Privacy Policy

Mornington Church of Christ respects the right to privacy of those with whom we interact. In order to safeguard an individual’s right to privacy, we have created a policy to reflect the spirit and content of the government’s privacy legislation. This will ensure we protect the trust you place in us when you provide us with your personal details. Our Privacy of Information Policy as stated below fulfills the requirements of the Commonwealth Privacy Act (Amendment 2000) and related Victorian Government legislation (Information Privacy Act 2000).

Mornington Church of Christ reserves the right to amend its Privacy of Information Policy as required. 

This policy will be made available to any person requesting a copy. Please note that we acknowledge being bound by the ten National Privacy Principles as set out in the legislation.

Collection & Use of Information

We will use your personal details to provide any personal ministry in order to administer your relationship with Mornington Church of Christ and to provide you with information on Mornington Church of Christ mission, events and ministries.

We only collect information where it is necessary to do so to provide a service to you or where we are required by law to do so (e.g., staff superannuation and taxation information). Without your personal details we may not be able to interact with you or provide ministry opportunities in a meaningful way.

Your personal details are not generally available to everyone. In some instances information is available on an unrestricted basis (e.g., Mornington Church of Christ Community Directory distributed to our congregation) but this only occurs with your full knowledge and consent.

There are many sources of information that we collect, which may include:

• Name and Address
• • Family member details
• • Details of donations where receipts for taxation purposes are required
• • Email address so we can communicate with you
• • Communications you have with us (e.g., letters, prayer requests)
• • Records of personal discussions (e.g., counselling sessions) – you will be informed if we keep a record of any personal meetings
• • Your involvement in Mornington Church of Christ ministries so we can provide a meaningful ministry relationship
• • Records of visits and pastoral matters
• • Staff details for superannuation, payroll and taxation purposes

In order to keep your information as current as possible please let us know of any changes to your personal details.

If you want a copy of this information please make your request in writing to our Church Secretary. You can make a request for us to modify your personal data at any time if you believe it is not accurate, complete or up to date.

It will be obvious that some of the above information that we collect is of a sensitive nature. In order to comply with National Privacy Principle No. 10, we assure you that:

• • Such information will relate solely to members of Mornington Church of Christ or to those who have regular contact with Mornington Church of Christ in connection with the Church’s activities; and
• • Mornington Church of Christ undertakes to all such individuals whom the information concerns that the Church will not disclose such information without the individual’s consent.

We will do everything we can do to respect your privacy and will only make your information available to those who have an absolute need to provide a service to you.

Access to Information

We will provide people with reasonable access to the personal information collected by Mornington Church of Christ in the course of its dealings with the person. However, in certain circumstances we may deny access to this information to the extent that:

• • Providing access would pose a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of any individual;
• • Providing access would have an unreasonable impact upon the privacy of other individuals;
• • Any other reason as consistent with the Act.

In such a situation we will explain to the person the reason for denying such access.

Mornington Church of Christ will do everything it can do to respect the privacy of individuals and will only make an individual’s personal information available to those who have an absolute need permitted by privacy laws to provide a service to the individual.

Access to your personal information is restricted to authorized persons (i.e., pastors, approved pastoral carers and support staff) who require the information to provide a service to you. We will not pass on any of your personal details to any other organizations or third parties.

Data Quality & Security

Mornington Church of Christ will at all times use its best endeavours to ensure that the personal information it collects, uses and discloses is accurate, complete and up to date. 
The Church will regularly (usually annually) confirm the accuracy of personal information by requesting that each individual about whom information has been collected reviews and confirms/amends such information.

Mornington Church of Christ ensures that all personal information and records are protected from unauthorized disclosure or loss by permitting access to either electronic or hard copy information only to authorized personnel. All information will be maintained in a secure environment./

Sensitive Information & Anonymity

Mornington Church of Christ will only collect sensitive information about an individual where:

• • the individual has consented, or
• • the collection is required by law, or
• • the information may prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of an individual, or
• • information is required by law. 

Sensitive information will not be disclosed without the consent of the individual.

In the normal course of discharging its responsibilities Mornington Church of Christ does not collect health information unless such information is required to safeguard the health of the individual. Any such information will not be disclosed without the consent of the individual unless it is to preserve the health of that specific person or it is provided to a state registered health care worker or organization.

Where it is lawful and reasonable to do so, Mornington Church of Christ will enable individuals to remain anonymous in their dealing with the organization.
Our commitment to privacy includes our public internet website, www.mcoc.com.au that is available to anyone. There is no personal data stored on this site.

Grievance Procedure & Request for Further Information

Mornington Church of Christ reserves the right to amend its policy on the Privacy of Information. The Church maintains a grievance/complaints process whereby individuals may register their dissatisfaction with either the process pertaining to the Privacy of Information Policy or with the Policy itself by informing the Church Secretary in writing of their dissatisfaction.

If you would like further information about the way Mornington Church of Christ manages personal information or have any questions relating to the “Mornington Church of Christ Privacy of Information Policy”, please contact our Church Secretary, PO Box 401, Mornington, Vic 3931.