Privacy policy

Purpose/Scope:

Human Terrains performs the functions under representative bodies and Land Councils under the Native Title Act 1993 and the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976. It collects personal and sensitive information to enable it to carry out its functions and activities.

Human Terrains respects the privacy of all people that it works with and is committed to managing personal and sensitive information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1998 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) set out in the Privacy Act.

This Privacy Policy sets out how Human Terrains manages personal and sensitive information, including information that is collected through its website.

Human Terrains has a separate Research Information Policy that sets out how it deals with the collection and management of research information that it obtains in the course of carrying out its functions.

This policy applies to all Human Terrains employees and associated stakeholders contracted or involved in Human Terrains business.

Principles:

The kinds of personal or sensitive information collected by Human Terrains will vary depending on a particular individual’s interaction with Human Terrains. It may include:

  • name and contact details including phone number, postal address and email address
  • personal details including gender and date of birth
  • information on personal and family matters, family backgrounds and relationships, and other connections an individual may have with their community and traditional country
  • assisting with the preparation, negotiation and resolution of native title applications, future acts, and Indigenous Land Use Agreements
  • obtaining feedback from individuals about Human Terrains’ functions and activities
  • complying with legislative, regulatory and other legal obligations
  • complying with government funding requirements
  • monitoring and evaluating existing activities and services
  • planning future activities and services
  • producing publications including media releases, newsletters and annual reports
  • legal, policy and research activities related to Human Terrains’ functions (that may also involve other contracted individuals and organisations)
    In order to carry out its functions, Human Terrains may provide personal information to external agencies or organisations for the purposes for which it was provided or where an individual would reasonably expect Human Terrains to use or disclose the information for these purposes.

    Human Terrains conducts its work predominantly in the state of Western Australia. Human Terrains is not in the practice of disclosing personal information to overseas recipients and will not do so without taking reasonable steps to ensure that overseas recipient does not breach the APPs. How Personal Information is collected and held Where possible, Human Terrains collects personal information directly from individuals. Human Terrains does this through various means including face-to-face and phone interviews, claim group and family group meetings, forms and questionnaires. Human Terrains takes reasonable steps to ensure the security of all personal and sensitive information it holds and protect from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

    Access to and correction of Personal Information
    An individual may request access to personal information Human Terrains holds and may request to have this information corrected. Under the APPs there are circumstances in which Human Terrains is not required to provide an individual with access to their personal information. If Human Terrains refuses to give an individual access to their personal information it will provide them with a notice setting out the reasons for the refusal.Where Human Terrains refuses to provide access to, or correct, personal information it will set out in writing the reasons for the refusal and the mechanisms available to complain about the refusal.Human Terrains will acknowledge receipt of the complaint as soon as practicable and may also request any further information it requires to resolve or respond to the complaint.An individual may also complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner about the way Human Terrains is managing their personal information.Documentation/Appendices:

    Changes to the Privacy Policy
    Human Terrains will periodically review the way it handles personal information.
    If changes are made to the procedures to ensure ongoing compliance with the APPs, the policy will be amended accordingly.
    Human Terrains will respond to the complaint in writing within a reasonable period and no later than 30 days after the request.

    Complaints Procedure
    Where an individual wants to make a complaint covered by the Privacy Act that Human Terrains has refused to provide access to or correct their personal information or that Human Terrains has breached an APP, they should forward their complaint in writing to the Human Terrains Director.

    Human Terrains will respond to a request for access to or correction of an individual’s personal information within a reasonable period and no later than 30 days after the request is made.

    Human Terrains will provide an individual with access to their personal information in accordance with the APPs and will take such steps as are reasonable to keep information accurate and up to date.

    Human Terrains’ website provides for the collection of a limited amount of information. From time-to-time the Human Terrains website may also provide links to other websites. When a person accesses a website that is not the Human Terrains website, it may have a different privacy policy. In these circumstances the person should refer to the privacy policy of that organisation or website.

    In some situations Human Terrains may obtain personal or sensitive information from a third party source. If information is collected in this way, Human Terrains will take reasonable steps to contact the individual and obtain consent for use of the information for the purposes for which it was collected.

References:

  • 10.6 Information Technology
  • References:
  • Privacy Act 1998
  • Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)
  • National Privacy Laws in Australian – Office of the Australian Information Commission