Your rights and privacy

The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre, on behalf of the Department of Justice and Community Safety, collects personal information for the purpose of providing support to victims of crime under the Victims Assistance Program.

Your information is kept confidential in accordance with privacy laws. Without this information we may be unable to provide you with the adequate support you may require, for example referrals to appropriate programs or support services.

With your consent, personal information may also be disclosed to other organisations under the Victims Assistance Program, the Victims of Crime Helpline and Information Sharing Entities under the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme and the Child Information Sharing Scheme.

You can find out more about the Information Sharing Entities, including a list of Information Sharing Entities, on the information sharing and MARAM reforms website. You are able to request access to the personal information that we hold about you, and to request that it be corrected.

If you have any queries or concerns, please contact 1300 827 279 or VAPBSW@safvcentre.org.au. The Department respects individuals’ right to privacy. You can find out more on the Department’s website.

Your information and privacy

Files and records relating to you will be kept secure as required under legislation. Without this information, we may be unable to provide you with the adequate support you may require.

Information the agency holds about you may also be disclosed to other organisations under the Victims Assistance Program and to the Victims of Crime Helpline.

In situations where you or someone else, including a child, might be at serious risk of harm, agency staff may share information with other prescribed services in order to assess and manage risk.

You can find out more about our privacy policy at www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/privacy

You should be treated with respect

The Victims’ Charter Act 2006 is a law in Victoria that says that police, victims support services and prosecutors should treat you with:

respect
courtesy
dignity.

If you believe that you haven’t been treated with respect or given the right information, you can make a complaint.

Feedback and Suggestions

We are committed to providing high quality care and services and meeting your needs. We welcome your feedback in order to refine the way we develop and deliver our services to you. This includes responding to feedback, compliments and complaints fairly and without discrimination. Any concern you raise or information you provide will not impact on the services you or your family receives.

All feedback, compliments and complaints received by us will be managed and responded to in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and our policies and procedures.

If you have further questions, wish to provide feedback or make a complaint, you are encouraged to speak directly with our staff member supporting you or you are welcome to speak with their Manager or the Executive Manager Client Services. Please call during business hours on 03 5222 4318 or feedback can be provided via our online form below.

You have the right to ask for your complaint to be reviewed internally within The SAFV Centre or by contacting one of the independent advocacy bodies.

If you have any feedback or suggestions, please click here to fill out our feedback form.