Privacy Policy

Version 2, Last Updated 9 March 2026

1. Overview

1.1. Commitment

This Privacy Policy (Policy) explains how Northside Community Voices Inc. (referred to as NCV, we, us, our and Our Association) collects and handles your Personal Information.  NCV is committed to protecting your privacy. Establishing a trusting relationship with our Members and users of our website is central to our values and operations.

1.2. Application

Privacy Legislation means, as applicable, the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth, Australia) or supplements, Australian state or territory privacy laws. In this Policy, Personal Information or Personal Data has the same meaning as in the Privacy Legislation.

This Policy applies to all enterprises and online services operated by NCV, including the following websites and associated subdomains: www.ncvoices.org.au

2. Types of Information we Collect

2.1. Nature

The type of information that we collect and hold depends on the nature of a person’s involvement with us.

We only collect your Personal Information where it is reasonably necessary for us to pursue one or more of our functions or activities, or where the law requires us to collect it.

2.2. Scope

Depending on the reason for collecting it, the Personal Information we collect may include (but is not limited to):

  • your name and contact details;
  • copies of identification documentation, if they are ever required for some legitimate reason;
  • payment information and banking details if you are purchasing a product through us;
  • Personal Information contained in forms or applications;
  • Personal Information contained in queries, or feedback about our services; and
  • usage data (which may include your IP address, the pages you have clicked through on our websites, websites that referred you to our sites, information about the device you are using, and your wider geographic location)

3. How we Collect Information

3.1. When Necessary

We ask you for Personal Information when it is reasonably necessary for the activities in which you are seeking to be involved. We will only collect your Personal Information by lawful and fair means, including by telephone, by letter, by email, through forms on our websites or through websites we trust.

Normally, we collect your Personal Information directly from you (or the relevant individual), unless it is unreasonable or impracticable to do so. We may, however, sometimes collect Personal Information from agents, contractors, subcontractors, employees, representatives, users of NCV’s services, and volunteers.

3.2. IT Usage Data

We collect user data through log files and cookies. In some cases you can block or delete cookies and still use our services, although if you do, you will be asked for your email address and password every time you log into an account you hold with us.

3.3. Consent

We generally obtain consent from the owner of Personal Information to collect their Personal Information. Consent may be provided in writing, or may be provided orally, or may be implied through a person’s conduct.

You are not required to provide the Personal Information we request. However, if you choose not to provide it, we may not be able to service your needs (see also clause 6).

You are free to browse our website anonymously. However, when you are registering to become a Member or Interested Party, we require you to register an account using your name and provide a valid email address, home address and contact number. It is impractical for us to manage and provide support if we cannot match you to your account. Receipts (especially tax deductible receipts) may be invalid unless accurate information, including your real name, is provided.

4. How we use your Personal Information

4.1. Range of Uses

We use your Personal Information for a range of purposes, including:

  • providing you with our services;
  • improving our services through quality-improvement activities;
  • providing you with information, news, offers and surveys;
  • conducting Data Science activities (explained above);
  • helping you to access the most appropriate information and tools associated with our website;
  • providing you with support if you need technical assistance;
  • processing payments, including donations;
  • communicating important service-related announcements, changes to our services or policies, or password notifications;
  • providing you with information about your account and newsletters you have signed up to receive;
  • answering inquiries and resolving complaints;
  • complying with directions from authorities or legislative requirements;
  • screening for or preventing potentially fraudulent, illegal or abusive activity;
  • storing your data so it is available for your future use of our services.

4.2. Other Issues or Concerns

We may also collect, hold, use and disclose Personal Information for purposes:

  • which we explained at the time of collection; or
  • which are required by law; or
  • for which you have provided your consent; or
  • which are necessary for maintaining the reliability and security of infrastructure and services.

We only use or disclose your Personal Information for the above purposes, or for purposes that you consent to, or for other related purposes that you would reasonably anticipate.

To the extent you submit content to public areas of our websites (for example, on a public online forum), it will be available to the public and we may reuse or republish it. If you request that such content be removed, we will do our best to promptly remove it.

If you have any concerns about us using your Personal Information in any of these ways, please notify us immediately.

