The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) seeks to protect individuals against interferences with their privacy by regulating the way in which personal information is collected, handled, disclosed, used and stored.
Veracity Talent Solutions Pty Ltd (ABN 57 616 203 402) (Veracity) understands the importance of, and is committed to, protecting the privacy of an individual’s personal information. For this reason, while Veracity is a small business that is exempt from the Privacy Act, Veracity has elected to ‘opt-in’ to be covered by the Privacy Act as a commitment to good privacy practice. In handling personal information, Veracity is therefore committed to complying with the Privacy Act and the 13 Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act.
This policy sets out how Veracity aims to protect the privacy of your personal information, your rights in relation to your personal information managed by Veracity and the way Veracity collects, holds, uses and discloses your personal information. This policy may be updated from time to time.
In the event personal information is collected during an application, recruitment or other assessment process and you subsequently become an employee of Veracity, Veracity’s handling of such personal information may no longer be governed by the Privacy Act and this policy will no longer apply to you. Veracity will nevertheless treat personal information it holds about its employees appropriately in the circumstances.
WHAT IS ‘PERSONAL INFORMATION’ AND WHAT KINDS OF PERSONAL INFORMATION DOES VERACITY COLLECT?
Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified, or reasonably identifiable, individual. During the provision of Veracity’s services, Veracity may collect your personal information. Generally, the kinds of personal information Veracity collects may include:
- general contact and identification details (e.g. name, address, email address and phone number);
- information about your education and work history, qualifications and skills;
- opinions of others about your work performance (whether true or not), which will only be collected with your consent;
- information about your work rights and your eligibility to work within Australia which may include details, copies or presentation of the originals of any applicable visa, passport, birth or citizenship certificate, or other relevant documentation;
- sensitive information (e.g. information about your health, medical history or specific condition, criminal record, professional memberships etc), which will only be collected with your consent;
- any results of relevant tests in which you participate including but not limited to online testing carried out on Veracity’s behalf;
- any personal information relevant to any training programs you undertake;
- your tax file number and relevant bank and superannuation account information necessary to facilitate the payment of wages and superannuation contributions and to ensure appropriate taxation treatment;
- driver’s licence number and relevant information about your driving history or infringements and any other applicable licences and certificates; and
- other information relevant in the circumstances.
In some circumstances Veracity may also hold other personal information provided by you.
HOW YOUR INFORMATION WILL BE COLLECTED
Generally, personal information will be collected from you directly when you complete an application form or submit your resume, either online or in hard copy, attend an interview, or otherwise provide us with personal information in person or via telephone, email, fax, post or other means, whether at Veracity’s request or at your own initiative.
Personal information may also be collected from a source other than you when:
- you submit an application form or your resume through a third party website;
- we undertake reference checks by inquiring with, or we otherwise receive references or performance feedback (whether negative or positive) from, any of your former or current employers, work colleagues, professional associations or registration bodies (reference checks are only undertaken with your consent);
- we receive results of any medical tests or criminal history checks, (which are only undertaken with your consent);
- we receive results from any competency tests in which you participate;
- we receive results from any other online process or testing including but not limited to assessments, induction courses and background checks carried out on Veracity’s behalf;
- we receive any complaint from or about you in the workplace;
- we receive information about a workplace accident in which you were involved; and
- we receive any information about any insurance investigation, litigation, registration or professional disciplinary matter, criminal matter, inquest or inquiry in which you were or are involved during, or in connection with, a work placement.
There may be other occasions when Veracity collects your personal information from other sources such as an information services provider, your employer or ex-employer or a publicly maintained record, including records publicly available through social media. Generally, Veracity will only collect your personal information from sources other than you if it is unreasonable or impracticable to collect your personal information from you.
Veracity may also gather information about all our website users collectively, such as what areas users visit more frequently and what services users access the most. We only use such data anonymously and in the aggregate. This information helps us determine what is most beneficial for our users, and how we can continually create a better overall website experience for you.
WHY DOES VERACITY NEED YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Veracity collects, holds, uses and discloses your personal information where it is reasonably necessary for the purposes of providing you with recruitment or work placement services. This may include using and disclosing your personal information to facilitate, or otherwise in connection with:
- you being offered employment or engagement with a client of Veracity;
- your actual or potential work placements with clients of Veracity;
- undertaking performance appraisals in relation to your former or current work placements with clients of Veracity;
- any test, assessments or checks (including medical tests and assessments and criminal record checks) that you might be required to undergo for the purposes of assessing your suitability for a potential work placement or task with a client of Veracity;
- identifying, assessing or facilitating your training needs;
- any necessary workplace rehabilitation during, or for the purposes of, a current or future work placement with a client of Veracity in accordance with applicable legislation;
- the management of any complaint, investigation or inquiry in which you are involved during a work placement with a client of Veracity; or
- any insurance claim or proposal in which Veracity is involved by virtue of your current or previous work placements with a client of Veracity.
