Privacy Policy
Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council (OLALC) — DRAFT for review, [ ] placeholders to be completed before publishing.
Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council (OLALC) is committed to protecting the privacy of Aboriginal people, staff, members and the wider community we serve. This Privacy Policy explains how OLALC collects, holds, uses and discloses personal information — including through our website — and sets out how you can access, correct or make a complaint about that information.
This Policy is prepared in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Some information collected by OLALC through our support and program services may also be subject to additional confidentiality obligations under Commonwealth or NSW law, or under funding agreements with government agencies.
When we collect personal information
OLALC may collect and hold personal information about you when you:
- contact us for information, assistance or to access a program or service
- apply for or hold membership of OLALC
- request a Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country for an event
- engage with our Domestic and Family Violence, housing, disability, youth justice, early intervention or cultural programs
- apply for employment, a traineeship or to volunteer with us
- provide feedback or make a complaint
- subscribe to updates or newsletters
- have business dealings with us, for example as a supplier or contractor
- otherwise interact with our website.
Wherever practical, we collect personal information directly from you. In some circumstances — for example where another agency refers you to one of our support programs — we may collect information about you from a third party. Where this happens, we will make you aware of what has been collected where it is appropriate and safe to do so.
What kind of information we collect
The personal information we collect depends on your reason for contacting us, and may include:
- your name, contact details and date of birth
- Aboriginality or Confirmation of Aboriginality, where relevant to membership or a program
- information about the support, service or program you are seeking, including sensitive information such as health, disability, or domestic and family violence–related information
- employment, education or financial information relevant to a service, program or job application
- technical information collected automatically through our website (see ‘Our website’ below).
Some of this is ‘sensitive information’ under the Privacy Act — including health information, and information about Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity. We only collect sensitive information where it is necessary for the service or program you’re engaging with, or where you have consented, and we apply additional care to how this information is stored and who can access it.
Why we collect, use and disclose personal information
We collect, hold and use personal information to:
- respond to your enquiry and determine what assistance or services we can provide
- deliver our programs and support services, including case management where relevant
- meet reporting obligations to government and other funding bodies that support our programs
- manage membership of OLALC in accordance with the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW)
- recruit, manage and support employees and volunteers
- manage suppliers and other business dealings
- improve our website and services, and communicate updates you’ve asked to receive.
We will only use or disclose your personal information for the purpose it was collected, or a directly related purpose you would reasonably expect. We do not sell, rent or trade personal information to third parties.
We may disclose personal information to:
- staff and contractors involved in delivering the relevant service or program
- government agencies or funding bodies, where required for reporting or where you have been referred by, or to, that agency
- professional advisers, auditors or regulators, where required
- any other party you have consented to, or where required or authorised by law.
Sensitive and culturally significant information
We recognise that information shared with OLALC — particularly through our Domestic and Family Violence, housing, disability and early intervention programs — can be highly sensitive. Access to this information within OLALC is restricted to those staff who need it to provide the relevant service. Where our services involve case notes or referrals, information is shared with other agencies only with your consent, or where we are required to by law, or where there is a serious risk to safety.
If you would prefer to engage with us anonymously or using a pseudonym, let us know — in many cases we can accommodate this, though some services (for example, ongoing case support) may require us to know who you are in order to assist you safely and effectively.
Our website
You can browse most of the OLALC website without providing any personal information.
Website analytics
Our website may use analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) to collect anonymous, aggregated information about visits — including pages viewed, time on site, general location and device/browser type. This information does not identify you personally and is used only to improve the website.
Cookies
Our website may use cookies — small text files stored on your device — to support website functionality (for example, remembering your preferences) and for the analytics purposes described above. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies; this may affect some website functionality.
Forms and enquiries
If you complete a form on our website — for example to make an enquiry, request a Welcome to Country, subscribe to updates, or apply for a program — the information you provide is used only for that purpose, as described in this Policy. Website contact forms are not a substitute for emergency or crisis assistance — see [emergency contacts / crisis line] if you need urgent help.
Links to other websites
Our website may link to other websites, including government and partner agencies. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external websites, and encourage you to review their privacy policies separately.
How we store and secure personal information
OLALC takes reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Information is stored in secure IT systems and/or physical files, with access restricted to staff who require it for their role. Where we engage third-party service providers (for example, IT hosting or case management software), we require them to protect personal information consistently with this Policy.
No method of storage or transmission over the internet is completely secure. While we take reasonable steps to protect your information, you should be aware there is inherent risk in submitting information online.
Access and correction
You have the right to:
- ask for access to the personal information OLALC holds about you
- ask us to correct that information if it is incorrect, out of date or incomplete
- opt out of receiving marketing or newsletter communications from us at any time.
To make a request, contact us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable time and may need to verify your identity before providing access.
Making a complaint
If you have a concern about how OLALC has handled your personal information, please contact us using the details below. We will investigate and respond to your complaint.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):
- Website: oaic.gov.au
- Phone: 1300 363 992
Changes to this Policy
OLALC may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. The current version will always be available on our website, with the date of last update shown below.
Contact us
For privacy enquiries, access and correction requests, or complaints, contact:
- Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Address: 120 Byng St, Orange NSW 2800
- Phone: (02) 6361 4742
- Email: reception@olalc.com.au
- ABN: 80 684 262 632
Last updated: 22 July 2026