Privacy

Protecting your privacy

The Australian Psychological Society Ltd (the Society) is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information held or collected by the Society.

Personal information

Personal information held by the Society may include:

• your name
• contact details (including mail and email address, phone numbers and fax numbers)
• date of birth
• credit card details

For members or applicants for membership, the personal information held by the Society may also include:

• cultural heritage 
• demographic information
• academic qualifications
• special interests
• disciplinary action
• requests for special consideration in relation to membership and/or professional development requirements, which may involve information concerning your financial details or health.

How we collect personal information

The Society collects personal information directly from the public via:

• correspondence and phone calls
• conference and other event registration forms
• order forms for Society products
• applications for assessment of overseas qualifications
• applications to be included in the "Find a Psychologist" Service

In addition, the Society collects personal information from members and applicants for membership via:

• membership application form
• the annual subscription form
• responses to calls for nominations
• applications for membership of member groups

The Society may also seek personal information from publicly available sources, such as directories, or from other sources such as educational institutions, registration boards or employers, for the purpose of verifying information provided to the Society.

How we use your personal information

Your personal information may be used in order to:

• provide you with a large range of services
• administer, manage and develop our services.

When we disclose your personal information

For the purposes outlined above, we may at times disclose your personal information to organisations external to the Society. These organisations include:

• outsourced service providers who assist us in the delivery of some of the services you receive, by providing functions such as:
  • mailing systems 
  • information technology services 
  • conference organising
• our professional advisers, including auditors
• government authorities, as required or authorised by law
• providers of insurance products offered by the Society

Information disclosed to external organisations as described above is done on a limited basis and, other than when provided as required by law, is provided with the agreement from those service providers that they will maintain security of that information and not use the personal information for any other purpose.

In addition, for Society members:

• your nominated contact phone number will be released to the public upon request (If you do not wish to have your telephone number listed in the Directory of Members or released to the public upon request, please send a letter outlining your concerns addressed in confidence to the Privacy Officer at the address listed below.)
• if you are a Member, Fellow or Honorary Fellow of the APS, your title, name, contact phone number, and your membership of the Colleges and Divisions will be included in the Membership Directory on the APS Website, which is accessible only by members of the Society
• in response to a request from a psychologist registration board, the Society may, at its discretion, disclose information held about your qualifications, experience and practice as a psychologist
• the Society may seek your consent to have the same details as those included in the Membership Directory made accessible to other allied health organisations for the purpose of increasing access by and to appropriately qualified professionals for the purpose of referrals.

Accuracy of personal information

The Society strives to keep accurate records of the personal information we collect. Accuracy depends on the information provided to the Society. Members can update their personal details in the restricted access "Manager your membership" section of the website. Any non-members who wish to query the accuracy of personal information held about them may contact the Privacy Officer as set out below.

Access to personal information

You have a right to access your personal information held by the Society, subject to the exceptions listed in National Privacy Principle 6. If you would like to do so please contact the Privacy Officer as set out below. Your request will need to be put in writing for security and recording purposes.

It is Society policy to provide a summary of the personal information that we hold, rather than copies of individual documents. The Society does not provide direct access to evaluative information generated within the organisation in connection with commercially sensitive decision-making processes.

In the event that copies of individual documents are requested and the Society agrees to meet that request, the fee for provision of documents via post, fax or email is $1.00 per page, payable prior to delivery.

How to contact the APS

If you have any questions in relation to the privacy of your personal information, please call the Society  Monday - Friday between 8.45am - 5.15pm EST on (03) 8662 3300 from Melbourne, or 1800 333 497 from elsewhere.

Alternatively, you can write to the Privacy Officer, The Australian Psychological Society Ltd, PO Box 38, Flinders Lane, Victoria, 8009, or email contactus@psychology.org.au.

Obtaining our Privacy Policy

You may print a copy of this Privacy Policy for your personal use.

Australian Psychological Society Ltd, April 2010. ABN 23 000 543 788