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Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 2023

Health Workforce Queensland (referred to in the policy as HWQ, we, us or our) recognises that your privacy is very important, and we are committed to protecting the personal information we collect from you. The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act), and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) govern the way in which we must manage your personal information and this policy sets out how we collect, use, disclose and otherwise manage personal information about you.

1. COLLECTION

1.1. Types of information collected

We may collect and hold personal information about you, that is, information that can identify you, and is relevant to providing you with the services you are seeking. The kinds of information we typically collect includes contact information (i.e., email address), unique identifiers (e.g., name and contact details), demographic information (i.e., postcode, RRMA, age) and information about your former, current, and future employment.

We may also collect and hold sensitive information about you, including information about your health, your racial or ethnic origin, and your criminal record.

1.2. Method of collection

Personal information will generally be collected directly from you:

  • Through the use of any of our standard forms and surveys, over the internet, via email, or through a telephone conversation with you; and/or

  • From any resume, employment history, professional registration details or other document you provide to us.

There may, however, be some instances where personal information about you will be collected indirectly because it is unreasonable or impractical to collect personal information directly from you (for example, if we receive a reference about you or if we enquire about you with your former employer or with any applicable professional association or registration body). We will usually notify you about these instances in advance, or where that is not possible, as soon as reasonably practicable after the information has been collected.

1.3. Purpose of Collection

The personal information that we collect and hold about you, depends on your interaction with us. Generally, we will collect, use, and hold your personal information if it is reasonably necessary for or directly related to the performance of our functions and activities, and for the following purposes:

  • Providing services to you or someone else you know (for example, in relation to recruitment or placement opportunities);

  • Responding to your enquiries;

  • Providing you with promotional material and information about other services that we, and other organisations that we have affiliations with, may offer and that may be of interest to you (including, for example, in relation to recruitment or placement opportunities);

  • Providing you with information relevant to your type of business or other area of expertise or interest that may be relevant to you;

  • Facilitating our internal business operations, including the fulfilment of any legal requirements;

  • Analysing our services with a view to developing new or improved services;

  • Assessing your application for or in relation to any position or employment within our organisation; or

  • Performing workforce analysis and planning activities using de-identified information.

2. DISCLOSURE

Generally, we only use or disclose personal information about you that is collected by us for the purposes for which it was collected (as set out above). We may disclose personal information about you to:

  • Any person or entity we deal with for the purposes of providing our services to you, including potential employers or other entities for which you may be working, your referees, your previous employer and any applicable professional association or registration body);

  • Our related entities or organisations who require the information for their and our internal business processes and purposes;

  • Third party service providers who assist us in operating our business, and in providing services to you (and these service providers may not be required to comply with this policy);

  • Other organisations with whom we have affiliations so that those organisations may provide you with services or information about services and various promotions; and

  • Government and other entities to whom we are required to disclose your personal information by applicable laws or under compulsion of law by a court or government agency.

3. DATA SECURITY

We store your personal information in different ways, including in paper and in electronic form. The security of your personal information is important to us. We take all reasonable measures to ensure that your personal information is stored safely to protect it from interference, misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure, including electronic and physical security measures.

4. ONLINE PAYMENTS

Where we provide a facility for online payments for our products and services, National Australia Bank’s NAB TRANSACT will be integrated into our website. No credit card information is recorded through our website. All credit card information is processed through the NAB TRANSACT platform managed by National Australia Bank Limited (ABN 12 004 044 937). Online payment forms provided and managed by us only capture name, contact and details of the specific order.

5. PUBLIC FORUMS, EXTERNAL LINKS AND COOKIES

5.1. Public forums

Our website may make use of chat rooms, forums, message boards, and/or news groups available to its users. Please note that any information that you disclose in these areas of our website becomes public information and is available to third parties who are not required to comply with this policy. You should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information in those areas of our website.

5.2. External Links

Our website contains links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of those other websites.

5.3. Cookies

Our website uses cookies. The main purpose of cookies is to identify users and to prepare customised web pages for them. Cookies do not identify you personally, but they may link back to a database record about you. We use cookies to monitor usage of our website and to create a personal record of when you visit our website and what pages you view so that we may serve you more effectively.

6. ACCESS AND CORRECTION

You may access the personal information we hold about you, upon making a written request. We will respond to your request within a reasonable period. We may charge you a reasonable fee for processing your request (but not for making the request for access).

We may decline a request for access to personal information in circumstances prescribed by the Privacy Act, and if we do, we will give you a written notice that sets out the reasons for the refusal (unless it would be unreasonable to provide those reasons), including details of the mechanisms available to you to make a complaint.

If, upon receiving access to your personal information or at any other time, you believe the personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date, please notify us immediately. We will take reasonable steps to correct the information so that it is accurate, complete, and up to date.

If we refuse to correct your personal information, we will give you a written notice that sets out our reasons for our refusal (unless it would be unreasonable to provide those reasons), including details of the mechanisms available to you to make a complaint.

7. COMPLAINTS AND FEEDBACK

If you wish to make a complaint about a breach of the Privacy Act, the APPs or a privacy code that applies to us, please contact us using the details below and we will take reasonable steps to investigate the complaint and respond to you.

If you have any queries or concerns about our privacy policy or the way we handle your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer via email .

For more information about privacy in general, you can visit the Office of the Information Commissioner’s website.

If you wish to make a complaint about the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information, please contact our privacy officer, and we will work with you to resolve the issue.

If after this process you are not satisfied with our response, you can submit a complaint to the Office of the Information Commissioner. To lodge a complaint, visit the ‘Complaints’ section of the Information Commissioner’s website, located here, to obtain the relevant complaint forms, or contact the Information Commissioner’s office.