We are committed to managing personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth) Privacy Act. This document sets out our policies for collecting, storing, managing, using, and disclosing your personal information and is referred to as our Privacy Policy. In this document, “we” and “us” refers to the Australian Professional Teachers Association (APTA) and “you” refers to any individual about whom we collect personal information.

About APTA

The Australian Professional Teachers Association (APTA) is a national body supporting and advocating for professional teaching associations across Australia. Our members are the joint councils and peak associations for professional teaching associations in seven Australian states and territories. We provide a voice on the national stage to represent the interests of our members, and through them, the thousands of teachers across the country who are members of a teaching association.

This privacy policy does not apply to our member associations or parties that may be otherwise linked or associated with us. Those parties are responsible for the privacy of the information they collect and you should refer to their privacy policies also if necessary.

What information does APTA collect about you?
APTA may collect and hold personal information from you depending on how you interact with us. If you use our website, that may include information that you input into online forms as well as information on how you have used the website.

Membership
When you complete any contact form on our website, a record is made which includes your name and email.

Other information collected
Personal information that we may collect in the future will vary depending on the circumstances of collection or the information or services that you are requesting from us, but will typically include your name, email, postal address and contact number. We may also collect information about:
• Your demographic;
• Your location; and
• The type of technology you use to access our services.
You can always decline to give APTA any personal information we request, but that may mean we cannot provide you with a service that you have requested. If you have any concerns about personal information we have requested, please let us know.

Visitors to our website
The ways in which we handle the personal information of visitors to our website follows.

  1. APTA generally collects personal information directly from you. We may collect and update your personal information by email, via the website or social media.
  2. APTA collects personal information reasonably necessary to carry out the objectives and activities of our association. We may also collect information to fulfil administrative functions associated with these services, for example recording attendees of events, entering into contracts with you and/or third parties and managing relationships with member associations. The purposes for which APTA usually collects and uses personal information depend on the nature of your interaction with us, but may include: registering, amending or renewing your membership with our member associations; managing, planning, advertising and administering programs, events, competitions and performances; researching, developing and expanding our facilities and services; informing you of our activities, events, facilities and services; and responding to enquires and complaints.

How does APTA interact with you via the internet?
You may visit our website without identifying yourself. If you identify yourself (for example, by providing your contact details in an enquiry), any personal information you provide to APTA will be managed in accordance with this Privacy Policy. 

APTA’s websites use cookies.
A “cookie” is a small file stored on your computer’s browser, which assists in managing customised settings of the website and delivering content. We collect certain information such as your device type, browser type, IP address, pages you have accessed on our website and on third-party websites. You are not identifiable from such information. You can use the settings in your browser to control how your browser deals with cookies. APTA is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of websites that are linked to our website but note that all our member associations will need to have and maintain their own Privacy Policy.

Can you deal with APTA anonymously?
APTA will provide individuals with the opportunity of remaining anonymous or using a pseudonym in their dealings with us where it is lawful and practicable (for example, when making a general enquiry). Generally, it is not practicable for APTA to deal with individuals anonymously or pseudonymously on an ongoing basis. If we do not collect personal information about you, you may be unable to utilise our services or participate in our events, programs or activities we manage or deliver.

How does APTA hold information?
APTA stores information in digital files in a secure database (including trusted third-party storage providers based in Australia and overseas). We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Users of our websites are encouraged to exercise care in sending personal information via the internet. We take steps to destroy or de-identify information that we no longer require.  APTA may use or disclose your personal information for the purpose of informing you about our services, upcoming promotions and events, or other opportunities that may interest you. If you do not want to receive direct marketing communications, you can opt-out at any time by contacting us using the contact details below. If you opt-out of receiving marketing material from us, APTA may still contact you in relation to its ongoing relationship with you.

Use and disclosure for administration and management
APTA will also use and disclose personal information for a range of administrative, management and operational purposes. This includes administering billing and payments and debt recovery; planning, managing, monitoring and evaluating our services; statistical analysis and reporting; risk management and management of legal liabilities and claims (e.g., liaising with insurers and legal representatives); responding to enquiries and complaints regarding our services; obtaining advice from consultants and other professional advisers; responding to subpoenas and other legal orders and obligations.

How can you access or seek correction of your personal information?
You are entitled to access your personal information held by APTA on request. To request access to your personal information please contact our Public Officer using the contact details set out on this website. You will not be charged for making a request to access your personal information but you may be charged for the reasonable time and expense incurred in compiling information in response to your request.

If you have a complaint about the handling of your personal information
You may contact APTA at any time if you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or about the way in which your personal information has been handled. You may make a complaint about privacy to the Public Officer at the contact details set out below. We will generally respond to your complaint within a week. In most cases, we will investigate and endeavour to respond to a complaint within 30 days of receipt of the complaint. If the matter is more complex or our investigation may take longer, we will let you know. If you are not satisfied with our response to your complaint, a complaint may be made to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). The OAIC can be contacted by telephone on 1300 363 992 or by using the contact details on the OAIC website.

How can you contact APTA?
You can contact the APTA Public Officer

Acknowledgement: APTA acknowledges and thanks the EducatorsSA and NEAT for their permission to adapt their privacy policy, based upon a simplified adoption of the relevant information for this compilation.

This Privacy Policy was last updated in April 2023