Privacy Policy

YFS will only collect personal information necessary for, or directly related to, our activities and functions and only by fair means. All information collection is conducted lawfully, fairly and with transparency.

Personal information is information that identifies you (name, date of birth, address and contact details) and includes sensitive and health information. You may request to access our services anonymously or under a pseudonym and, where lawful, we will take all reasonable steps to accommodate your request.

When collecting personal information, we will ensure that you are aware of:

• the purpose for which information is being collected
• to whom the information is usually disclosed.

YFS has possession of personal and sensitive information and has in place reasonable safeguards against unauthorised access, misuse, interference, loss, modification or disclosure of the information.

Closed files will be legally disposed of based on legislative requirements and organisational policy.

YFS has an obligation to notify particular individuals and the Australian Information Commissioner about eligible data breaches in accord with the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme.

YFS will take reasonable steps to ensure any personal information used is accurate, current and complete.

YFS may use or disclose personal information if your prior approval is on file (and current); if a situation is unsafe for you or others; or if it is required by law or situations when an external party is investigating a serious complaint or incident and checking the quality of work (e.g. funding bodies, Work Cover or Child Safety 159 request).

In general, we will use personal information only for the purpose for which it was collected.

Any disclosure will be recorded on your file.

Clients and their advocates can have reasonable access to their YFS files.

Our privacy policy may be suspended if the release of information risks the safety of any person.

You may also request to change the personal information about you.

We will take reasonable steps to correct any information that is inaccurate, incomplete, out-of-date or misleading.

Amendments are made by adding a notation to the file.

We may refuse your request to access or amend your personal information but you will be provided with a reason for our decision and in the case of an amendment, we will place a note with your personal information indicating that you have disputed its accuracy.

No attempts are made to identify anyone browsing our website.

Where our website and social media sites contain links to third-party sites, both government and non-government, YFS is not responsible for the privacy or security practices or content of such websites. Your activity on those sites is covered by the privacy policies of those sites.

YFS will not use or disclose your personal information for direct marketing purposes without your consent. If you choose to receive updates, news, event information or other communications from YFS, you can opt out at any time.

YFS does not use or disclose personal information for direct marketing purposes. YFS may take photographs and videos at events for use on the YFS website, social media, media and other publications. Signs are posted at event entrances advising attendees that images will be taken; to opt out they see YFS staff at the event to be issued a wristband. Photographers are instructed not to take images of people with wristbands. If they are snapped, they will be cropped out wherever possible.

YFS Legal staff are solicitors and legal support staff who are legally and professionally required to keep client information confidential.

YFS Legal operates behind a formal information barrier that prevents confidential client information from being shared with other YFS services. This means that information you provide to YFS Legal will remain within YFS Legal and will not be shared with other parts of YFS without your consent, unless we are required to do so by law. Information you provide to your lawyer may also be protected by legal professional privilege.

To protect your privacy, YFS Legal has separate intake and record-keeping systems, and only YFS Legal staff can access YFS Legal client files, emails and communications. YFS Legal also has its own dedicated email address (legal@yfs.org.au) and phone number (07 3826 1599).

If you contact the main YFS reception with a legal issue, you will be transferred directly to YFS Legal. YFS Reception staff will not ask you to provide personal details before connecting you to the legal service.

For more information about how YFS Legal protects client confidentiality and manages information barriers, please read the YFS Legal Information Barrier Policy.