M.donateblood.com.au

Privacy information
Privacy and
your rights
Important
information
for people who
donate blood
The purpose of collecting information
• responding to donor queries or requests for information The Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) collects personal information including health information from • sending information or newsletters to donors potential blood donors to protect both their health and safety In some instances, or where required by law, it may be and the safety and sufficiency of blood and blood products.
necessary for the ARCBS to release personal information The ARCBS is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth). relating to your donation to insurers and/or regulatory auditors. The ARCBS respects and protects the privacy of its donors’ The insurers and auditors are required to hold this information personal information and complies with the National Privacy in confidence. Personal health information is also provided to State and Federal Government health departments and authorities where required pursuant to legislation.
Your privacy
When an individual browses ARCBS’ website (www.
Under the Privacy Act 1988 you have the following rights: donateblood.com.au) they do so anonymously. Personal information – such as name or email address – is not collected • You must be informed why personal information is being as they browse. The ARCBS does not use “cookies” to collect collected and whether it can be given to anyone else.
statistical information on website usage.
• You have the right to request access to the information held about you and if necessary to have it corrected so Access to your information
that it is accurate, complete and up-to-date.
If you wish to see what personal information is held about • You have the right to have your personal information you, you will be asked to submit a written request to the stored securely and protected from unauthorised access Privacy Officer of the ARCBS at the addresses on the back of this brochure. Proof of identity will be required to ensure • You have the right to know how your personal information information is only disclosed to the requesting donor. Some information may not be immediately available but we will • If you believe your privacy has been infringed you can attempt to deal with requests promptly.
Storage of your information
Collection and use of personal information
Personal information from donors is stored in an on-line The ARCBS holds personal information supplied by you when system, the National Blood Management System. Access to this you register as a blood donor. In addition, we hold test results information is available only to authorised staff. Test results from blood donation are also stored on this system. Hard copy The collection of this information is necessary to enable the personal and health information is stored in locked filing ARCBS to provide services to the donor and others, such as cabinets and access restricted on a need to know basis.
doctors and hospitals whose patients receive blood.
Making a complaint
The ARCBS only collects and uses this information for its If you believe that your privacy has been infringed, please normal and authorised purposes and operations, such as: contact the ARCBS Privacy Officer in your State or Territory. The • accepting new donors and potential donors ARCBS will investigate any complaint and take such action as • updating the details of existing donors may be necessary to resolve it, having regard to any obligations • recording test results of donors’ blood under the National Privacy Principles. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may refer your complaint to the Federal • contacting donors about existing appointments to donate • requesting donors to make appointments to donate 3. What security measures are in place?
Frequently asked
5. Does ARCBS give the information to anyone outside
6. Can a family member of a donor, such as a parent or
The following measures are used to protect the organisation?
partner, obtain information from your records?
questions
All donor information is treated in accordance with the National No, unless that person has the written consent of the donor.
7. Does the ARCBS use external contractors for any
Our donor list is not sold or given to any organisations. When functions or activities involving personal information
a donation is made, barcodes are used to track the blood from 1. What information is held about me?
the donor to the recipient. As a result, with the exception of and if so what measures are taken to protect this
• Password protection on electronically stored information The ARCBS holds donor’s personal information, including name, autologous and directed donations, all donations are issued information?
address, date of birth, telephone contact and availability to • Restricted access to network information In some instances, external mailing houses are engaged to donate. We also have records of information provided via the • Storage at secure off-site facilities In general, the ARCBS does not provide any donor information produce and distribute donor letters.
pre-donation questionnaire and interview.
4. Who at the ARCBS has access to my information?
external to the organisation without the consent of the donor, Market research organisations are sometimes engaged to This may include medical history e.g.: exposure to HIV or unless exceptional circumstances listed under the Privacy Act conduct donor research on behalf of the ARCBS. Agencies hepatitis, current or past medication, sexual activity, history Access to donor records is available only to authorised allow us to do so. However, both State and Federal legislation may also be used to recruit donors and to staff call centres.
administrative and management staff, for the purposes of the can require the provision of personal and health information in When external services are employed, we ensure that any A person cannot be accepted as a blood donor unless all the specified circumstances. The ARCBS is required to comply with donor information disclosed is minimal and used strictly for relevant information is collected. These records are essential to the purpose for which it is intended. All such arrangements are determine your ongoing eligibility to donate blood.
subject to contractual confidentiality and privacy obligations. The ARCBS also holds results of tests undertaken on Any information disclosed remains the property of the ARCBS and is unable to be copied, retained or otherwise used by such agencies.
2. Where is my information held?
The geographic location of storage facilities may differ in
8. How is my privacy safeguarded in relation to blood
each state/territory, however information is stored in the samples collected?
Donors’ interests and issues are considered by the ARCBS’ • Current information in hard copy is held in secure filing independent Ethics Committee. Personal information is treated systems in the state/territory in which you donated.
in accordance with the National Research Council’s national statement on ethical conduct in research involving humans, • Hard copies of information relating to previous as well as the National Privacy Principles.
donations are periodically archived and stored at secure off-site facilities.
9. Can I have personal information changed or
• Electronically stored data are kept within high security, removed from my records?
password protected systems with access limited to only those ARCBS personnel who need such access.
If your contact details change, please advise your local centre to ensure that we can keep in touch with you. Information provided by an individual donor during the interviewing process is used to determine the eligibility of the donor. Although health information initially provided may no longer be current e.g.: sexual and drug related information, this information cannot be permanently erased. However, the donor can request additional or explanatory information to be added to his or her records.
Australian Red Cross Blood Service
Write to the Privacy Officer at the following capital city centres:
Adelaide301 Pirie StreetAdelaide SA 5000Brisbane480 Queen StreetBrisbane QLD 4000CanberraCnr. Hindmarsh Drive & Palmer StreetCanberra ACT 2605CasuarinaCnr Bradshaw Tce & Scaturchio StreetCasuarina NT 0610Hobart40 Melville StreetHobart TAS 7000SouthbankCnr Kavanagh & Balston StreetsSouthbank VIC 3006Perth290 Wellington StreetPerth WA 6000Sydney153 Clarence StreetSydney NSW 2000 For further information call 13 14 95 or visit donateblood.com.au

Source: https://m.donateblood.com.au/files/Privacy_brochure.pdf