Home > Privacy


Privacy

PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY

Wesfarmers Federation Insurance, as a leading insurance company, is committed to adopting the highest standards to safeguard our clients' Personal Information.

Our Privacy Policy
Our Privacy Policy sets out the approach which WFI takes in relation to the treatment of Personal Information. It includes information on how WFI collects, uses, discloses and keeps an individuals' Personal Information secure and how WFI makes the Personal Information it holds available for access to, and correction by, an individual.

Like other companies operating in Australia, WFI is bound by the National Privacy Principles set out in Schedule 3 to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

* Personal Information is information or an opinion about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion.

What We Believe At WFI
We believe that the Personal Information we have about you should remain private and we are committed to ensuring this.

Collection of Personal Information
We only collect and hold information used for the functions or activities of our business.

We may obtain information from you directly, for example, when you complete a proposal to obtain insurance from us or submit a claim form.

We may also collect Personal Information about you from other people. For example, this may be by way of credit checks; reports from contractors who have provided services to you or a report from a business alliance. If we obtain information in this way, we take steps to make sure you are informed of this.

Disclosure of Your Personal Information
We only disclose your Personal Information to persons outside of WFI to the extent this is necessary. For example, we may disclose your Personal Information:

  • to a party who is assisting us with or is involved in our work (for example, claims assessors, investigators, lawyers, risk assessors, reinsurers, agents, sales associates, market research organisations or business alliance partners); or
  • if a lawful exception applies (for example, if we believe disclosure is reasonably necessary to lessen or prevent a serious and imminent threat to a person's life, health or safety); or
  • if we have reason to suspect that unlawful activity has been, is being or may be engaged in and we need to disclose your information in reporting our concerns to relevant persons or authorities; or
  • if we are required to do so by law, for example, we are served with a warrant, order or notice issued by a court, government agency or enforcement body (as defined by the Privacy Act); or
  • if you consent to us doing so.

Using The Personal Information We Collect
We use the information we collect to carry out our work and that includes sharing information within the Wesfarmers Group of companies. By doing this, WFI can provide you with the service you expect and you can be kept informed about products, services or special offers that may be of interest to you.

In addition to using the Personal Information to run our business we may, in some cases, use it for directly marketing our products and services to you. This may be by telephone, letter or personal contact through our Australia wide network. You may ask us at any time not to send you direct marketing communications and you can do so by:

Mail:
WFI National Marketing, Locked Bag 1, Bassendean WA 6934.

Call:
08 9273 5333
or 1800 199 755 and ask to speak to someone in the Marketing Department.

Email:
privacy@wfi.com.au stating that you do not want to receive further marketing information from WFI.

Providing You With Access To Your Personal Information
We will give you access to your Personal Information wherever possible. We may give you access in a number of ways. For example, we may provide you with a photocopy of a document you have asked for; give you a printout of the information you require that is in electronic form; let you view the information at our office; fax you a document you have asked for; or give you a summary of the information you have asked for.

The Privacy Act does not require us to give you access to your Personal Information if:

  • providing you with access would pose a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of any individual; or
  • providing you with access would have an unreasonable impact upon the privacy of other individuals; or
  • your request for access is frivolous or vexatious; or
  • the information you seek access to relates to existing or anticipated legal proceedings between you and WFI.

If we are not prepared to give you access to your Personal Information we will explain the reason why we are not prepared to do so, in writing.

Data Quality
We make every effort to ensure that the Personal Information we collect, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up-to-date.

The Correction of Your Personal Information
If you establish that information we hold is inaccurate, incomplete or not up-to-date, it will be corrected as soon as we are made aware of this.

If you ask that our data be deleted or corrected and we think it is inappropriate to do so, we will discuss our reasons for this with you and if you require, confirm those reasons in writing.

Ensuring Your Confidentiality
To ensure your confidentiality, details of your Personal Information will be passed on to you only once we are satisfied of your identity. We will take steps when you request access to your Personal Information to establish that you are who you say you are, so as to ensure that your Personal Information is not accessed by another person.

Data Security
We endeavour to ensure that the Personal Information that we hold about you is protected from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

Information stored within our computer systems can only be accessed by those entrusted with authority and computer network password sanctions. Other records are securely maintained within the offices which service particular geographic areas. All WFI employees, agents and service providers acknowledge their responsibility for the security of Personal Information entrusted to them by WFI or obtained by them for WFI.

Personal Information, but not necessarily its statistical data value, is de-identified or destroyed under supervision when we no longer require it.

Complaints Handling Procedures
The Privacy Act gives you the right to make a complaint if you consider your Personal Information has not been dealt with appropriately, or if you would like a review of the reasons provided for not releasing your personal information, where you have requested access.

We have an Internal Privacy Complaint handling procedure to formally attend to any complaint you have to do with the handling of your Personal Information, whether by WFI, an authorised representative of WFI, or our services providers. If you have a complaint to do with a privacy issue, let us know. Details of WFI's Privacy Officers in each State are noted below.

We will do everything possible to resolve your complaint on your initial contact with us. However if we cannot do so, your complaint will be referred to a WFI Privacy Officer. We will respond to any privacy complaint within 15 business days, provided we have all necessary information.

In the unlikely event your complaint is not resolved, it will be treated as a dispute and will enter our Internal "Dispute Resolution" (IDR) process. The issue will then be considered by an independent and impartial Officer of WFI with the appropriate experience, knowledge and authority to deal with it. We will notify you of our final decision within 15 business days from the date your privacy complaint enters WFI's IDR process, provided we have all necessary information.

Other Options
If a complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction, you can refer it to the Federal Privacy Commissioner who will investigate the matter in consultation with you and with WFI.

You can contact the Federal Privacy Commissioner at:

Director, Compliance
Office of the Privacy Commissioner
GPO Box 5218
SYDNEY NSW 2001.

Phone: 1300 363 992

Internet: www.privacy.gov.au

WFI PRIVACY OFFICERS

Queensland, New South Wales and A.C.T.
Eastern Operations Manager
Level 2, Toowong Tower
9 Sherwood Road
Toowong QLD 4066
Ph: (07) 3721 5100
Fax: (07) 3871 0776

Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia
Southern Operations Manager
369 High Street
Kew VIC 3101
Ph: (03) 9342 1200
Fax: (03) 9342 1260

Western Australia
Western Operations Manager
184 Railway Parade
Bassendean WA 6054
Ph: (08) 9273 5333
Fax: (08) 9378 2172

Head Office
Risk and Compliance Manager
Locked Bag 1
Bassendean WA 6934
Ph: 08 9273 5333
Fax: 08 9279 4319

Need More Help or Information?
You can download a copy of our Privacy Policy for your future reference below. If you require assistance in submitting your complaint, you can contact any of WFI's Privacy Officers who will help you.