Privacy Policy

Introduction

Protecting our clients’ privacy is of paramount importance to Ausena Accountants and its related entities (“Ausena”, “us”, “we” or “our”). We are committed to protecting your personal information and ensuring its privacy, accuracy and security. We handle your personal information responsibly, in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

This policy explains how we collect, use and store your personal information. We may update it from time to time if changes are required, and it is displayed on our website for your periodic review. By using our services, or giving us your personal information, you agree to your information being collected, stored, used and disclosed as set out in this policy.

Collection

We collect and hold personal information about you, meaning information that can identify you and is necessary and relevant to providing the professional services you are seeking. This typically includes your name, address, date of birth, gender, job titles and any other information relevant to providing accounting services, such as bank account details, credit card details, shareholdings, investment details and tax file numbers.

It may occasionally be necessary to collect sensitive information about you, for example your professional memberships, criminal record or health information. Except as otherwise permitted by law, we only collect, use and disclose sensitive information about you with your consent and if it is reasonably necessary for our functions and activities.

In some circumstances we may collect personal and sensitive information from you about your employees, members, customers, third parties, your spouse and family in order to provide professional services. If you give us someone else’s personal information, you should only do so with their authority or consent, and you should take reasonable steps to tell them about the matters in this policy.

We may obtain your personal information from a range of sources, including from you, contractors, business partners and government agencies such as the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC). We may also collect personal information that is publicly available. For example, we may collect personal information when you request or provide a product or service, apply for employment, or communicate with us by email, telephone, in writing or through our website.

You may choose not to provide personal information. However, because of the nature of our business, this may limit the service we can provide and our ability to provide a complete, accurate and comprehensive service.

Holding

We hold your personal information in hard copy and electronic formats. Ausena takes reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold about you from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure, and has technology and operational security of a reasonable commercial standard in place to protect it.

If we hold personal information about you that is no longer needed for business or legal purposes, we take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify it.

Use

We use your personal information only for the business purposes for which it was collected and to operate our business. From time to time we may also use it to send you information you haven’t explicitly requested, such as a newsletter or other information relevant to you or your circumstances. If you receive material you did not request or do not want, please contact the person responsible for managing your affairs or the Director of Ausena Accountants.

Personal information may also be used to protect our rights and those of our users and, where appropriate, to comply with legal process.

Disclosure

We may use and disclose personal information for the primary purpose for which it was collected, for reasonably expected secondary purposes related to the primary purpose, and in other circumstances authorised by the Privacy Act. You may also consent to us providing personal information to third parties on your behalf.

In general, the organisations to which we would usually disclose personal information include the Australian Taxation Office, financiers, other accountants and auditors, legal advisers and other professionals.

Access and correction

We take reasonable steps to make sure the personal information we collect, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up to date. Its accuracy depends largely on the information you give us, so please tell us about any errors in your personal information and keep us updated with any changes.

Internet

You don’t need to register to use our website. If you are only visiting, we do not collect any personal information about you.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to change this policy at any time, so please review it regularly. Changes and clarifications take effect as soon as they are posted on the website. If we make material changes, we will note here that the policy has been updated, so you know what information we collect, how we use it, and in what circumstances, if any, we use or disclose it.

If our business is acquired by or merged with another company, your information may be transferred to the new owners so that we can continue to provide services to you.

Contacting us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or complaints about how your personal information is collected, stored or used, please contact the person responsible for managing your affairs or the Director of Ausena Accountants. We will seek to address your concerns through our complaints handling process.

Ausena Accountants
PO Box 1284, Cleveland QLD 4163
Phone: 0415 287 362
Email: admin@ausena.com.au

For more information about your privacy rights, visit the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.oaic.gov.au.