disclose personal information for the purpose for which it was collected and also:
Subject to RBH’s professional obligations, to any person where necessary in connection with RBH’s provision of legal services, such as to the client, regulatory advisors, barristers, medical professionals, valuers, courts and tribunals. On a confidential basis to external service providers so that they can provide financial, administrative or other services in connection with the operation of RBH’s business, for example photocopying, data processing and technology, security and archiving services and other financial and professional institutions; and with your consent to an overseas recipient except where disclosure is otherwise authorised or required by law.
RBH will not disclose information about you to a company that is not a related entity unless the disclosure is required or authorised by law, or you have consented to RBH disclosing the information about you. RBH may also need to disclose your information to law enforcement agencies, investigators and lawyers.
5 SECURITY OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
RBH takes all reasonable steps to ensure the protection and safeguards of your personal information from misuse, interference and loss, unauthorised access, modifications and or disclosure. RBH does not store any personal information outside Australia.
Access to your personal information is limited to those who specifically need it to conduct their responsibilities. RBH also maintain physical security procedures to manage and protect the use and storage of paper records containing personal information.
RBH holds your personal information in paper and electronic files, in software programs both onsite and offsite, including in the cloud.
RBH’s staff are responsible for handling personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act and the APP.
RBH will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify personal information when it is no longer required but having regard also to RBH’s obligation to maintain copies of files for 7 years.
6. ACCESS AND ACCURACY OF INFORMATION
You may request access to your personal information. RBH will process any request within a reasonable period.
RBH will take reasonable steps to ensure that the information RBH hold about you is current, accurate and complete. If you believe that the information RBH has about you is not current, accurate and complete, RBH ask that you let them know.
7. IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT
If you have a complaint about the privacy of your personal information, RBH asks that you write to RBH. RBH will promptly acknowledge and investigate complaints. At all times, RBH will respect and protect the privacy and confidentiality of personal information.
RBH can be contacted in writing by electronic email address:
The Practice Manager