Our Commitment
EW Accountants Pty Ltd ('EW Accountants') is committed to providing you with the highest levels of client service. We recognise that your privacy is very important to you. The Privacy Act 1988 and The Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012 set out a number of Australian Privacy Principles. Our aim is to both support and ensure that we comply with these principles. Further information on privacy in Australia may be obtained by visiting the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.
This Privacy Policy explains our policy on how EW Accountants and its representatives manage your personal information.
Updates to our Privacy Policy are made available on our website: ewca.com.au
Your Personal Information
As a provider of accounting, advisory and tax agent services, it may be necessary and in some cases a legislative and regulatory requirement for us to collect and hold detailed personal information. The main types of personal information we collect and hold includes (but is not limited to):
- your name, contact details, date of birth, place of birth, tax file number. director ID
- information regarding your dependants and family commitments
- your occupation, employment details and employment history
- your financial needs and objectives; and
- your assets, liabilities, income, expenses, insurances, social security entitlements and bank account details
- documentation used for identification and verification purposes
How we collect Personal Information
EW Accountants collects personal information directly from you or from third parties once authorisation has been provided by you. You have the right to refuse us authorisation to collect such information from a third party. However, where you choose not to provide us with the information we request, we may not be able to provide you with services that you have requested from us, and we may elect to terminate any arrangements we may have with you.
Importantly, if you provide either inaccurate or incomplete information to us, you risk obtaining products or services that may not be appropriate or suitable for your needs and you may risk suffering a financial detriment or financial loss.How we use your Personal Information
Primarily, your personal information is used to provide services to you. We may also use the information for the secondary purpose of:
- attempting to identify other products and services that may be of interest to you
- referring you to our related and associated entities
- conducting any professional quality control review program; and
- managing our business operations, such as maintaining secure IT systems.
From time to time, we may provide you with direct marketing material. If, at any time, you do not wish to receive this information any further, you may contact us with this request. We will endeavour to meet your request within 2 weeks. We maintain a Register for those individuals not wanting direct marketing material.
When we may disclose your Personal Information
In providing our services we may need to disclose personal information to a third party. This will be done to the extent permitted by law and as set out in this policy. Examples of the types of third parties we may disclose personal information to include:
- superannuation fund trustees, insurance providers, fund managers and other product providers in order to manage or administer your product or service
- your professional advisers, including your solicitor, financial advisor or auditor as authorised by you
- information technology service providers
- Government and regulatory authorities, as required or authorised by law.
Cross-border disclosure of Personal Information
Your personal information may be disclosed to EW Accountants staff members and colleagues located in Australia.
If we are required to transact with disclose your personal information to overseas recipients, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure that they comply with any relevant Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). We will also seek your informed consent prior to disclosing your information overseas.
Please be aware that if the overseas recipient of the information breaches the APPs, redress under the Australian Privacy legislation may not be available. The overseas recipient may also be subject to a foreign law that could compel the disclosure of your information to a third party, such as an overseas government authority.
How we store and secure your Personal Information
We keep your personal information in your physical client files or electronically. These files are accessible to authorised personnel only and are appropriately secured and subject to confidentiality requirements.
Where your personal information is kept electronically, it will only be stored online and on servers based in Australia, accessible only by authorised EW Accountants staff members and colleagues.
Personal information is held for as long as it is required to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected or as required by law. After this, the information will be securely destroyed.
We will correspond with you by email if you indicate this is appropriate and acceptable to you. In providing this direction you acknowledge that email is not a secure environment and that the transmission of personal information over the internet is at your own risk and cannot be guaranteed by EW Accountants.
Ensure your Personal Information is correct
EW Accountants takes all reasonable precautions to ensure that the personal information we collect, use and disclose is accurate, complete and up to date. To ensure we can maintain this level of accuracy and completeness, we recommend that you:
- inform us of any errors in your personal information; and
- update us with any changes to your personal information as soon as possible.
If you provide inaccurate or incomplete information, we may not be able to provide you with the products or services you are seeking.
Access to your Personal Information
You may request access to the personal information we hold about you, and we will respond within a reasonable period after the request is made. If charges are applicable in providing access to you, we will disclose these charges to you prior to providing you with the information.
We reserve the right to refuse to provide you with information that we hold about you, in certain circumstances set out in the Privacy Act or any other applicable law. Additionally, EW Accountants reserves the right to deny access to personal information where the request for access is considered frivolous or vexatious. Should we refuse you access to your personal information, we will provide you with a written explanation for that refusal. You have the right to make a complaint if you disagree with our decisions about these matters (see below).
Using Government Identifiers
Although in certain circumstances we are required to collect government identifiers such as your tax file number, director ID, Medicare number or pension card number, we do not use or disclose this information other than when required or authorised by law or unless you have voluntarily consented to disclose this information to any third party.
Dealing with us anonymously
You can deal with us anonymously where it is lawful and practicable to do so. For example, if you telephone requesting our postal address.
Your sensitive information
We will collect sensitive information only when it is reasonably necessary for us to perform our functions or activities in advising you, acting for you and dealing with you and consented to by you. Sensitive information includes racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs or affiliations, membership of professional or trade associations, membership of a trade union, details of health, disability, sexual orientation or criminal record.
This is subject to some exceptions including when:
- collection is required by law; and
- the information is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of a legal claim.
Our Website
EW Accountants website may provide links to third party websites. The use of your information by these third party sites is not within our control and we cannot accept responsibility for the conduct of these organisations. Other websites are not subject to our privacy standards. You will need to contact or review those websites directly to ascertain their privacy policies.
Our website utilises cookies to provide you with a better user experience. Cookies also allow us to identify your browser while you are using our site - they do not identify you. If you do not wish to receive cookies, you can instruct your web browser to refuse them.
Complaints Resolutions
Please contact us by email info@ewca.com.au if you wish to complain about a breach of the APP or disagree with a decision that we have made about our Privacy Policy. To enable us to understand and deal with your complaint efficiently, you should set out a brief description of your privacy problem, the reason for your complaint and what action or remedy you are seeking from us. Your complaint will be investigated and responded to within a reasonable period. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint, you are entitled to contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
