EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF CARE
EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF CARE
Effective Date: 2026/08/13
Last Updated: 2026/08/13
SaharaCare is committed to protecting the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the people who access our services, their families, carers, representatives, workers and other individuals who interact with us.
As an “Registered NDIS provider”, SaharaCare understands that we may handle personal and sensitive information that is important to the wellbeing, safety and support of the people we serve.
This Privacy Policy explains how SaharaCare collects, holds, uses, discloses and protects personal information in accordance with applicable Australian privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
Where applicable, SaharaCare also operates in accordance with its obligations as an NDIS provider and the requirements of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) and applicable NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requirements.
This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected or held by SaharaCare about:
NDIS participants and prospective participants;
family members, carers, guardians and authorised representatives;
nominees and support coordinators;
health professionals and other service providers;
employees, contractors and volunteers;
job applicants; and
other individuals who communicate or interact with SaharaCare.
Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who can reasonably be identified.
Depending on our relationship with you and the services being provided, SaharaCare may collect information including:
name and contact details;
date of birth and identification information;
residential and postal address;
emergency contact details;
NDIS participant and plan information;
information relating to supports and services received;
information about goals, preferences, needs and circumstances;
information provided by family members, carers, nominees or authorised representatives;
billing, payment and funding information;
correspondence and communications with SaharaCare;
complaints, feedback and incident information;
photographs, videos or other images where appropriate consent has been provided;
employment and professional information where you apply to work with SaharaCare; and
information necessary to meet our legal, regulatory and organisational obligations.
In providing NDIS and support services, SaharaCare may need to collect sensitive information.
This may include information relating to:
disability;
physical or mental health;
medical history and health conditions;
medications and treatment;
functional capacity and support needs;
behavioural support requirements;
sexual orientation or gender identity where relevant and voluntarily provided;
racial or ethnic background where relevant;
criminal history or relevant safety information; and
other information classified as sensitive information under Australian privacy law.
SaharaCare recognises that sensitive and health information requires additional care and protection.
We will generally only collect sensitive information where we have appropriate consent, where the collection is reasonably necessary for our functions and services, or where collection is otherwise permitted or required by law.
Where reasonably practicable, SaharaCare collects personal information directly from the individual.
Information may be collected through:
enquiry and registration forms;
service agreements;
NDIS-related documentation;
assessments and support planning;
telephone conversations;
emails and other electronic communications;
face-to-face meetings;
our website and online forms;
feedback and complaint processes;
applications for employment;
interactions with our staff and support workers; and
other communications with SaharaCare.
In some circumstances, we may receive information from another person or organisation, such as:
a parent, guardian, nominee or authorised representative;
support coordinator;
plan manager;
NDIS or government agency;
doctor or other health professional;
allied health professional;
another service provider;
emergency service;
insurer; or
another person or organisation authorised to provide the information.
Where we collect information from someone other than the individual, we will do so in accordance with applicable privacy laws and consent requirements.
SaharaCare collects, holds, uses and discloses personal information where reasonably necessary for purposes such as:
assessing and providing appropriate NDIS supports and services;
understanding a participant’s needs, goals, preferences and circumstances;
developing and reviewing support arrangements;
communicating with participants, families, carers and authorised representatives;
coordinating services with other providers;
managing appointments and service delivery;
maintaining participant records;
administering NDIS funding and payments;
meeting contractual, legal and regulatory obligations;
managing incidents, complaints and feedback;
protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of participants, workers and other people;
improving the quality and safety of our services;
conducting internal reviews, audits and quality improvement activities;
managing our workforce and employment processes;
processing applications for employment;
managing insurance and legal matters; and
other purposes explained to you when your information is collected or otherwise permitted by law.
Where required by law, SaharaCare will obtain appropriate consent before collecting, using or disclosing personal or sensitive information.
Consent may be provided in writing or, where appropriate, verbally or through other lawful means.
We aim to ensure that consent is informed, voluntary and provided without unfair pressure or influence.
You may withdraw your consent at any time where the law allows. However, withdrawing consent may affect our ability to provide certain services or supports where the information is necessary for those services.
Where a participant has a guardian, nominee, authorised representative or other person legally able to act on their behalf, SaharaCare may communicate with that person in accordance with the authority provided and applicable law.
SaharaCare will only use or disclose personal information for purposes that are permitted by law and, where required, with appropriate consent.
Depending on the circumstances, information may be disclosed to:
SaharaCare employees, support workers and contractors who require the information to perform their responsibilities;
support coordinators;
plan managers;
NDIS and government agencies;
doctors and other medical professionals;
allied health professionals;
other healthcare or disability service providers;
hospitals and emergency services where appropriate;
family members, carers, guardians, nominees or authorised representatives;
insurers;
legal, accounting and professional advisers;
information technology and administrative service providers;
payment and financial service providers;
auditors and quality assurance providers; and
other organisations or individuals where you have authorised the disclosure or where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
SaharaCare will take reasonable steps to limit disclosure to information that is relevant and necessary for the particular purpose.
There may be circumstances where SaharaCare needs to use or disclose personal information without obtaining consent first.
For example, information may be disclosed where reasonably necessary to protect the life, health or safety of a participant or another person, particularly where it is not practicable to obtain consent.
