1. About This Policy
1.1. Definition of specific terms
“Compass Church” means Compass Church Ltd ABN 26 456 290 125
The terms “we”, “us” or “our” refer to Compass Church.
“Privacy information” includes personal and sensitive information.
1.2. Purpose of this policy
Compass Church is subject to the Privacy Act 1988. This Privacy Policy explains how our organisation protects the privacy of information in compliance with the APP outlining how we collect, store, use and disclose and personal information provided to us or collected from other sources.
This Privacy Policy informs people how they can access their private information, correct private information held by us and to lodge a complaint.
2. Introduction
Compass Church is committed to its core values of relationship and integrity. It recognises that protecting the privacy of its Partners and Attendees is a key part in living out those core values. This Privacy Policy has been prepared to ensure that we uphold the trust people place in us when they provide us with their personal information. This Privacy Policy acknowledges and is in compliance with the thirteen Australian Privacy Principles that underpin the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012, which amends the Privacy Act 1988.
3. Personal Information Collection
When Compass Church collects and holds personal information, it will ensure that it is done lawfully and in a fair manner. Compass Church will only collect information that is necessary for conducting its activities. Information that is collected may be collected directly or indirectly from you or a third party. The means of collection may be formal or informal. These means may include:
- Ministry forms which include but are not limited to: prayer request forms, subscribing to e-news forms, life group forms, course forms etc.;
- Electronically including through our website, online forms;
- During phone calls;
- Through email and personal contact;
- Face to face contact/meetings;
- Via social media messages and conversations; and
- Other correspondence including event expression of interest and registration.
Compass Church collects and holds personal information to provide care to an individual, to manage relationships with individuals and to provide information on Church events and ministries. Personal information details are necessary to interact with an individual and/or provide ministry outcomes.
The types of personal information that we collect may include:
- Contact details (Name, physical address, telephone numbers, email, postal details);
- Date of birth;
- Nationality;
- Credit card and/or bank account details;
- Communication and complaint details.
We will also from time to time, when necessary collect sensitive personal information including:
- Health information (including access and medical information);
- Professional and practice information;
- Religious information (attendance, denominational information); and
- Criminal record (WWCC, Police Check).
4. Use and Disclosure of Personal Information
Personal Information will only be used for the purpose it was collected and for related purposes that the person would reasonably expect it to be used.
We will only use personal information to:
- Establish and maintain an individual’s involvement with the Church, including providing information regarding Church events and activities;
- Provide products or services the individual has requested form the Church;
- Answer inquiries; and
- Register individuals for events or promotions.
We will only disclose personal information to:
- Third parties only where it will assist Compass Church in its operations, such as event coordinators, department leaders;
- If we are required by law to disclose information; and
- For any other reasonable purpose as allowed or required by the Act.
Compass Church does not rent, sell or exchange personal information. We may disclose personal information to third parties when we are legally required to do so, for example government departments.
We may from time to time share de-identified information to third parties for statistical and research reasons. Any information we share in this manner will be non-personal, non-sensitive and de-identified.
5. Direct Marketing
Compass Church may use your personal information to update you on upcoming events within the church and updates from our leadership team. All of our direct marketing communications contain a facility where you can opt out of receiving any further information specific to the list that has been subscribed to.
You may also at any time request not to receive direct marketing from us. We will comply with any request as soon as reasonably possible.
6. Online Privacy
Compass Church is committed to privacy on its internet site. Compass Church operates a website at compasschurch.com.au which is publicly available. Compass Church collects personal information on its internet site when individuals request a service (e.g. online registration to a Church event). The information collected is limited to what is needed to provide the requested service. When the Compass Church web site is browsed, the internet site host may make a record of the visit and log information for statistical purposes. This may include:
- Server address;
- Top level domain name (for example .com, .gov, .au, .uk etc.);
- Date and time of visit to the site;
- Pages accessed and documents downloaded;
- Previous site that visited and/or the search engine keyword used to find our site;
- Type of browser and operating system being used; and
- Amount of data in bytes that was downloaded from the site.
No attempt is made to identify users or their browsing activities apart from in the event of an authorised investigation or where a law enforcement agency may inspect logs. Social media pages such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter may be established for Compass Church. The Church will not divulge personal information of people on these pages. Individuals should be aware that the Church has limited ability to control any information posted on these pages. Anyone posting information on these pages should familiarise themselves with the Privacy Policy of the respective social media sites.
7. Management of Information
Compass Church will take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information collected from individuals is complete, up-to-date and accurate at the time of collection. If we believe that the information we hold is incomplete, inaccurate or out of date, we will take steps to correct the information.
Or if at any time you wish to change personal information that is inaccurate or out of date, please contact the Compass Church by email or telephone and we will amend this record. If you wish to have your personal information deleted, please contact the Church office and we will take all reasonable steps to delete it unless we need to keep it for legal reasons. Attendees will be provided with regular opportunities to update their details. We will take all reasonable steps to protect the information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access or disclosure.
8. Pastoral Care
Compass Church may engage in personal and private discussions in the course of providing pastoral care. Information of a sensitive nature may be collected during these pastoral care sessions. Personal information collected from individuals before and during pastoral care sessions is kept confidential and secure at all times.
Sensitive information stored electronically will be appropriately secured to ensure only authorised persons have access. When paper files are being used, they will be appropriately labelled and stored in locked filing cabinets.
On occasion, the personal information collected in the course of providing pastoral care must be shared with third parties. Personal information will be shared when:
- there is danger of harm being caused to the client or others;
- when Compass Church is required by law to disclose information; or
- where there are matters of a serious behavioural nature which require the attention of senior leadership within the church.
9. Anonymity
Where practicable and lawful, Compass Church will endeavour to provide individuals with the option of interacting anonymously. We will try to accommodate a request for anonymity wherever possible; however, given the activities in which Compass Church is engaged in, this may not always be a practicable option.
10. Access to Information
We will provide people with reasonable access to their personal information collected by Compass Church in the course of its dealings with the person. When requesting access, we will ask individuals to provide some form of identification so that we can ensure that they are the person to whom the information relates.
However, in certain circumstances we may deny access to this information to the extent that:
- providing access would pose a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of any individual;
- providing access would have an unreasonable impact upon the privacy of other individuals; or
- any other reason as consistent with the Act.
In such a situation we will explain in writing to the person the reason for denying such access.
11. Policy Updates
From time to time, Compass Church will review this policy and may revise it. The date of last revision is displayed under the heading revision history at the beginning of this document.
12. Complaints, questions and contact
If you are concerned with how we have collected, used, disclosed or managed your personal information, we will take these issues seriously and work to address these concerns. If you have any further queries relating to our Privacy Policy, or you have a problem or complaint, please contact us at the Church office:
Church Office:
PO Box 540
Bentleigh VIC 3204