At Contact People we are committed to protecting your personal information. So when you deal with us either as a result of a direct approach or in response to an advertisement, you are doing so with the knowledge that we will only use your personal information for the purposes of placing you in employment.  Our job advertisements describe the general nature of positions.  Prior to referring you to any of our clients we will provide further details of any relevant positions.

Prior to being placed in employment, you have a right to access you personal information held by us and if necessary to have that information corrected, updated or made more complete.  However, once you are successful in obtaining employment, your personal information either becomes part of our employment records or those of our clients.  Employment records are governed by industrial legislation and are the property of Contact People.

If you are employed by Contact People for the purpose of carrying out temporary or contract work for our clients, you personal information becomes part of our employment records.  As your employer, we are more than prepared to answer any questions you may have with respect to your records.

What does your personal information include?

Personal information means information or an opinion, concerning you and your employment history.  Personal information includes your contact details, references, opinions about your work experience or performance, results of occupational or psychological testing and any other information obtained by Contact People in seeking to place you in appropriate employment.

Personal information may include sensitive information, which may include information or opinion about any criminal records or health issues.  We generally do not seek to collect such sensitive information although sometimes it may be important to a particular position.  Such sensitive information in most cases may only be collected and disclosed with your consent or if required by law.

How personal information is collected

We obtain most of our information from you directly such as:

• When you submit an application or fill out our forms;
• During an interview;
• Each time we have contact with you;
• We may ask to collect particular personal information about you

If we have not already done so, when or before we collect information, we will take reasonable steps to inform you of:

• The purpose for which the information is collected;
• Where applicable, any law requiring information to be collected
• The main consequences if all or part of the information is not provided.

We may approach your referees, former employers, colleagues, professional or representative organisations and employment or labour hire agencies.  Your personal information may be collected from the results of medical, competency and psychological testing, performance appraisals, records of workplace injuries or workplace accidents in which you are involved, certificates of educational qualifications and reports from insurance or criminal investigations.  If you wish to contact us about your personal information, you should contact:

Privacy Officer
Level 25, Chifley Tower
2 Chifley Square
Sydney NSW 2000

Tel: (02) 9238 8146
Fax: (02) 9238 8147
Email: privacy@contactcareers.com.au

How your personal information is used and disclosed

Your personal information may be used by us in connection with:

• Potential employment
• Assessment of performance
• Identifying potential new clients
• Management of any investigation in which you are involved
• Assessment of medical, competency and psychological testing

To whom is your personal information disclosed

Your personal information may be disclosed to:

• Potential employers and agents acting on their behalf
• Insurers
• Our contractors and suppliers
• Your referees, former employers, colleagues, professional or professional or representative organisations, employment or labour hire agencies
• Any person with lawful entitlement to obtain information

Your consent to above disclosures is taken to have been given when you submit personal information to Contact People.  Your consent allows us to disclose or use your information for any reasonable purpose related to your possible employment placement as contemplated by this Privacy Statement.  Further, as we have a public interest duty to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and to prevent any threat to life, health or safety of any person, we may have to disclose your personal information for such purposes.

If for any reason you decide not to provide certain personal information, we may be restricted in our ability to place you in a position.  If you are employed in a temporary or contract position, we will require you to provide your tax file number in order that we may pay you and deduct the relevant tax.

Data quality

The personal information collected from you at the time of your application for employment and initial interview is assumed by Contact People to be accurate, complete and up to date.  If at any time you believe this personal information is no longer accurate, complete or up to date advise us accordingly.

Data Security

We have taken reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse or loss or unauthorised access.  We hold your personal information in computers and paper based files and other records.  These facilities and records are located on site at the appropriate branch location.  Premises are secured by coded security access, computer records are secured by password access and paper based files are secured under lock and key at all times.

In accordance with legal requirements, we destroy or permanently de-identify your personal information when no longer needed.  The length of time your information is held by us will vary.  At the end of the relevant time period, the information will be destroyed in line with Contact People policies and procedures.  Should you require further information contact our Privacy Officer.

Your right to access your personal information

As an applicant for employment you have a right to access and obtain a copy of your personal information.  However, there are exemptions to this right of access.  For example, we are not required to provide you with access where a request:

• Is after you have become an employee of Contact People
• Is frivolous or vexatious
• Concerns information relating to any existing or anticipated legal proceedings between Contact People and an applicant
• Would reveal our intentions in relation to negotiations with you in such a way that it would prejudice those negotiations
• Requires access that would be unlawful
• Would be likely to prejudice the prevention, investigation and prosecution of any criminal offence or seriously improper conduct

If you require access in order to correct information, you will need to establish the information that you have previously provided was not accurate, complete or up to date.  We will then take reasonable steps to correct that information so that is accurate, complete and up to date.

If we are in disagreement with you as to whether the personal information is inaccurate, incomplete or not up to date, you will need to provide statements as what you say is the correct information.  If you wish to exercise your right of accessing correction, please contact us.

Upon written request we will provide a copy of your data providing the exemptions above do not apply.  A fee may be applicable.  Information will be provided within a 14 day period from receipt of payment.

Fair Trading Amendment Act

It is Contact People intention to adhere to the Fair Trading Amendment (Employment Placement Services) Act.  We as a company ensure:

• We will not charge a job seeker a fee for the purpose of finding them work
• We will not engage in misleading or deceptive conduct (such as advertising a position as available when the agency knows no such position exists or knowingly giving misleading information to a job seeker about the nature of a position)

If you believe an Employment Agency has acted inappropriately you may contact the Department of Fair Trading on 133 220 for information on possible action that may be taken.