Privacy Policy

The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to tell you what kind of information is collected from you as part of our research, how that information may be used, and whether it will be disclosed to anyone else. It also explains how any information collected is stored, how you may access or correct it, and how you can contact Polity about this Privacy Policy.

Polity is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected and that information collected from you as part of our research is used in accordance with this Privacy Policy. We respect and uphold your rights to privacy protection under the Australian Privacy Principles.

How does Polity collect data?
The types of information that we collect from you as part of our research may include personal information and sensitive information (Information).

The types of personal information that we may collect from you includes your gender, age, postcode, occupation/employment details and contact details such as your email or phone. The types of sensitive information that we may collect from you includes your racial or ethnic origin, and cultural or political opinions.

We will collect this Information from you by your participation in our research and only if valid for the research we conduct. By participating, you consent to the collection and use of your Information in the ways outlined in this Privacy Policy.

We expect that, when completing our research, you will only provide Information that is accurate, complete and up to date. We will only collect Information from you as part of the research by lawful and fair means, and not in an unreasonable or intrusive way.

Where it is lawful and practicable to do so, we will offer you the option of interacting with us anonymously or by using a pseudonym. However, in certain circumstances, such as when we receive participant contact details from a third party or where the research data itself may potentially allow for identification, this may not be practicable.

Third party organisations may include suppliers that undertake participant recruitment for research, research fieldwork agencies (such as online panel providers), or clients such as employers or membership-based associations etc. If so, individual personal details will be handled in accordance with this policy, in addition to any policy of the third-party organisation.

In all instances, Polity works only with Australia based third-party suppliers to undertake research regarding individuals residing in Australia, such that, as far as Polity can reasonably know, personal information will never be sent or collected overseas.

How does Polity hold personal information?
Polity will at all times take reasonable precautions to maintain the confidentiality of all the Information that we hold about you, and will endeavour to protect the Information from misuse, interferences and loss, and unauthorised access, modification and/or disclosure.

In all instances, unless required otherwise by law, any personally identifying details (name, address, phone, email address, etc) will be deleted from Polity files as soon as practicable, following the conclusion of the specific research project for which the personally identifying details were collected.

What are the purposes for which Polity uses and discloses personal information?
We will only use and disclose personal information for the purpose of conducting our research and in accordance with this Privacy Policy. We will not use or disclose an individual’s personally identifiable information for any other activity whatsoever.

We will not otherwise disclose any personally identifiable data collected from you unless we have your express prior consent or are required to do so by law, and will only make publicly available the Information that you have provided to us in a de-identified and/or aggregate form.

Openness and complaints
We will provide you with access to Information that we hold about you where it is possible for us to do so, and where it is necessary and lawful.

If you want to change any Information that you have previously given to us, or if you have any complaints relating to privacy issues, please contact our privacy officer using the contact details provided at the end of this privacy policy. However, please be aware that, as research participants are usually not required to identify themselves to participate, it may not always be possible to identify the Information provided by the participant and therefore we may not always be able to provide you with access to the information that you request.

When you contact us, please include your email address, name, address, and telephone number and clearly describe your request or complaint. We will respond to you within a reasonable period. If we decline your request to access your personal Information or to correct it we will provide you with written notice setting out why your request has been denied and the mechanisms available to complain about that decision.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal Information, you can contact us:

Caroline Perry (Privacy Officer)
Polity Pty Ltd
PO Box 685, NSW 2035
info@polityresearch.com.au