5. How we Store and Handle your Data

5.1. Storage

We hold Personal Information in a number of ways, including in electronic databases, email contact lists, and in paper files held in secure offices. We take reasonable steps to:

  • make sure that the Personal Information is accurate, up to date and complete, and (in the case of use and disclosure) relevant;
  • protect the Personal Information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, destruction, modification or disclosure;
  • destroy or permanently de-identify Personal Information that is no longer needed. (However, we will keep information for a longer period where necessary to comply with contractual, regulatory or legal requirements.)

5.2. Passwords

Any Personal Information we provide to you through your online account(s) with Our Community is password-protected. You must not reveal or share your password with anyone. We will never ask for your password, either verbally or through phone or email contact (whether initiated by you or us).

6. Accessing and Correcting your Personal Information

6.1. Access

If you would like:

  • confirmation that we hold your Personal Information;
  • to access your Personal Information; or
  • to correct your Personal Information

you can request this by using the contact details in clause 14. We will respond to your request within a reasonable period and within any timeframe specified by the Privacy Legislation. You may make an urgent request to access or correct your Personal Information, which should include the reasons for the urgency.

6.2. Security

Prior to allowing access to your Personal Information, we may ask you to take steps to verify your identity. We will allow you to access your Personal Information unless there is a sound reason not to, including where:

  • giving access would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others; or
  • we reasonably consider that your request for access is frivolous or vexatious; or
  • it is not permitted under the applicable Privacy Legislation.

 If we refuse to give you access to your information, we will give you a notice setting out our reasons. If you believe that information we hold about you is incorrect or out of date, please contact us and we will take all reasonable steps to amend the information in line with your request.

7. Direct Marketing

7.1. Restricted Use

We only use your Personal Information to let you know about our activities or services where we have your consent, or where we are otherwise permitted by law to do so. We may contact you for these purposes in a variety of ways, including by mail, email, SMS or telephone. We do not sell your Personal Information to any third party for the purposes of direct marketing.

Where you have consented to receiving marketing communications from us, your consent remains current until you advise us otherwise. You can opt out at any time, by:

  • contacting us;
  • advising us if you receive a marketing call that you no longer wish to receive; or
  • using the unsubscribe facility that we include in our electronic messages (such as emails and SMS).

8. Data Science

8.1. Purpose

NCV’s overriding purpose is to build stronger community participation in democratic governance processes through active communication of the desired outcomes and associated satisfaction levels of residents to our elected representatives at the local, state and federal levels. We manage a comprehensive set of data collected through our website and other statistical sources (such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Electoral Commissions etc.) and we use scientific methods, processes and systems to derive meaning from this data (Data Science). Our ground-breaking data initiatives are underpinned by our mission to:

  • explicitly identify desired community outcomes and communicate them to governments;
  • drive a shift toward evidence-based planning, governance practices and decision-making;
  • hold political representatives accountable for achieving community outcomes; and
  • have a discernible positive impact on the social, environmental, geographical, economic and governance conditions of our community.

By using our online services, you agree that NCV can access, aggregate and use data collected from you as input into our Data Science activities. 

8.2. Uses

We may use our Data Science activities to:

  • conduct research, develop policy recommendations and frame communications to elected representatives and decision-makers about desired community outcomes, priorities and satisfaction levels;
  • review and evaluate the voting records and performance of elected representatives and government agencies;
  • create new products and services;
  • identify improvements to our existing products and services.

We may share the outputs of our Data Science activities with the public (for example, on our public website or through newsletter and social or mainstream media) or to promote the licensing of our intellectual property to other community organisations or “Voices” groups. We do not disclose information that identifies any individuals or organisations unless we have their express consent.

9. Notification of a Data Breach

If we become aware of unauthorised access to or loss of your Personal Information, we will promptly:

  • notify you;
  • investigate the cause;
  • do our best to remedy any consequences; and
  • tell you what steps we have taken to prevent a reoccurrence.

Unauthorised access to or unauthorised disclosure of personal information, or a loss of personal information, are handled in accordance with the relevant authority, which in Australia is the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at the address below:

www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/notifiable-data-breaches

10. Complaints

10.1. Response

We treat any claims of privacy breaches seriously and will do our best to respond to your complaint within seven days of receiving it. If you are unhappy with our response, you can refer your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

10.2. Contact us

If you have a complaint about how we collect or handle your Personal Information, please contact us using the contact address [email protected].

Scroll to Top