Privacy Policy

Believe:NeuroDiversity is committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) and other relevant state laws in relation to the management of personal information. 

This Privacy Policy describes our policies and procedures on the collection, holding, use and disclosure of your personal information. 

What is personal information? 

When used in this Policy, "personal information" has the meaning given in the Privacy Act. Generally, it means any information or an opinion that could be used to identify you. 

What kind of personal information do we collect and how do we collect it? 

We collect personal information from members and others who use our services. This includes if you: 

  • deal with us directly over the phone; 

  • have contact with us in person; 

  • participate in workshops,  conferences or other activities; 

  • register for face-to-face or digital events (such as webinars); 

  • interact with us online, including through our websites, email, webchats, mobile applications and social media channels;  

  • apply for a position with us (either as an employee, or as a volunteer or as a contractor). 

This collection may be required to allow you to: 

  • join our websites as a registered user; 

  • make a donation; 

  • receive information from us including alerts via email or SMS communications; 

  • apply to hold a fundraising event; 

  • register as a member; 

  • register as a volunteer; 

  • access services; 

  • receive information about or become involved in our programs, campaigns or other initiatives; 

  • work with us;

  • other related purposes. 

What personal information do we collect? 

We collect the personal information which you provide to us. This may include your name, address, age or date of birth, telephone number, organisation, service or  educational institution details, email address, communication preferences, professional learning, or the amount you have donated. In some cases, only with your consent, we may also collect health information about you, such as your neurodiversity, whether diagnosed or self-diagnosed.  

If you purchase a membership, make a donation or purchase any other products or services, you may also provide credit card details and other information which will allow us to process your request and make the transaction.  

Wherever possible, we will try to collect personal information from you directly, rather than from another person or source, unless it is unreasonable or impractical to do so.

Your right to privacy 

We will generally collect personal information held about an individual by way of forms, both online and offline, emails and through event bookings. You do have the right to seek to deal with us anonymously or using a pseudonym, if you feel more comfortable dealing with us that way. For example, if you contact us by telephone with a general question we will not ask for your full name unless we need it to answer your question but in most circumstances it will not be practicable for us to deal with you or provide services to you except for the most general responses to general enquiries, unless you identify yourself. 

Stories 

If you want to share a story that includes another person’s experience of neurodiversity in which that person will be identifiable, you must seek permission from the individual or next of kin first and let them know about our Privacy Policy. Some people may not want their experience made public. It is important to consider the impact and respect the wishes of others affected by the same story as you.

How will we use the information you provide? 

Believe:NeuroDiversity will use personal information it collects from you for the primary purpose of collection, and for such other secondary purposes that are related to the primary purpose of collection and reasonably expected, or to which you have consented.In relation to direct marketing, We will use your personal information for direct marketing where you have provided that information, and you are likely to expect direct marketing: only then you will be sent direct marketing containing an opt out. If we use your personal information obtained from elsewhere we will still send you direct marketing information where you have consented and which will also contain an opt out. We will always obtain your consent to use sensitive information as the basis for any of our direct marketing. 

Disclosure of personal information 

Believe:NeuroDiversity may use and disclose personal information we collect in the following circumstances: 

  • where you have expressly authorised us to do so. 

  • where disclosure is necessary to prevent injury to life or health; or 

  • where it is required or authorised by or under an Australian law or a court/tribunal order. 

  • and to third parties in accordance with this Privacy Policy, as per the following paragraph: 

Personal information will only be disclosed to third parties in accordance with this Privacy Policy. Information may be provided to third parties where services relating to the purpose for which the personal information is collected are outsourced or you would reasonably expect us to disclose it to a third party for a particular purpose. For example, we may disclose your personal information to: 

  • our service providers that host our website servers; 

  • our delivery partners; 

  • marketing service providers; 

  • professional advisors (such as accountants, auditors and lawyers); and similar organisations 

Security of your personal information 

We take reasonable steps to ensure the security of all information we collect, including that the information is protected from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.. However, no data transmission over the internet or information stored on servers accessible through the internet can be guaranteed to be fully secure.  

In addition, we take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify your personal information once we no longer need it or have been directly instructed by you to permanently remove or supress your personal information. 

Accessing and correcting personal information   

You may request access to your personal information collected by us, and ask that we correct that personal information. You can ask for access or correction by contacting us and we will usually respond within 30 days. If we refuse to give you access to, or correct, your personal information, we will notify you in writing setting out the reasons. 

Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme 

In the event of any unauthorised access or unauthorised disclosure or loss of your personal information that is likely to result in serious harm to you, we will investigate and notify you and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner in accordance with the Privacy Act. 

Complaints about your privacy 

If you believe your privacy has been breached or you have a complaint about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us in writing.  We will respond within a reasonable period (usually within 30 days). 

If you are not satisfied with our response, then you may lodge a formal complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (for more information, please see www.oaic.gov.au). 

Changes to this Privacy Policy 

This Privacy Policy may change from time to time. Any updated versions of this Privacy Policy will be posted on our websites and will be effective from the date of posting.   

This Policy was last updated in July 2020. 

Meanings 

References to “Believe:NeuroDiversity”, "we", "us" and "our" are references to NeuroDiversity Network Australia (trading as Believe NeuroDiversity) ABN 51608581037 

How to contact us

Email: info@believe-nd.org.au 

Post: Attention: The Executive Officer, Believe:NeuroDiversity, 15 Marlborough St, Balaclava VIC 3183