At AustSafe Super we understand how important it is to protect your personal information. This document outlines the policy regarding how we manage this personal information. A copy of this document is available to you or any person who asks
National Privacy Legislation
National privacy legislation commenced from 21 December 2001 and regulates the way private sector organisations (including AustSafe Super) collect, use, keep secure and disclose personal information.
Personal information that we hold and why we collect it
AustSafe Super keeps personal information about members, including: name and contact details, Tax File Number (TFN), gender, date of birth, occupation, name of employer and names of preferred beneficiaries. This information is needed to process your application, administer your benefits and work out when you or others may be entitled to a benefit. AustSafe Super will also hold the details of your account balance, investment choice, contributions and benefits.
If you nominate insurance above the automatic acceptance level, we need more information about your state of health and medical history. This information is passed on to the Fund's insurer (CommInsure) so your eligibility for additional insurance can be assessed.
If a member dies, AustSafe Super needs information about persons who are entitled to be considered for distribution of the death benefit. This includes the member's spouse, children, any other dependant and any person who might be a beneficiary of the member's estate. The information Austsafe Super will ask about those persons will be their name and address, gender, date of birth, details of their financial position and financial needs and any other information that will assist AustSafe Super in deciding who the death benefit should be distributed to.
How we collect, use and disclose personal information
AustSafe Super collects information about members through Member Application forms, Insurance Application forms and any Change of Member Detail forms lodged by members. Sometimes AustSafe Super collects information from the member's employer if AustSafe Super has not received a Member Application form or believes the information it holds is not complete or up-to-date.
On a member's death, Austsafe Super will normally collect information about potential beneficiaries from the beneficiaries themselves. However, AustSafe Super will also collect some information about the identity of potential beneficiaries from the member's executor or administrator or whoever notifies the member's death.
If a member makes a claim for a total and permanent disablement benefit, more information is collected about the member's disability. Most of this information is collected from the member but information may also be collected from doctors and other experts, and from the member's employer.
Information about members will normally only be disclosed to the Fund's insurer. However, where a member makes a total and permanent disablement claim, information might then be disclosed to doctors and other experts nominated by the Fund's insurer. In addition, if there is any dispute about a member's entitlement, AustSafe Super or the insurer may disclose information about the member to other advisers (for example, legal advisers).
AustSafe Super may provide members with information about benefits provided by third parties, such as home loans or other products and services which are available as a member of Austsafe Super. AustSafe Super does not disclose personal information about members to other organisations for the purposes of direct mailing or marketing.
Member access to information
Members are entitled to access information Austsafe Super holds about them. If a member wants to check that their personal details are correct or find out information about their account, they can contact Austsafe Super by telephone or in writing.
Requests for information can sometimes be answered over the telephone, or a copy of the information can be sent by post. To correct member details, a Change of Member Details form must be completed.
For security reasons, Austsafe Super will not give any information over the telephone unless the person making the enquiry is able to answer a list of questions designed to confirm their identity. Written requests for information must be signed by the member.
Members can also make arrangements, by telephone or in writing, to come in to the office at an appointed time during normal working hours to look at their information on computer screens. Again, proof of identity will be required.
Members cannot access information about any other member.
Keeping information up-to-date
At AustSafe Super, we make every attempt to ensure that the information we hold about you and other members remains accurate, complete and current. At the time of joining, members are sent a "welcome letter" asking them to check and correct their details. When members are sent their half-yearly record of contributions and annual member statements, they are asked to notify any changes in their personal information. Annual employer statements also ask employers to notify any changes in information.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about a possible breach of your privacy, you should first contact the Fund's Complaints Officer. AustSafe Super's complaints procedure is outlined in the Product Disclosure Statements (PDS) and in the Annual Report.
If the complaint is not resolved, you can complain to the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner, telephone 1300 363 992 |