Information may also be disclosed where required or authorised by Australian law, a court order, regulatory requirement or other lawful authority.
SaharaCare respects the right of participants and other individuals to privacy and confidentiality.
Our employees, contractors and other people working on behalf of SaharaCare are expected to maintain the confidentiality of personal information and only access or use information necessary for their role.
Personal information will not be disclosed simply because it is available to SaharaCare. Access and disclosure will be managed according to the individual’s role, the purpose for which the information is required, consent and applicable law.
SaharaCare may occasionally wish to use photographs, videos, testimonials or personal stories for purposes such as:
our website;
social media;
newsletters;
promotional materials;
educational materials; or
community and awareness activities.
We will seek appropriate consent before using identifiable photographs, videos, testimonials or personal stories for these purposes where consent is required.
You may contact SaharaCare if you wish to withdraw permission for future use, subject to any legal or practical limitations.
When you visit the SaharaCare website, we may collect information such as:
your IP address;
browser and device information;
pages visited;
approximate usage information;
date and time of visits; and
information submitted through online forms.
This information may be used to operate, maintain, secure and improve our website and services.
SaharaCare may use cookies or similar technologies to support website functionality, understand website usage and improve the user experience.
Where third-party analytics, advertising or other technologies are used, their handling of information may also be subject to their own privacy policies.
SaharaCare may occasionally send information about our services, activities, updates or community initiatives where permitted by law.
Where direct marketing rules apply, you may request that SaharaCare stop sending marketing communications to you.
We will respect such requests in accordance with applicable privacy and marketing laws.
SaharaCare takes reasonable steps to protect personal information from:
misuse;
interference;
loss;
unauthorised access;
modification; and
unauthorised disclosure.
Depending on the nature of the information, safeguards may include secure electronic systems, access controls, password protection, staff confidentiality obligations, physical security measures and other appropriate administrative and technical controls.
We only provide access to personal information to people who need it for legitimate work-related or service-related purposes.
No method of electronic storage or transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. SaharaCare will nevertheless take reasonable steps to protect the information it holds.
SaharaCare retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it is held, or for as long as required by applicable laws, regulatory requirements, contractual obligations or legitimate business requirements.
When personal information is no longer required, SaharaCare will take reasonable steps to securely destroy, delete or de-identify it, where appropriate.
SaharaCare may use third-party technology, cloud storage, software or service providers to operate our business and provide services.
Where personal information is disclosed to an overseas recipient, SaharaCare will take reasonable steps to ensure that the disclosure complies with applicable Australian privacy laws.
Where practicable and required by the Privacy Act, SaharaCare will identify the countries in which relevant overseas recipients are located.
Important: This section should be updated by SaharaCare once its actual software, cloud-storage, CRM, email, payment and other technology providers have been confirmed.
You may request access to personal information that SaharaCare holds about you.
To make an access request, please contact SaharaCare using the contact details provided below.
We will generally respond to a request within a reasonable period and in accordance with applicable privacy laws.
In some circumstances, access may be refused or limited where permitted or required by law. If this occurs, we will explain the reason where we are permitted to do so.
SaharaCare aims to ensure that the personal information it holds is accurate, complete and up to date.
If you believe that information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete, outdated or misleading, you may request that it be corrected.
You can contact us using the details below.
We will consider your request and take reasonable steps to correct information where appropriate.
If you believe SaharaCare has handled your personal information in a way that does not comply with this Privacy Policy or applicable privacy laws, we encourage you to contact us first so that we can investigate and attempt to resolve your concern.
When making a privacy complaint, please provide as much relevant information as possible, including:
your name and contact details;
the nature of your concern;
relevant dates or circumstances; and
any supporting information you believe may assist us.
SaharaCare will investigate privacy complaints fairly and confidentially and will aim to respond within a reasonable period.
You will not be disadvantaged for making a genuine privacy complaint.
SaharaCare takes the security of personal information seriously.
If SaharaCare becomes aware of a data breach involving personal information, we will assess the incident and take appropriate steps in accordance with applicable laws, including the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme where applicable.
This may include containing the breach, assessing potential harm, taking corrective action and notifying affected individuals and/or the relevant regulator where required.
SaharaCare may provide services to children and young people and may therefore collect information relating to them.
We take additional care when handling information about children and young people and will deal with parents, guardians, nominees or authorised representatives where appropriate and legally permitted.
Our collection, use and disclosure of information relating to children and young people will be managed in accordance with applicable privacy, safeguarding and NDIS requirements.
SaharaCare aims to ensure that the personal information it collects and holds is accurate, complete, relevant and up to date.
We may ask individuals to update their information from time to time, particularly where changes could affect the safe or appropriate delivery of supports.
SaharaCare may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, information-handling practices, technology or applicable laws and regulations.
The most recent version will be made available on the SaharaCare website.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to access or correct your personal information, or wish to make a privacy complaint, please contact SaharaCare.
SaharaCare
Email: info@saharacare.com.au
Phone: +61450857616
Address: Melbourne, Victoria Australia
We are committed to handling privacy enquiries and complaints respectfully, confidentially and in a timely manner.
SaharaCare acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we live, work and provide our services, paying our respects to Elders past and present. We also celebrate and respect the diversity of sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions within our communities.
