privacy policy

Overview

Brennan Law Partners values and respects the privacy of the people we deal with – particularly those in difficult situations due to acts of violence. We recognise the importance of keeping personal and sensitive information secure and take care in our procedures.

This Privacy Policy simply describes how we collect, store, use and disclose your personal information, and how we ensure that it is always secure. If you seek further information, please do not hesitate to contact us on the phone or addresses provided below.

Additionally, the Victorian Government’s privacy statement for victim services can be found on this webpage. It must be noted that this is a separate and distinct policy, despite the similarities between the two.

The Privacy Act and Australian Privacy Principles

We are committed to upholding our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and other applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, in handling your personal information, Brennan Law Partners will comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and with the 13 Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act. This privacy statement may be updated from time to time.

The information we collect

Our enquiry forms help our lawyers understand the basic circumstances around your situation, assess whether you may be eligible for assistance, and reach out to you if we can help. As such, our enquiry forms ask for the following information:

Your name and contact details
A brief description of the incident
The date and location of the incident
Whether you have made a police report and if so, the details of the relevant police officer
Any details about the offender and charges, if known
Information about physical injuries sustained and any medical treatment received
Information about psychological or emotional injuries sustained and any counselling or treatment received
Details of expenses that you have incurred or expect to incur (such as medical, counselling, or safety-related costs
Any other comments or information you wish to share
Some of this information may constitute sensitive information for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), including information relating to criminal acts or your physical or psychological wellbeing.

Purpose of Collection

We collect personal information for the following purposes:
To respond to your enquiry and assess whether we can assist you;
To provide legal information or advice (where appropriate);
To contact you regarding your enquiry;
To manage our professional relationship with you if you become a client; and
To comply with our legal and professional obligations.

We only collect personal information that is reasonably necessary for these purposes.

Sensitive Information

By submitting information through our website, you consent to us collecting and using sensitive information (including information about acts of violence or criminal conduct) for the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy.

We take additional precautions to protect sensitive information and restrict access to authorised personnel only

Use and disclosure of personal information

We will not use or disclose any of your personal information that we collect through this website unless the use or disclosure is:

for the primary purpose the information was collected
for a related secondary purpose, which you ought to reasonably expect in the circumstances
required or authorised by law
for any other purpose permitted under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) or

Health Records Act 2001 (Vic).

Ultimately, this means that our team will only use your information to help you with your enquiry, to stay in touch with you, and to meet our legal responsibilities. Above all, we will always treat what you share with us respectfully and keep it private – to ensure your safety and wellbeing.

Your personal information may be disclosed to:

solicitors and staff within our firm on a confidential, need-to-know basis;
professional advisers engaged by us (such as barristers or expert consultants), where necessary and subject to confidentiality obligations; or
regulatory bodies or authorities where required by law.
We do not sell or rent personal information to third parties

Disposal of personal information

When your matter is finalised, both the electronic and hard-copy information is securely archived. After a period of 7 years, both the electronic and hard-copy information is destroyed.
If we are unable to assist you, or you elect not to proceed with our services, we will retain your enquiry for a limited of period of time as required and then ensure that it is securely deleted.

How we collect information

We will collect information relating to you and your circumstances:
• directly from you when you complete and submit the enquiry form
• through any supporting documents you may provide
• through any follow-up communications we may have

Information and data security

We will maintain the confidentiality of the information that you provide us with and will take all reasonable precautions to protect your personal information from any misuse, loss and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.

This includes:
• secure transmission of inquiries
• secure storage of records within our practice management systems
• processes which ensure that monitor the progress of each inquiry
While we are committed to security, we cannot guarantee the security of any information that is transmitted to or by us online. The transmission and exchange of information is carried out at your own risk.

Personal information collected through our website is stored electronically on secure servers. We do not ordinarily disclose personal information to overseas recipients. If this changes, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that any overseas recipient complies with applicable privacy laws.

Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies or analytics tools to improve functionality and user experience. These tools do not collect information that personally identifies you.

Access and correction

Brennan Law Partners takes steps reasonable in the circumstances to ensure personal information it holds is accurate, up-to-date, relevant and not misleading. Under the Privacy Act 1988, you have a right to access and seek correction of your personal information that is collected and held by our office.

If you are seeking to access or correct the contents of your online submission, please refer to the contact details below.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

This Policy may be revised and edited from time to time, in accordance with current privacy laws. We may notify you about changes to this Policy, by posting an updated version on this website.

If you require any further information about privacy laws, you can visit the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at https://www.oaic.gov.au/.

Additionally, to see how your information is handled by the Victorian Government’s Financial Assistance Scheme upon lodging an application, consult their privacy statement for victim services at https://www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/privacy-0#privacy-statement-for-victim-services.

Contact

If you would like more information about the way we manage personal information which we hold about you, or have concerns about the privacy policy, please contact us on:

Email: tyson.brennan@brennanlawpartners.com.au
Tel: +61 3 9620 0400
Address: Level 40, 140 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000