Privacy Policy

The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) and Circulations Audit Board (CAB) are committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information. This privacy policy explains how the ABC/CAB manage the personal information that we collect, use and disclose and how to contact us if you have any further queries about the management of your personal information. This privacy policy does not cover personal information collected or held by the ABC/CAB about its employees.

The ABC/CAB is required by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) to comply with the National Privacy Principles (NPP) (subject to the other provisions of the Privacy Act). The NPPs regulate the manner in which personal information is handled throughout its life cycle, from collection to use and disclosure, storage, accessibility and disposal. The ABC/CAB is also required to comply with the Spam Act 2003 (Cth) (Spam Act) and the Do Not Call Register Act 2006 (Cth) (Do Not Call Register Act).

What is personal information?

Personal information is information or an opinion, in any form and whether true or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained from the information or opinion. Examples include an individual's name, address, contact number and email address.
Special provisions apply to the collection of personal information which is sensitive information. Sensitive information includes information about a person's membership of a professional or trade association.

Collection of personal information by the ABC/CAB

To the extent required by the Privacy Act:

  • The ABC/CAB will not collect personal information about you unless that information is necessary for one or more of our functions or activities

  • The ABC/CAB will collect personal information only by lawful and fair means and not in an unreasonably intrusive manner

When the ABC/CAB collect personal information directly from you, we will take reasonable steps at or before the time of collection to ensure that you are aware of certain key matters, such as the purposes for which we are collecting the information, the organisations (or types of organisations) to which we would normally disclose information of that kind, the fact that you are able to access the information and how to contact us (for example, where personal information is collected on a form, we will generally include a written privacy statement on the form which sets out these details).

The ABC/CAB will collect your personal information directly from you where it is reasonable and practicable to do so. Where the ABC/CAB collect information about you from a third party, we will still take reasonable steps to ensure that you are made aware of the details set out above.

Use and disclosure of personal information by the ABC/CAB

If the ABC/CAB use or disclose your personal information for a purpose (secondary purpose) other than the main reason for which it was originally collected (primary purpose), to the extent required by the Privacy Act, we will ensure that:

  • the secondary purpose is related to the primary purpose of collection (and directly related in the case of sensitive information), and you would reasonably expect that the ABC/CAB would use or disclose your information in that way;

  • you have consented to the use or disclosure of your personal information for the secondary purpose:
    - the use or disclosure is required or authorised by or under law; or
    - the use or disclosure is otherwise permitted by the Privacy Act (for example, as a necessary part of an investigation of suspected unlawful activity)

Why do the ABC/CAB collect personal information?

The ABC/CAB collect personal information for a range of purposes, including to:

  • process applications for membership and membership renewals

  • manage memberships of the ABC/CAB

  • record and maintain memberships details

  • provide information on services and benefits available to members

  • notify members about the ABC/CAB events

  • ensure compliance with the ABC/CAB Rules and By-Laws

  • proceed with the ABC/CAB Audit activities

From time to time, the ABC/CAB may survey their members on a range of issues such as marketing surveys, Audit and Compliance surveys. These surveys help us to identify and analyse the ongoing needs of our members and the quality of our services. If you do not wish to participate in these surveys, please let us know (our contact details are provided at the end of this policy).

If you are a prospective member and you give us your consent, we may also use your personal information to provide you with information about the ABC/CAB and our current and future membership benefits. You can let us know at any time if you no longer wish to be contacted for this purpose. Your consent will remain current until you advise us otherwise.

How might we contact you?

We may contact you in a variety of ways, including by mail, email, telephone or facsimile.

Spam

We will not send you any commercial electronic messages such as SMSs or emails unless this is permitted by the Spam Act (for example, if we have your express or inferred consent to do so). Any commercial electronic message that we send will identify the ABC/CAB as the senders and will include our contact details. The message will also provide an unsubscribe facility. If you do not wish to receive commercial electronic messages from us, please let us know.

Do Not Call Register

We will not call you on a number listed on the Do Not Call Register unless this is permitted under the Do Not Call Register Act and related instruments (for example, if we have your express or inferred consent to do so). If you do not wish us to call you on a particular number, please let us know (our contact details are provided at the end of this policy).

When does the ABC/CAB disclose personal information to third parties?

In performing our functions and activities, we may need to disclose personal information to third parties.

Third parties with whom the ABC/CAB may share your personal information include, where appropriate:

  • universities and other education providers to performed under reference checking process for future employment

  • government and regulatory bodies such as the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Australian Education International, Employment and Workplace Relations for the purpose, for example, of assessing qualification of potential applicant for a position with the ABC/CAB.

  • financial institutions for payment processing

  • other professional bodies, for the purpose of reference checking

Data quality and security

To the extent required by the Privacy Act, the ABC/CAB will take reasonable steps to:

  • make sure that the personal information that we collect, use and disclose is accurate, complete and up-to-date

  • protect the personal information that we hold from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure

  • destroy or permanently de-identify personal information that is no longer needed for any purpose that is permitted by the Privacy Act

Anonymity

The ABC/CAB will generally provide individuals with the option of not identifying themselves when entering into transactions when it is lawful and practicable to do so.

Use of Commonwealth government identifiers

The ABC/CAB will not use Commonwealth government identifiers (Identifiers) (such as Medicare numbers) as its own identifier of individuals. We will only use or disclose Identifiers in the circumstances permitted by the Privacy Act.

Access and correction of your personal information

Please contact the ABC/CAB if you would like to access or correct the personal information that we hold about you. The ABC/CAB will generally provide you with access to your personal information (although a fee may be imposed), and will take reasonable steps to amend any personal information that is incorrect. In some circumstances, the ABC/CAB may not permit access to your personal information, or may refuse to correct your personal information, in which case we will provide you with reasons for this decision.

Further information

Please contact the ABC/CAB if you have any queries about the personal information that is held about you or the way we handle that personal information. The ABC/CAB contact details for privacy queries are set out below.

The ABC/CAB Privacy Contact

If you have any queries about this privacy policy please contacts the ABC/CAB privacy officer:

ABC/CAB, Privacy Officer, Level 4, 63 York Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Tel: 02 9954 9800

Complaints

Please contact the ABC/CAB privacy contact using the above details if you have any concerns or complaints about the manner in which your personal information has been collected or handled by the ABC/CAB.