Privacy and Confidentiality

Synapse’s Commitment to Privacy

Synapse is committed to managing personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) and in accordance with other applicable privacy laws.

About Synapse

Synapse is a charitable organisation that provides effective and high-quality services to its clients. To provide these services, Synapse must collect, store and sometimes share relevant personal information about its clients, volunteers, contractors, members and staff. Synapse is consistent and careful in the way it manages what is written and said about individuals and how it decides who can see or hear this information.

Privacy Laws

Synapse is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and other laws which protect the privacy of individuals. Synapse will sometimes handle personal information relying on exemptions under these laws including the exemptions in the Privacy Act applicable to not-for-profit organisations. Any permitted handling under such exemptions will take precedence over this Privacy Policy.

Synapse is also bound by other laws such as the Charities Act 2013 (Cth) and the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Cth) which may impact on aspects of the Society’s collection and handling of personal information.

Clients of Synapse have legislated rights to privacy. It is essential that these rights are protected and upheld, and that Synapse acts correctly in circumstances where the right to privacy may be overridden by other considerations.

To uphold the rights of clients to privacy, staff and management shall maintain an appropriate level of understanding of their legal obligations in regard to information management.