What information do we keep about you?
We may collect personal information in a variety of ways, including:
- From you directly (such as when you interact with us in writing, electronically or by telephone);
- When you communicate with us through our websites (such as when you submit feedback using our feedback forms);
- When you participate in one of our training courses or events
Membership
GenWest members include individuals who live, work or study in the western region, as well as associate members based in other locations and organisations who work across the west. We have a database of member and contact names, contact details and particular interests. This last category enables us to know what kind of information you may be interested in receiving.
Online forms on this website
This website uses forms that have been built using JotForm. JotForm is a secure online form. When using this website, if you fill out a form, the information you provide will be received by GenWest and on JotForm's servers.
Disclosure of personal information to overseas recipients
Jotform servers are co-located in a cloud-based architecture with Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Google Cloud data centers are hosted in Iowa (US) and Frankfurt (Germany, EU) . AWS data centers are located in Virginia (US) and Frankfurt (Germany, EU). You can read more about JotForm's online security at https://www.jotform.com/security/.
Cookies
Our websites use cookies to collect information, including Google Analytics to help us understand how users are accessing our website and how we can improve it.
What can happen to information about you?
Personal information about individual members and contacts is strictly confidential. This means we will not give out this information to any organisation or individual.
Publicly available information about services may be cross-referenced with like-minded organisations in the interests of keeping our records up-to-date.
Another example is if you are a client of our family violence service and the person who hurt you or your children is charged with a crime in relation to that violence. Many forms of family violence are criminal acts. Our workers may occasionally be subpoenaed to give evidence in such cases.
Information sharing and risk management: family violence information sharing scheme
The Royal Commission into Family Violence recommended that a specific family violence information sharing scheme be implemented in Victoria – this is called Part 5A.
The information sharing scheme does not interfere with existing legislative provisions that already permit information to be shared (such as existing privacy legislation or under child protection legislation).
Instead, Part 5A provides additional powers to prescribed Information Sharing Entities (ISEs) to share and request information for the purpose of assessing and managing risk of family violence.
The Family Violence Protection Amendment (Information Sharing) Act 2017 removes the requirement in the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and the Health Records Act 2001 that a serious threat to an individual must also be imminent before information can be lawfully shared without consent.
Any information that is relevant to assessing and managing risk of family violence can be shared under Part 5A as long as the consent requirements of the legislation have been met, sharing the information would not contravene another law and the information is not excluded information.
Excluded information includes (but is not limited to) information that, if shared, would prejudice an ongoing criminal investigation or a coronial inquest, be contrary to a court order, or would endanger a person’s life or result in physical injury.
For further details about Part 5A please visit the Victorian Government website.
If you are an Information Sharing Entity (ISE), please send your detailed requests to ISE@genwest.org.au.
If you believe your privacy has been unlawfully interfered with as a result of information sharing, you can make a complaint to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner or the Health Complaints Commissioner, as applicable.
Any other questions?
It is important that you understand their rights regarding your personal information. GenWest encourage you to talk to our staff if you have any questions, concerns or complaints about what happens to your information. Visit the Contact Us page for details.
