1. Privacy statement

Grameen Foundation Australia (Grameen Australia) respects your right to privacy and is committed to safeguarding the privacy of our members and website visitors. We adhere to the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).

This statement sets out how we collect and treat your personal information.

2. Information collected by Grameen Australia

Grameen Australia respects your personal information, we understand that it is important we handle your personal information carefully, securely and responsibly. Grameen Australia collects personal information about its members for the purposes of delivering our microfinancing services and assistance to our member with any queries that they may have regarding their business.

2.1 What information we collect?

We collect your personal information, when you become a Grameen Australia Member and apply for a Loan. This information can include:

  • Your full name;
  • Date of birth;
  • Contact details including residential address, email address, a contact number, social media handles;
  • Passport number;
  • Drivers licence number;
  • Medicare number;
  • Health care card;
  • Income;
  • account balances;
  • account transactions;
  • payment history;
  • current credit history;
  • information on your family;
  • employment information;
  • record of our communications without members.

We may also hold additional information about you throughout our relationship with you.

2.2.1 Sensitive Information

We may sometimes collect sensitive personal information, such as health information, racial or ethnic origin, nationality, criminal record, etc. Unless required to by law, we will only collect sensitive information with your consent.

2.2 How and when we collect your information

Grameen Australia collects its member information through direct interactions with its members. We collect this information through our initial consultations session and when individuals become members of Grameen Australia.

2.3 What we use your personal information for?

Grameen Australia uses your personal information to provide you with information and updates about our services. We may also make you aware of new and additional products, services and opportunities available to you. Some personal information may be used to improve our products and services and better understand your needs. We may contact you by a variety of measures including, but not limited to telephone, email, SMS or mail. We may also use this information for reporting to government bodies which includes Department of Social Services (with your consent). We may also use your personal information to verify your identity with the document issuer official record via a third system for AML/CTF obligations (with your consent).

3. Disclosure of your personal information

We may disclose your personal information to any of our employees or office holders as and when it is reasonably necessary. Personal information is only supplied to a third party when it is required for the delivery of our services and will only be done with your prior consent.

In the event of an investigation into unlawful activity, a law enforcement or government agency may exercise its legal authority to inspect our records.

4. Keeping your information safe

Grameen Australia is committed to ensuring that personal information provided to us is secure.

We have taken reasonable steps via physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguarding you information. We ensure that our staff are trained to keep your information safe and secure, and all necessary steps are taken to ensure Grameen Australia complies with this policy and the Privacy Act.  Where data is stored on paper, it is kept in a secure place where unauthorised persons cannot access or view this information. Where information is stored electronically it is protected from unauthorised access, accidental deletion and malicious hacking attempts through strong access controls such as password, changed regularly and role-based access to data.

However, if you send information over the internet, it may not be completely secure. If you are concerned about sending us sensitive information you might prefer to contact us by telephone or mail.

When we no longer need your information, we will delete, destroy, or de-identify it.

5. Website

You can access and use our website anonymously, without disclosing your personal information.

This website does not collect your personal information, other than information you choose to provide through online forms or email addresses. We may use this to respond to you and discuss your enquiry and to share marketing updates on our programs and services.

6. Social Media

We use social media such as Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to communicate with the broader community about our work. When you communicate with us using these services we may collect your personal information, but we only use it to communicate with you. This Website Privacy Statement does not extend to social media sites as they have their own privacy policies.

7. Access to your personal information

You will always be given access to your personal information unless legal restrictions preventing us form doing so. If you believe that the information, we hold about you is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete, you are able to request access in accordance with the Privacy Act and contact via phone or email (See Section 9 Contact us)

We will update your personal information that is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete. We may request you to provide us with supporting documentation to amend the personal information we hold about you.

8. Queries and Complaints

Grameen Australia aims to achieve the highest standard to safeguard your privacy.

If you have concerns about the way in which we are managing your personal information, please contact Grameen Australia at info@grameen.org.au. We will make a record of you compliant or query and address the matter as soon as we can.

If we have not responded to you within a reasonable time or if you feel that your complaint has not been resolved to your satisfaction, you are entitled under the Privacy Act to make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

9. Contact us

If you have any questions about this statement or how we handle your personal information, please email us at info@grameen.org.au

Grameen Australia

Email: info@grameen.org.au

Post: PO Box 3068, Broadmeadows, Victoria, 3047, Australia

ABN: 95 086 046 924