Disclaimer

This website is operated by Industry Fund Services Limited - ABN 54 007 016 195, AFSL 232514 – (“IFS”). IFS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Industry Super Holdings Pty Ltd (ABN 71 119 748 060), which in turn is owned by a number of major industry superannuation funds.

The information provided on this website is of a general nature only. It has been prepared by IFS without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should assess your own financial situation and obtain independent financial advice before making any investment decisions or taking any action based on the limited information available on this website.

IFS is responsible for the accuracy of the information it publishes.

IFS Group privacy statement

About this Statement

This Statement explains how the IFS Group handles and protects the personal information of its customers.

Each entity in the IFS Group is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). The purpose of this Statement is to ensure that the IFS Group complies with these requirements and that you understand our obligations to you.

About the IFS Group

The IFS Group comprises the following entities:

What is Personal Information

Personal information is any information that can be, or likely could be used to identify you and may include:

  • your name;

  • your date of birth;

  • your gender;

  • your contact details;

  • your marital status and details about your family and living arrangements;

  • your Tax File Number;

  • your health information or genetic information;

  • your insurance details;

  • your employment details;

  • your assets, income and liabilities;

  • your religion;

  • your race; or

  • your political or philosophical views.

Why does the IFS Group collect personal information?

IFS may use personal information to provide its products and services in the following ways:

Services

Financial planning services – licensing Financial Advisers to provide services to members of our client funds or facilitating the provision of digital advice

Unpaid Super – arrears collection service in relation to unpaid super

Why and how?

Establish the identity of our clients or recipients of our service

Administer and manage the delivery of our products and services

Fulfil our obligations to our clients

Manage our risks and to help identify potentially illegal or fraudulent conduct

Comply with legal and regulatory reporting obligations

Assist with the design, development and improvement of our products and services

Appoint our Director, employees and Financial Advisers

We may also use and disclose your personal information for purposes related to those mentioned above, such as arranging for services to be provided by a third party.

Some laws also require us to collect, store, use and disclose personal information. These laws include the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth), the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) and the U.S Foreign Account Compliance Act.

How does IFS collect personal information?

IFS usually collects personal information directly from the individual to whom the information directly relates. In some instances, however, we may obtain personal information from a third party, such a superannuation fund, an insurer, a parent or guardian, public sources, government organisations, regulatory bodies and enforcement agencies, market research organisations, service providers, and credit reporting bodies. For example, information about employment details may be obtained from a client superfund or an employer.

IFS collects personal information through:

  • Forms

  • Telephone conversations

  • Documents provided by clients

  • Third parties

  • Access and use of IFS websites

  • Surveys, competitions or promotions

  • Letters and e-mail correspondence

How does IFS protect personal information?

We are dedicated to keeping your personal information secure. We take a number of steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. These steps include:

  • Restricting access to our office space to authorised persons.

  • Restricting access to our information technology (IT) systems to authorised users.

  • Requiring use of electronic records instead of paper records, where possible.

  • Requiring encryption, password protection or secure file transfer protocols for transmission of any files containing personal information.

  • Restricting access to personal information saved on our IT systems to only those persons who need to use the information.

  • Requiring that personal information not be left unattended.

  • Making sure our people understand the importance of protecting the confidentiality of personal information.

  • Restricting the collection and use of Tax File Numbers.

  • Requiring outsourced service providers and any third party to meet minimum standards.

We may hold your personal information in a combination of secure computer storage facilities, hard copy documents and other formats.

Does an individual have to provide personal information?

No. An individual can choose not to provide any information. If we are unable to collect personal information or the information is incomplete or inaccurate, we may not be able to provide a product or service or it may result in a delay of processing requests. For example, the law may prevent us from providing a product or service to an individual we cannot identify or if we do not have the necessary personal information we may not be able to reach the individual to convey important information.

Does IFS use personal information for direct marketing?

Yes. We may use personal information (not including sensitive information) to communicate directly with an individual about our products and services.

Does IFS disclose personal information to third parties?

Yes. We disclose personal information to third parties in one of more of the following circumstances: (1) the disclosure is necessary for or related to the provision of one of our products or services; and (2) the individual has consented to the disclosure of the information to a third party. IFS may rely on express or implied consent. Where IFS relies on implied consent, it will do so in accordance privacy laws.

