Privacy Policy

Australian Medic Alert Foundation “MedicAlert Foundation^®” [ACN 050 542 455] is committed to protecting the privacy of our members. MedicAlert Foundation has adopted this Privacy Policy to ensure we handle personal information in accordance with the National Privacy Principles (NPPs) set out in Schedule 3 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (“the Act”). We are also bound by the Australian Direct Marketing Association Privacy Code for direct mail activities.

Privacy of our members’ personal information is important to us and we conduct our business with the highest standards of personal and corporate integrity. We aim to provide the best possible service, whilst ensuring you are aware of how your personal information is used within MedicAlert Foundation.

1. Collection of Personal Information

We will always be open and honest in our dealings with you and will only collect information about you that we believe is necessary to undertake our legitimate business activities. We will always collect your Personal Information by fair and lawful means (for example when you complete an application form, in person, online or by telephone). Most often we will collect your Personal Information directly from you or your doctor (where we have obtained your consent to do so).

1.1 Type of Information

Member’s personal information is collected through information provided by you (or your representative for purposes of joining the Foundation) on your current membership file. The information may include:

• your name, date of birth, membership number;
• your mailing address, contact number(s), email address and emergency contact details;
• information on any health conditions and personal needs you may have;
• details pertaining to your doctor’s name, address and where hospital records are kept;
• your credit card details (as required to execute the payment of membership fees and purchases);
• information on the products and services we have provided to you;
• a record of any queries you have made; and,
• transactional history of your usage of our services.

We will only collect any other personal information, including sensitive information in accordance with the Act.

1.2 Order and Pay Online Securely

Our SSL security system ensures your credit card and contact details are safe and secure. All data is secured by 128 Bit SSL.

2. Use and Disclosure

2.1 Use of Information

MedicAlert Foundation collects personal information directly from you wherever possible, however sometimes we may collect personal information about you from a third party, e.g. a friend who has provided your details to us so we can send you a membership form. This information is used for the following purposes:

• to contact you directly about MedicAlert Foundation, special offers and other promotions;
• to reward you for being a loyal member;
• to approve transactions you wish to make;
• to confirm your identity;
• to provide you with products and services you have requested;
• to follow up or pursue any queries you make;
• to conduct consumer research;
• to notify you of the outcome of specific promotions;
• to service and administer your membership entitlements; and,
• to ensure you are aware of various membership benefits and to offer specific products and services we consider may be of particular interest to you.

2.2 Disclosure and Use of Information by Third Parties

Any information collected by MedicAlert Foundation is kept strictly confidential and is only accessed by authorised MedicAlert Foundation staff, agents, contractors or service providers; with whom we have a contractual agreement; in the course of them undertaking their legitimate duties in providing a given product or service.

Member or customer information will not be given, rented, sold or traded to any external third party organisation and will only be made available to an outside entity where;

• MedicAlert Foundation has contracted an external service provider (under strict privacy terms) to assist in the execution of MedicAlert Foundation’s legitimate activities, or,
• MedicAlert Foundation is acting as an agent or representative of another entity, or,
• If disclosure is required by or authorised by law, or,
• If you consent to the disclosure of specific information.

3. Data Quality

MedicAlert Foundation will endeavour to ensure that the personal information we collect, use and disclose is accurate, complete and up-to date. However the accuracy of that information depends to a large extent on the information you provide. That’s why we recommend that you contact us and:

• let us know if there are any errors in your personal information; and
• keep us up to date with changes to personal information such as your name and address.

Each year you will receive a copy of your medical information (sent with your annual subscription fee) that you can use to check your details are accurate.

4. Data Security

MedicAlert Foundation is dedicated to keeping personal information secure. This includes physical security, computer and network security, communications security and personnel security.

We will request sufficient identification to permit authorised access to the existence, use or disclosure of members’ personal information when required, as per our Operating Standards and Emergency Management Call Protocol. Any such identification information shall be used only for this purpose unless we have your consent to use or disclose it for other purposes.

If we no longer require your personal information, we will take reasonable steps to destroy paper documents in a secure manner or remove identifying features from them. This is subject to any legal obligations we have to keep information for a certain period of time.

5. Marketing

MedicAlert Foundation complies with permission based direct marketing requirements under the Act and the Spam Act 2003. When collecting your personal information, we must request your permission to use that information to send you information on products and promotions or other health-related materials. We must give you the opportunity to “opt out” of receiving such marketing material. Where you indicate your consent, MedicAlert Foundation may enter your details into a database for the purpose of contacting you directly about our brands, special offers, consumer research and other promotions.

6. Access and Correction of Personal Information

MedicAlert Foundation respects the rights of individual members and customers to access and correct their own personal information in our possession. Simple access requests can usually be actioned over the telephone on 1800 88 22 22 (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm CST) as per our Operating Standards. However detailed requests may need to be submitted in writing addressed to the Privacy Officer at:
MedicAlert Foundation
GPO Box 9963
In Your Capital City

We will respond to your request to access or correct your personal information, or to withdraw your consent, no later thirty (30) days after receipt of such requests.

7. Transborder Data Flows

MedicAlert Foundation will only transfer personal data overseas in circumstances where it is permitted by the Act.

8. Additional Information

Further information on privacy is available at the website of the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner http://www.privacy.gov.au/

MedicAlert Foundation reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time and to notify its customers by posting an updated version of the policy on our website: www.medicalert.org.au