1. Privacy Statement

ACROSSnet respects and is committed to maintaining the privacy of all visitors to this site. This statement governs how ACROSSnet deals with the collection, security, quality, use and disclosure of your personal information, and is in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Your use of this site indicates that you accept the Privacy statement, and consent to the collection and use by us of your personal information according to the terms below.

ACROSSnet may from time to time amend the Privacy Policy, and users are advised that continued use of the site following amendment is deemed confirmation of acceptance.

2. Collection of personal information

We will only collect personal information which you expressly provide to us when using any part of the site. For example:

(a) to enable us to keep you up-to-date on the latest news and to respond to your feedback, you may provide us with your email address; and

(b) to register to be a member of ACROSSnet, you will need to provide your name, age, gender, work contact details (including supervisory arrangements), and professional qualifications and registration details.

3. Use of personal information

3.1 ACROSSnet uses personal information only to fulfil and process the requests of users and members. Information will only be used for marketing purposes (that is, to notify you about important functionality changes to the site, latest news and events, and new services), only if you have agreed to receive this information. If you no longer wish to receive such information, please let us know by emailing the information officer.

3.2 Subject to the exceptions listed below, information which identifies individuals will only be accessed by ACROSSnet management and personnel, and ACROSSnet’s contracted service providers and professional advisers, all of whom are bound by the Privacy statement. We will not give your personal information to advertisers and other organisations without your express consent. ACROSSnet may use information to publish aggregate statistics about usage, membership, traffic patterns and other related site information that does not personally identify members. This is important to ensure that our content and services continue to meet the general needs of our users and members. In the following exceptional circumstances, ACROSSnet is entitled to disclose personal information without your consent:

(a) if we believe there is a serious and imminent threat to the life, health or safety of yourself or another person;

(b) to investigate or report on activity which we believe on reasonable grounds to be unlawful;

(c) if disclosure is required or authorised by law (for example where a regulatory authority has the power to request the provision of certain records or information);

(d) if disclosure is reasonably necessary to enable an enforcement body to perform its functions, for example:

(i) the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution or punishment of criminal offences; and

(ii) the preparation for, or conduct of, proceedings before any court or tribunal, or implementation of the orders of a court or tribunal.

3.3 You acknowledge that ACROSSnet's right to disclose personal information under the Privacy statement may involve disclosure to entities located outside Australia. Where ACROSSnet is required or authorised to disclose your personal information, you consent to the disclosure of your personal information to foreign entities.

4. Security of information

ACROSSnet will take all reasonable steps to ensure your personal information is protected from modification, misuse, disclosure, loss and unauthorised access. We protect the security of your financial information during transmission by using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption software.

5. Cookies and session information

5.1 Cookies are pieces of information that a site sends to your computer's hard disk when you access information on that site. Each time you use your computer to access the same site, the information that was previously received is sent back to the site by your browser. Cookies do not identify individual users. However, when you visit the ACROSSnet site, our servers may record information about your usage, the time of your visit, its duration, the pages you visit and style settings.

5.2 ACROSSnet retains aggregated information for usage statistics only. This information helps us know what our users find interesting and useful on the site, and will be accessed only by ACROSSnet management and personnel, ACROSSnet's contracted service providers and professional advisers, and entities to whom ACROSSnet submits applications for funding. The information we collect about users remains anonymous and is not linked to any personal information. However, if you login as a member, your preferred style settings are linked to your user name and password. This information is retained from session to session unless you change your user name. If you do not agree to the use of cookies, you can set the preferences on your browser to remove all cookies and reject cookies in the future.

6. Access to information

6.1 Please contact us if you would like to access a copy of your personal information or believe that the information we have about you is not up-to-date, complete or accurate. You have the right to request the correction of any information which relates to you and is inaccurate. If you would like ACROSSnet to delete your personal information, please let us know and we will take all reasonable steps to delete it unless we are required by law to keep it.

6.2 If you have any questions, comments or concerns about our Privacy statement, please send an email to the information officer or call 07 3624 2406.