Privacy Policy
Updated July 2025
Devonport Church of Christ (the Church) takes the privacy of individuals seriously and is
committed to complying with the Australian Privacy Principles (the Principles) in the Privacy
Act 1988 (Cth). This policy governs how we collect, use, store and share personal
information.
Personal Information
Personal information is any information or opinion that identifies an individual. Personal
information may also include sensitive information such as religious beliefs and affiliation,
criminal record, health information etc.
What personal information do we collect?
Some examples of other personal information that may be collected include: Name; Address; Telephone numbers; Date of Birth; Email address; Bank account details; Date of marriage and/ or Baptism.
Why is personal or sensitive information collected?
Personal information that is reasonably necessary to allow the Church to carry out primary
services and functions as a Church, any secondary purposes and any other purpose as set
out under the Act.
Examples of such primary services and functions include: providing and evaluating the services as a Church; communicating with the congregation, or those associated with the Church; managing complaints, legal actions or claim against the Church.
How is personal or sensitive information collected?
Personal information may be collected from an individual when: they, attend a Church service; complete a registration form provided; communicates with the Church in any way; and/ or register for or attend Church events.
When personal information is collected, the information will be treated as private, sensitive
and confidential and will be dealt with in accordance with the Act and the Principles.
What is done with that information?
Personal information is only used for the primary purpose for which it was collected, any
secondary purposes and any other purpose as authorised under the Act.
Personal information is not shared or disclosed to another party unless such use or
disclosure is related to the primary purpose for which the information has been collected,
any secondary purpose or any other purpose allowed by the Act.
Personal information may be disclosed if required under a statutory obligation or required
by law. If the Church is not legally obliged or legally permitted to disclose personal
information, the Church will not disclose personal information without seeking consent.
Personal information will not be used for a purpose if an individual requests the Church not
to do so.
Is personal information kept secure?
The Church takes reasonable steps to protect the personal information that it holds from
misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. These steps may
include logins and passwords to access personal information that are stored electronically.
When personal information is no longer required by the Church, it will de-identify or destroy
securely all personal information held.
How to access personal information?
A request to access personal information that we hold may be made. A verification of
identity and specification of the required information may be required.
All information requests are dealt with in accordance with the Act.
What if an individual believes the personal information that is held by the Church is
incorrect?
The Church takes reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information collected is
accurate, up-to-date and relevant.
Individuals are encouraged to inform, update or correct any personal information.
Complaints?
If an individual wishes to make a complaint about this Privacy Policy or the Churches
collection, use or disclosure of personal information, please contact the Church in the first
instance. The complaint will be investigated. The outcome will be discussed with the
individual to resolve the complaint.
If the outcome is not satisfactory, then a complaint can be made to the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). For information about how to make such a
complaint, please refer to the OAIC website at http://www.oaic.gov.au.
Contact
To request access, correct personal information or to make a privacy complaint, please
contact the Church Administrator grace@devonportcoc.com.au