PRIVACY POLICY
Who we are
Our website address is: https://ujjala.dhamma.org.
This website is owned and operated by Vipassana Meditation South Australia, which is committed to protecting the privacy of Internet users. Whilst the Centre strives to deliver better services that meet your present and future needs, the Centre also appreciates the uncertainty that comes with interacting in a constantly changing environment. We are sensitive to the concerns that our users may have with regards to the confidentiality, security and use of their personal information via our website, and would like to reassure you of our position on this matter.
The Centre encourages you to check the Centre’s Internet Privacy Statement regularly as this privacy statement may change from time to time. If you have any suggestions or concerns that are not addressed in this privacy statement, please contact us.
Our commitment to privacy
Aside from the contents of this statement, the Centre’s conduct in the online environment is also governed by a number of statutory and non-statutory policies as part of the telecommunications industry, and our corporate privacy principles.
Statutory and non-statutory requirements
- The National Privacy Principles contained in Schedule 3 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth);
- Laws and codes regulating and protecting Internet content;
The Centre also has its own policies and procedures designed to ensure that personal information is protected.
The Centre’s privacy principles
The Centre operates in accordance with corporate privacy principles that reflect the intention of the National Privacy Principles (NPP’s) and are summarised in our Privacy Policy Statement.
Collection of personal information
The types of personal information that we collect from you will depend on how you interact with the Centre’s website. This section will explain.
Cookies
Some of the websites owned and operated by the Centre may use cookies. Cookies are pieces of information that a website can transfer to an individual’s computer hard drive for tracking user navigation (site usage) and customising site information to further improve the user experience. Cookies can make using the Centre’s websites easier, for example by storing information about your preferences on a particular website. This will enable you to take full advantage of the services that the Centre sites offer. The use of cookies is an industry standard and you’ll find most major websites use them.
Most Internet browsers are pre-set to accept cookies. However, if you are concerned about the use of cookies you do have the option to opt-out and refuse the transfer of cookies to your computer’s hard drive. If you prefer not to receive cookies, you can adjust your Internet browser to refuse cookies or to warn you when cookies are being used. If you need further assistance to modify the cookie arrangement on your PC, please contact the company that produces your browser.
Online forms
When you submit forms on any of our sites, we will collect details such as your name, address and other details of personal information. This information is necessary for us to be able to identify you accurately so that we may be able to respond to your requests. Other types of information, are collected to help us profile who is using the services and what their needs are.
In general, you may be asked to provide the Centre with personally identifiable information when you:
- Send us your comments or suggestions
- Seek enrolment in a course
- Register with a site
- Enter/Update your listing details
- Request the Centre to provide you with services information.
We value your trust in our websites and, in all cases, your information will be held in the strictest confidence. For extra protection we may have processes in place so that, whenever a page is requested from our web site, we record the time, date and URL of the request, along with information on the browser software that is being used, such as, the operating system and Internet address of the user.
In all cases, the primary purpose in gathering information on our website users is to gain a better understanding of your needs and wants, and develop new and innovative solutions.
Control of personal information
Users are not required to register to access the public areas of the Centre’s web sites. However, registration for a course will require the user to disclose more personal information.
Our commitment is to provide you with the opportunity to ‘opt-out’ of any further contact by the Centre, and to access or correct any information you have submitted online to the Centre or any one of its affiliate sites.
Security of information
Any personal information that you submit to our web sites is held in the strictest confidence. The Centre uses and implements industry standards for the security and protection of information collected from its users. This information is securely stored and access is restricted to authorised Centre personnel only, ensuring that your personal information is protected and safeguarded in accordance with Privacy Principle 4: Data Security. The information you submit to the Centre is used only for the purpose stipulated at the time that the information is collected. The Centre does not to reveal, disclose, sell, distribute, rent, licence, share or pass on to any third parties, any personal information that you may have provided to us.
Exceptions Include:
- Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that disclosure is necessary to prevent a threat to life or health; and
- Where the Centre is required to provide information in response to proper legal demands, orders and process.
Transdata border flows
In some circumstances, it may be necessary to transmit your personal data to locations outside Australia in countries whose privacy laws either, do not exist at all, or are of an inferior standard to the Privacy Laws existing in Australia. In such circumstances, the Centre adheres to the Centre’s Privacy Principle 9.
Use of information
The information we gather when you use the Centre sites enables us to serve you better. The data that are gathered may also be aggregated for analysis by the Centre in a de-identified format. We use the information that you submit via an online form from any of the Centre web sites to enable us to assess the suitability of our services to your needs, and in any of the following ways:
- To make changes to your profile at your request
- To register information at your request
- To personalise our response to, your submission or inquiry
We will only record your email address if you send us a message. The information that you provide will only be used for the purpose for which you have provided it, as outlined above. Your personal identifiable information will not be used for any other purpose, and we will not disclose it without your consent.
Children using the Centre’s web sites
The safety of children is very important to us. Children under the age of 16 should have a parent or guardian verify their registration on websites and the submission of online forms. Whilst the Centre will make every reasonable effort to ensure that children’s privacy and other rights are not compromised, it is ultimately the responsibility of parents or guardians to monitor their children’s Internet usage. Children should always ask a parent before sending any transmission over the Internet.
Third party site
The Centre acknowledges that you may occasionally click-through to third party sites from our sites, and thus recommends that you refer to the privacy statement of the sites you visit. the Centre’s Internet Privacy Statement is applicable to all the Centre sites (listed in full above), and the Centre assumes no responsibility for information and content of third party sites.
Additional Internet Privacy suggestions
- Remember to close your browser when you have finished your user session. This ensures that others cannot access your personal information if you share a computer with someone else or are using a computer in a public place, such as a library or Internet cafe.
- Be aware that whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information over the Internet that there is a danger that this information can be collected and used by others. In short, if you post personal information over insecure networks its privacy cannot be guaranteed.
Should you have any further related enquiries in respect of your privacy, please contact our Privacy Officer at one of the following addresses:
The Privacy Officer
S.A. Vipassana Meditation Association Inc
37 Radstock Street
Woodville Park, SA 5011
Ph: (08) 8278 8278
Fax: (08) 8278 8278
Email: contact us