Veracity may also collect, hold, use or disclose your personal information for:
- administrative and business management purposes;
- marketing purposes and to identify and inform you of products, services and training courses that may be of interest to you;
- its own internal recruitment processes; and/or
- any other legal requirement.
Where personal information is used or disclosed, Veracity takes steps reasonable in the circumstances to ensure it is relevant to the purpose for which it is to be used or disclosed.
You are under no obligation to provide your personal information to Veracity. However, without certain information from you, or where information provided is inaccurate or irrelevant, Veracity may not be able to provide its services to you or may be limited in its ability to provide its services to you.
DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
Veracity discloses your personal information for the purpose for which Veracity collects it. That is, generally, Veracity will only disclose your personal information for a purpose related to the provision of recruitment and work placement services or otherwise as set out in this policy. This may include disclosing your personal information to:
- clients of Veracity who may be your potential or actual employer or with whom you may be placed on a work placement;
- your referees;
- other staff of Veracity and other associated entities of Veracity;
- other organisations for the purpose of recommending and facilitating courses or programs through which you can upgrade your skills and undertake further training;
- Veracity’s insurers;
- a professional association or registration body if relevant to the provision of Veracity’s services or otherwise with your consent;
- a workers compensation body in accordance with applicable legislation;
- Veracity’s contractors and suppliers
- a federally registered Job Services Provider, for the purpose of confirming hours of work and hourly rate of pay;
- Veracity’s professional advisors;
- any other entity, with your consent, or to whom disclosure is required or authorised by law; and/or
- any other third parties engaged to perform administrative or other services.
This disclosure is always on a confidential basis or otherwise in accordance with law.
OVERSEAS DISCLOSURES
Veracity will not disclose your personal information to an overseas recipient.
DIRECT MARKETING
Veracity may use and disclose your personal information in order to inform you of products and services that may be of interest to you. In the event you do not wish to receive such communications, you can opt-out by contacting Veracity via the contact details set out below or through any opt-out mechanism contained in a marketing communication to you.
SECURITY OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
Veracity takes all reasonable steps to ensure personal information it holds is protected against misuse, interference and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Veracity holds personal information in both hard copy and electronic forms in secure databases on secure premises, accessible only by authorised staff.
Veracity will destroy or de-identify personal information in circumstances where it is no longer required, unless Veracity is otherwise required or authorised by law to retain the information.
YOU CAN GAIN ACCESS TO, AND SEEK CORRECTION OF, YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION HELD BY VERACITY
Veracity takes steps reasonable in the circumstances to ensure personal information it holds is accurate, up-to-date, complete, relevant and not misleading. Under the Privacy Act, you have a right to access and seek correction of your personal information that is collected and held by Veracity. If at any time you would like to access or correct the personal information that Veracity holds about you, or you would like more information on Veracity’s approach to privacy, please contact Veracity via the contact details set out below. Veracity will grant access to the extent required or authorised by the Privacy Act or other law and take steps reasonable in the circumstances to correct personal information where necessary and appropriate.
To obtain access to your personal information:
- you will have to provide proof of identity. This is necessary to ensure that personal information is provided only to the correct individuals and that the privacy of others is protected;
- Veracity requests that you be reasonably specific about the information you require; and
- Veracity may charge you a reasonable administration fee, which reflects the cost to Veracity for providing access in accordance with your request.
Veracity will endeavour to respond to your request to access or correct your personal information within 30 days from your request.
If Veracity refuses your request to access or correct your personal information, Veracity will provide you with written reasons for the refusal and details of complaint mechanisms. Veracity will also take steps reasonable in the circumstance to provide you with access in a manner that meets your needs and the needs of Veracity.
PRIVACY COMPLAINTS
Please direct all privacy complaints to Veracity via the contact details below.
At all times, privacy complaints:
- will be treated seriously;
- will be dealt with promptly;
- will be dealt with in a confidential manner; and
- will not affect your existing obligations or affect the commercial arrangements between you and Veracity.
Veracity will commence an investigation into your complaint. You will be informed of the outcome of your complaint following completion of the investigation. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your complaint, you may refer the complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
HOW TO CONTACT US
For further information or enquiries regarding personal information that Veracity holds about you, or if you would like to opt out of receiving any promotional communications, please contact Renzo Habashi on T 1300 996 191 or E recruitment@veracityts.com.au.