slca is committed to treating the personal information we collect in accordance with the National Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).
This Privacy Policy sets out how slca in Australia handles personal information. It does not apply to personal information collected by slca that is exempted under the Privacy Act, for example employee records.
slca may modify this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect its current privacy practices.
In this Privacy Policy, ’slca’, ’we’, ’us’ and ’our’ means slca Pty Ltd carrying on business under the name Sharyn Long Chartered Accountants.
Personal information we collect
The main types of personal information we collect includes names, contact and address details and job titles. In order to provide our services, we may also collect other personal information such as bank account details, shareholdings, details of investments and tax file numbers.
It may be necessary in some circumstances for slca to collect sensitive information about you, for example, your professional memberships, criminal record or health information. We will only collect sensitive information as permitted under the Privacy Act.
How we collect personal information
Generally we collect your personal information from you directly (for example, when we deal with you in person or over the phone, when you send us correspondence, when you upload documents and information through our SharePoint service or when you subscribe to our publications), although sometimes it may be necessary for us to collect your personal information from a third party.
For example, we may collect your personal information as your authorised agent from the Australian Taxation Office or from your personal representative or a publicly available record, amongst other sources. We may also collect personal information about you from your use of our websites and information you provide to us through contact mailboxes or through the registration process on our websites.
If you provide us with someone else’s personal information, you should only do so if you have their authority or consent to provide us with their personal information. You should also take reasonable steps to inform them of the matters set out in this Privacy Policy.
Use of personal information
slca collects personal information for a number of purposes including:
- to provide professional services
- to provide technology services and solutions
- to respond to requests
- to maintain contact with our clients and other contacts (including alumni)
- to keep our clients and other contacts informed of our services, industry developments and to notify of seminars and other events
- for administrative purposes
- for recruitment purposes
- for purposes related to the employment of our personnel, providing internal services to our partners and staff and for matters relating to slca
- for the engagement of service providers, contractors or suppliers relating to the operation of our business, or
- for other business related purposes.
slca may also use your personal information for the purpose of marketing its services. If you do not want to receive marketing material from us, you can contact us as detailed below or use the unsubscribe function on electronic communications or the notification function on other marketing material.
If you do not provide us with the personal information we have requested, we may not be able to complete or fulfil the purpose for which such information was collected, including providing our clients with the services we were engaged to perform.
Disclosure of personal information
slca will not disclose your personal information to third parties unless as set out in this Privacy Policy, or permitted by law, some of slca’s business is offered for sale, or you consent.
If we do disclose personal information to third parties, we will do so in accordance with the purpose for which the personal information was collected, or a related or ancillary purpose. The types of third parties we may disclose your personal information to include:
- experts or other third parties contracted as part of an engagement
- our service providers
- our professional advisers
- other firms associated with slca, or
- if you are an employee, a contractor or supplier of services to a client, then we may disclose your personal information as part of providing services to that client.
We do not disclose personal information to third parties for the purpose of allowing them to send marketing material to you. However, we may share non personal, de-identified or aggregated information to them for research or promotional purposes.
Security and retention of personal information
We take reasonable steps to protect any personal information that we hold from misuse and loss. We also take reasonable steps to protect it from unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.
The security measures we take include physical security measures (including security passes to enter our offices and storage of files in lockable cabinets), and technology security measures (including restriction of access, firewalls, the use of encryption, passwords and digital certificates).
The personal information you provide to us will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which the information was collected, as required by law or in accordance with our documentation retention policies.
Privacy on our website
Your choices
You have several choices regarding your use of slca’s website. In general, you are not required to provide personal information when you visit our website. However, if you apply to receive information about our services, events and industry updates or wish to apply for a job, we may require you to provide certain personal information.
Links to third party websites
slca’s website may contain links to third parties’ websites. Those other websites are not subject to our privacy policies and procedures. You will need to review those websites directly to view a copy of their privacy policies.
slca does not endorse, approve or recommend the services or products provided on those third party websites.
Children
We understand the importance of protecting children’s privacy, especially in an online environment. In particular, our website is not intentionally designed for or directed at children under the age of 13. It is our policy to never knowingly collect or maintain information about anyone under the age of 13, except as part of a specific engagement to provide professional services or for the purposes of ensuring compliance with our auditor independence policies.
Gaining access to personal information we hold
You can gain access to your personal information from slca on request in writing, subject to some limited exceptions permitted or required by law. The factors that affect your right to access your personal information include whether:
- it is a frivolous or vexatious request
- the information relates to a commercially sensitive decision making process
- access would be unlawful
- access would prejudice enforcement activities relating to criminal activities and other breaches of law, or
- denying access is required or authorised by or under law.
If slca denies you access, we will let you know the reason why access is denied.
slca may charge the reasonable costs of providing you with access to your personal information.
Keeping personal information current
If you believe that any personal information slca has collected about you is inaccurate, incomplete or not up-to-date, please contact slca and we will take reasonable steps to correct it in accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act.
How to contact us
If you would like to access your personal information, have a query in relation to this Privacy Policy or would like to make a complaint about slca’s handling of your personal information, please contact:
Sharyn Long Chartered Accountants
Level 3, 40 St. Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Phone: 08 6255 6175