MATES is committed to protecting and maintaining your personal information’s privacy, accuracy, and security under the Privacy Act 1988. This commitment is confirmed in the Principles of the Association and applies to both the participant and employee information.

What information will we collect?

The information we collect from you will include your contact details, personal details relevant to the type of service provided to you, financial information relating to pensions and entitlements, and Work Health and Safety, which relates to our workers’ safety. Occasionally, we will collect data on your perception of our service delivery and systems through a survey verbally or in writing.

How do we collect your information?

We will only collect information relevant to the professional relationship we have or will develop with you. This information will be collected through a home assessment or telephone review with you by your Coordinator. With your permission, and where necessary, we may collect essential information from your previous service providers or your doctor.

How do we use your information?

We will use the information we collect to plan and deliver high-quality, individualised services. We may also provide de-identified data to State and Commonwealth funding providers to fulfill our legal and contractual obligations or support our quality improvement systems.

Who will use your information?

Members of the Coordination team directly involved in your support will have access to your data on a need-to-know basis. MATES Administration staff have access to personal details about raising accounts or completing data required by our funding providers. 

MATES will not share your personal information with any individual or organisation not directly involved in delivering services to you without your prior written authorisation.

MATES has a service agreement with out partner organisation Family Based Care Tasmania (FBC) to provide service like billing, accounts and claims.   We will only share your information with FBC that is relevant to these tasks.

Security of your information

We use up-to-date techniques and processes which meet industry

standards to ensure that your personal information is kept secure and confidential. Only employees of MATES who perform services on your behalf (as previously outlined) will access your information. We will not retain any of your information for any longer than required to fulfill our legal obligations. For personal details, this is generally seven years after the last date of service. We will, with your assistance, keep your information accurate, complete, and up to date. No other person or organisation will have access to your information without proper authority.

Access to your information

You may access the personal information we hold about you under the Association’s Right to Information Policy.  Your Coordinator will arrange this for you upon request.