Terms
Privacy Policy
Protecting your rights
Q+Law is a program of Fitzroy Legal Service (FLS).
FLS respects your privacy and personal information, whether you are a client, stakeholder, or anyone else. FLS has obligations, and you have rights, under Commonwealth and Victorian Privacy Law. We are guided by the Australian Privacy Principles.
As a legal service, we also have legal and ethical obligations in relation to confidentiality. FLS cannot disclose any client information that has come to us in our professional capacity except with your consent or in very narrow circumstances defined by law.
Information about you that we collect
To provide services or support, we collect personal information about you. Below is the type of information we commonly collect:
Name, date of birth, and contact details
Family type, country of birth, year of arrival in Australia, language spoken at home
Financial information such as housing, occupation, financial status, and income
Sensitive information such as racial or ethnic background, criminal history, health information, English proficiency, need for an interpreter, or disability
Information about your circumstances and the matter you are seeking advice on
Other types of information we collect include payment details for people who make donations or provide services to FLS, dietary and accessibility requirements for people attending training and events, and employment history/referee details for people applying for jobs with us.
We collect personal information directly from you unless it is unreasonable or impracticable to do so.
How we secure and store your information
FLS also takes reasonable steps to ensure personal information is protected from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. All archived files will be stored in a secure environment, including in electronic form, that cannot be accessed by the general public and/or any person without express authority.
How we use, hold and disclose personal information
FLS collects, holds, uses and discloses personal information for the following purposes:
to assess whether a client is eligible for assistance;
to provide legal services, referral or arrangement of non-legal assistance to clients; in research, policy, law reform and media initiatives (with express consent)
to answer enquiries and provide information or advice about FLS services;
to recruit staff, contractors and volunteers;
for planning, quality control and for the creation of anonymous case studies;
for use in monitoring and assessing FLS services, including as part of peer review of service, and reporting to funding providers; and
to process and respond to any complaints, and to comply with any law, rule, regulation, lawful and binding determination.
Accessing information we hold about you
You have the right under privacy law to see any personal information that FLS holds about you and to seek correction if you believe it is wrong. Please contact us at reception@fls.org.au.
Making a Query or Complaint
If you have a question or a complaint about how we manage your personal information or your confidentiality, you can contact us at feedback@fls.org.au. If you make a complaint, we will acknowledge that it has been received and action it as soon as possible, and respond within 30 days.
If you are dissatisfied with FLS’ response, a complaint can be made to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, or other regulatory bodies such as the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner or the Health Complaints Commissioner.
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner Tel: 1300 363 992 Complaints are made by webform: Lodge a privacy complaint with us | OAIC
Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner Tel: 9679 8001 Local call: 1300 796 344 Email: consumerenquiry@lsbc.vic.gov.au
Complaints are made by webform: How to lodge a complaint | VLSBC
Health Complaints Commissioner Tel: 1300 582 113 Complaints are made by webform: MAKE A COMPLAINT | Health Complaints Commissioner