Privacy Policy

Purpose of this policy

This document sets out the policy adopted by the Independent Superannuation Preservation Fund (ISPF), ABN 55 807 574 608, on the management of personal information about members. A copy of this document is available to any person who asks for it. ISPF has outsourced the administration of the Fund to Independent Fund Administrators and Advisers Pty Ltd ABN 28 081 966 243. This includes all information processing, record keeping and claims management. The administrator implements ISPF's privacy policy and has adopted data security procedures and staff training programmes to comply with the policy.

Personal information that we hold and why we collect it

The information ISPF keeps about members is their name and contact details, tax file number, gender, date of birth, occupation, name of past employer and names of preferred beneficiaries. This information is needed to administer their benefits and work out when they may be entitled to a benefit. ISPF will also hold the details of each member's account balance, contributions and benefits. The administrator collects, processes and retains this information on behalf of ISPF. If a member dies, ISPF needs information about persons who are entitled to be considered for distribution of the death benefit. This includes the member's spouse, children, any other dependant and any person who might be a beneficiary of the member's estate. The information ISPF will ask about those persons will be their name and address, gender, date of birth, details of their financial position and financial needs and any other information that will assist ISPF in deciding who the death benefit should be distributed to.

How we collect, use and disclose personal information

ISPF collects information about members from the originating superannuation fund which transferred the member to ISPF and also any Change of Member Details forms lodged by members. On a member's death, ISPF will normally collect information about potential beneficiaries from the beneficiaries themselves. However, ISPF will also collect some information about the identity of potential beneficiaries from the member's executor or administrator or whoever notifies the member's death. If a member makes a claim for a permanent incapacity benefit, more information is collected about the member's disability. Most of this information is collected from the member but information may also be collected from doctors and other experts, and perhaps from the member's past employer. Information about members held by the administrator will normally only be disclosed to the Trustee of ISPF. However, if there is any dispute about a member's entitlement, ISPF or the administrator may disclose information about the member to other advisers (for example, legal advisers). ISPF does not disclose information about members to other organisations for marketing purposes.

Member access to information

Members are entitled to access information ISPF holds about them. If a member wants to check that their personal details are correct or find out information about their account, they can contact ISPF by telephone or in writing. Requests for information can sometimes be answered over the telephone, or a copy of the information can be sent by post. To correct member details, a Change of Member Details form must be completed. For security reasons, ISPF will not give any information over the telephone unless the person making the enquiry is able to answer a list of questions designed to confirm their identity. Written requests for information must be signed by the member. Members can also make arrangements, by telephone or in writing, to come in to the administrator's office at an appointed time during normal working hours to look at their information on computer screens. Again, proof of identity will be required. Members cannot access information about any other member.

Keeping information up-to-date

ISPF tries to ensure that the information it holds about members remains accurate, complete and up to date. At the time of joining, members are sent a "welcome letter" asking them to check and correct their details. When members are sent their annual member statements, they are asked to notify any changes in their personal information.

Complaints

If any member has a complaint about a possible breach of their privacy, the member should first contact the Fund's Complaints Officer. ISPF's complaints procedure is set out in the member information brochure and in the annual report. If the complaint is not resolved, members can complain to the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner, telephone 1300 363 992.

» For ISPF contact details Click Here

Date of Issue: July 2002