Privacy
The Fund recognises and values each member’s right to privacy. This notice briefly outlines the Fund’s privacy approach in collecting personal information from you.
Why is personal information collected?
The primary purpose for the collection of personal information is to manage the superannuation affairs of the Fund’s members. This includes the collection of personal information to:
- administer, invest, calculate, pay or transfer members’ superannuation benefits;
- process member enquiries and complaints;
- ensure compliance with the Fund’s legal, taxation and reporting obligations;
- assist participating employers in meeting their employment and superannuation obligations to the Fund’s
members; - assist in the provision of member education and communication of information to members; and
- gaining insurance coverage or assess/process a claim for death or disability benefits.
The use of personal information to distribute communication materials (such as your name and address) will be limited to the communication of information about the Fund and superannuation or investment related matters, and any additional services that the Fund may provide to members as part of their membership of the Fund, such as access to financial planning services or low cost super member home loans.
The Fund will not use personal information for any other purpose without your consent unless its use is permitted or required by law. Legislation that may require the collection of personal information includes superannuation legislation (to comply with any requirements) and taxation legislation (such as the collection of your tax file number).
What if you do not provide the requested information?
If you do not provide all or part of the requested personal information, the following consequences may result:
- you may pay more tax on your superannuation benefit than necessary;
- the Fund may be unable to process or pay your superannuation benefit;
- you may not be eligible for insurance cover;
- the Fund may be unable to process a death or disability claim; and
- you may have more difficulty in locating your superannuation benefit in the event it was rolled over to an eligible rollover fund.
Can you access personal information held by the Fund?
On request, you can access your personal information held by the Fund. In certain circumstances, access may be
restricted or denied. Reasons will be provided by the Fund if this occurs.
Who else may be given access to your information?
While the Fund maintains ultimate responsibility for managing members’ superannuation, it does outsource some of its administrative and related functions to professional external organisations. Personal information may be disclosed to these organisations, but only to the extent that it is necessary for the activity or function that they have been engaged to undertake by the Fund. These organisations may include the Fund accountant, auditor, actuary, administrator, legal advisor, insurer and underwriter, medical practitioner/s, archiving company, and a mailing house (for the purpose of distributing member communications). Where possible and practical, the Fund will remove personal identifiers from personal information before disclosing any information to third parties, for example, by removing member names and addresses.
The Fund may also be required to disclose certain personal information in its dealings with your employer (such as to confirm the contributions received for the year) or with other superannuation entities when transferring your monies into or out of the Fund. The Fund may be obligated by law to disclose personal information to regulatory authorities like the Australian Taxation Office, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Australian Securities and Investment Commission, Australian Financial Complaints Authority in the event of a complaint from a member, a court in the event of litigation or family law proceedings, certain persons under the Family Law legislation (such as a spouse) as well as law enforcement bodies or other persons/organisations where required by law.
Further information
If you would like to obtain a copy of the Fund’s privacy policy or require further information, please contact the Fund by telephone on 08 9382 8444, by email at admin@fessuper.com.au, or in writing to: Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Board, PO Box 513, SUBIACO WA 6904