Third parties to which we may provide personal information include:

  • Superannuation funds and employers contributing to superannuation

  • Investment product providers

  • Insurers, banks or Financial Advisers

  • Credit reporting bodies

  • Legal personal representatives

  • Government organisations, regulatory bodies and enforcement agencies

  • Service providers that act on our behalf

  • Parents, guardians or other family members where authorised by law

  • Other financial services or product institutions to prevent, detect or investigate suspected fraudulent activity in connection with our products and services

In certain circumstances we may disclose personal information where required or authorised by law, including in emergency situations and to assist law enforcement agencies.

We will only disclose sensitive personal information where consent has been provided.

How can an individual opt-out of having personal information used for direct marketing?

A person can opt-out of receiving marketing communications by contacting IFS or by using the facilities provided in the specific marketing communication.

An individual can also tell us at any time if they do not wish to disclose their personal information to third parties by contacting our privacy officer.

Does IFS disclose personal information outside of Australia?

We may share personal information to an entity located overseas. Before sharing information, we must take reasonable steps to ensure that the entity receiving the personal information will comply with the Australian Privacy Principles and laws, usually through a written contract.

How long does IFS keep personal information?

IFS is subject to a number of regulatory requirements that require retention of information. Personal information is destroyed or de-identified when it is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was obtained or when we are no longer required to retain it by law (whichever is later).

How can an individual access and correct personal information?

Under the Privacy Act you have the right to access the personal information we hold about you, with some exceptions.

An individual must request access to information in writing and outline why access is required. We will need to verify the identity of the person requesting access before we give access to personal information.

We may refuse access to personal information where:

  • Access will unreasonably impact the privacy of others

  • Access is unlawful or contrary to a court order

  • Access is likely to interfere with law enforcement activities

  • We have reason to suspect unlawful activity or misconduct of a serious nature that relates to the functions or activities of IFS and access will likely prejudice the taking of appropriate action in relation to that matter

  • We reasonably believe that giving access would pose a serious threat to the life, health or safety of any individual, or to public health or public safety

  • The request for access is frivolous or vexatious

  • Giving access would reveal information in connection with a commercially sensitive decision making process

Individuals also have the right to know what information we hold and have it corrected.

What about privacy and the internet?

IFS may collect certain personal information through use of its website. The purpose of collecting this information is to help us secure our online portals and to provide you with more relevant content, including presenting product and service information tailored to your needs or preferences.

  • Cookies: The IFS Group collects certain personal information when individuals use our websites. This information is collected through the use of Cookies, which are small text files that are transferred to a user’s computer hard drive by a website or application for the purpose of storing information about the user’s identity, browser type or website visiting patterns.

    If an individual has concerns about cookies, they may adjust internet browser settings to disable cookies. However, disabling cookies may impact the functionality of the website and we may not be able to provide all services available on the website.

  • Email: If IFS receives an email from an individual, it will use the email address and any personal information contained in the email to respond to any request. IFS must only retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose for which the information is collected or as required by law.

  • External Service Providers: IFS may use service providers to track usage on its websites, but personal information should not be collected via this process.

Links to third party websites?

Our websites will contain links to external third party websites.

Please be aware, that third party websites are not covered by this Statement and are not subject to the standards and procedures of IFS. These websites should provide their own privacy statement and we recommend you review them when using their website.

How can you contact IFS about your privacy?

All enquiries or complaints can be directed to:

Risk and ComplianceLevel 22, 2 Lonsdale StreetMelbourne VIC 3000

Email: riskandcompliance@ifs.net.au

External Dispute Resolution

If a person is unsatisfied with our dispute resolution process, they can access an external dispute resolution body.

Australian Financial Complaints Authority:

Phone: 1800 931 678

Website: www.afca.org.au

Mail: GPO Box 3, Melbourne, VIC 3001
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner:

Phone: 1300 363 992

Website: www.oaic.gov.au

Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au

You can find out more information about the Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner may be contacted at www.oaic.gov.au, by email at enquiries@oaic.gov.au or by phone at 1300 363 992.

The Health Services Commissioner may be contacted at hcc.vic.gov.au by email at hsc@hcc.vic.gov.au or by phone at 1300 582 113.