Whole of
Church Privacy Policy
Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod
The Uniting Church in Australia,
Queensland Synod is committed to be obedient to both its mission and the laws of
Australia. It therefore seeks to abide by the
Privacy Act (2000). The Uniting Church
in Australia, Qld Synod is a body of many parts.
To provide a framework that:
·
Ensures the Church, including all its
congregations, agencies and activities collect, use, keep secure and disclose personal
information in a manner that conforms to the amended Privacy Act (2000).
·
Recognises that congregations, agencies
and activities may have special privacy considerations and where this occurs that they are
able to further develop the policy to address their specific needs (second generation
policy).
·
Ensures all second-generation policies are
consistent with one another and reflective of the Church’s
mission.
The Uniting Church in Australia, Qld Synod
is an unincorporated association and as such, cannot own property, make contracts or sue
and be sued, as it is not a legal entity. To
enable the Church to conduct its external legal transactions, an Act of the Queensland
Parliament, The Uniting Church in Australia Act 1977, establishes the Uniting
Church in Australia Property Trust (Q.), (the Trust). The Trust is the legal entity which holds all
property in trust for the Church. All actions and consequent documentation must be in the
name of the Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (Q).
In this policy, unless the context or
subject matter otherwise indicates:
Agency includes any body not
separately incorporated and responsible to UnitingCare, Queensland
Parts of the Church includes any
Presbytery, Congregation, School, Institution or other Agency not responsible to
UnitingCare, Queensland
Second Generation Policy is any
Privacy policy developed by any part of the Uniting Church in Australia, Qld Synod , not
including this policy.
As from 21 December 2001 all
personal information collected by all parts of the Uniting Church in
Australia, Qld Synod will comply with the National Privacy Principles as detailed below
and as amended from time to time:
1. Collection
2. Use
and disclosure
3. Data
quality
4. Data
security
5. Openness
6. Access
and correction
7. Identifiers
8. Anonymity
9. Transborder
data flows
10. Sensitive
Information
The Uniting Church in
Australia, Qld Synod has adopted a “whole of church” privacy policy,
understanding that the work of
the various parts of the Church is broad ranging and the process to develop and implement
an appropriate policy to address the specific needs of each part is complex and
cumbersome. Elements of specific policy
development (called second Generation policies) and implementation are thus delegated to
those agencies or parts of the Church that have specific privacy considerations.
To ensure that the Church
across its parts has privacy policies that are consistent with one another and reflective
of the Church’s mission, any Agency
which develops a second-generation privacy policy, must have authorization by UnitingCare
Queensland and must appoint a Privacy Officer.
Any other
part of the Church is required to submit their second generation policy to the Property
Office, Queensland Synod and to appoint a Privacy Officer.
All parts of the Uniting Church in
Australia, Qld Synod must perform a privacy audit of sensitive and confidential
information from time to time to ensure that the Principles of the Privacy Act (2000) and
of this, and any second generation policy are being adhered.
The
Queensland Synod reserves the right to inspect second generation policies, procedures and relevant information at any time.
Where a second generation privacy policy
exists, the name and contact details of the Privacy Officer needs to be forwarded to the
Property Division by 15 February of each year to ensure that queries are directed
appropriately.
Changes to
second generation Policies or associated documentation must be forwarded to the
authorizing body, ie UnitingCare or the Property Office after amendment.
end of draft
policy