This Policy sets out:
- why the South Australian Housing Trust (the Trust) collects your information
- the type of information collected and stored by the Trust
- how the Trust uses and shares your information
- when and how you can access your information so you can update or change it.
This policy applies to all personal information collected, used, stored and shared by the Trust and is in line with the:
- Public Sector (Data Sharing) Act 2016
- Cabinet Circular PC012 - Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) Instruction (PC012)
- Information Sharing Guidelines for promoting safety and wellbeing
- Personal Information Breach Notification (State records of South Australia)
This policy applies to all SA Housing Trust staff. Any staff member found breaching this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.
The Trust collects different types of personal information necessary to provide services to you including, but not limited to:
- assessing your eligibility for services – for example rent assistance
- referring you to organisations that can help you with other services – for example homelessness services or affordable housing
- collection of details when you attend an information session given by the Trust
- collection of information in the case of complaint management and protecting the Trust against potential false claims or statements
If the Trust is collecting your personal information, they will tell you:
- why it is being collected
- if collecting the information is required or authorised by law
- how the information will be used
- how you can access our information to change it.
The type of information that may be collected includes, but is not limited to:
- your identity – for example your name and date of birth
- contact details
- income details, including your Centrelink Reference Number
- household members’ details
- your housing needs
- photos, video and audio recordings of phone conversations
- records of interactions you may have with the Trust.
The Trust may collect your personal information in person, over the phone, in writing or from another person or organisation that already has consent to share your information.
You can refuse to give the Trust your personal information, but this may affect how the Trust can help you in the future and what services you can access.
The Trust takes reasonable steps to protect your personal information it holds from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification, interference or disclosure by making sure:
- offices and work areas are secure
- access to personal information is restricted to approved staff
- the identity and authority of anyone requesting personal information is verified
- staff undergo appropriate screening checks (external site) (external site) (external site) and comply with the SA Code of Ethics for the Public Sector (external site) (external site) (external site)as a condition of their employment
- that all standards outlined in the South Australian Cyber Security Framework (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF) are met.
The Trust stores all personal information in line with the State Records Act 1997 (external site) (external site) (external site).
Any breaches are managed in line with the applicable laws and regulations, including mandatory reporting.
Trust staff can only access your personal information if it’s necessary to perform their duties - eg assessing eligibility for a service.
You may access, update or correct your own personal information by contacting the Trust. You may also make a freedom of information request in line with the Freedom of Information Act (SA) 1991.
The SA Housing Trust may share your personal information when:
- you give consent to share it
- sharing is, on reasonable grounds, to prevent or lessen a serious threat to someone’s life, health or safety
- the Trust is required or authorised by law
- sharing is, reasonably necessary, for the enforcement of criminal law, including suspected unlawful activity
- sharing is otherwise permitted by the Cabinet Circular PC012 - Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) Instruction (PC012) (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF) and Information Sharing Guidelines for promoting safety and wellbeing. (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF)
The Trust may use and share depersonalised information (e.g. information that doesn’t identify the person it relates to) for purposes such as reporting and service evaluation. It may share personal information to other government agencies under the Public Sector (Data Sharing) Act 2016 and Public Sector (Data Sharing) Regulations 2017 to support evidence-based decisions and evaluate policies, programs and services.
The Trust takes reasonable steps to prevent misuse of information by third parties.
The Trust will only share your personal information with third parties in line with the Public Sector (Data Sharing) Act 2016, Information Privacy Principles (IPPS) Instruction, or the Information sharing guidelines for promoting safety and wellbeing. Third parties, for example, Homelessness Alliance partners, multi-trade contractors and community housing providers, are required to protect and store personal information in line with their contractual obligations with the Trust, and their own privacy policies.
The Trust may, during community events or functions, take or use photographic, video or audio recording(s) of people for promotional purposes.
If you are attending one of these events, you will be asked if you would like to be a part of the promotion. You can choose not to take part. If you do take part you will need to fill out a ‘Talent Release Form’. This is especially important for parents or guardians of children under the age of 18.
The Trust takes reasonable steps to prevent misuse of information by third parties.
The Trust will only share your personal information with third parties in line with the Public Sector (Data Sharing) Act 2016, Information Privacy Principles (IPPS) Instruction, or the Information sharing guidelines for promoting safety and wellbeing. Third parties, for example, Homelessness Alliance partners, multi-trade contractors and community housing providers, are required to protect and store personal information in line with their contractual obligations with the Trust, and their own privacy policies.
The Trust may use or share your personal information for the purpose of direct marketing if:
- the Trust collected your personal information for this purpose in the first instance
- it is reasonably expected that the Trust would use or share your information for that purpose
- the Trust provides a simple way to unsubscribe from receiving direct marketing material
- you subscribe, register or follow to receive information or publications such as newsletters, brochures or social media posts through the Trust’s website or social media platforms.
Privacy Complaints
You can complain to the Trust (external site) (external site) (external site) about a suspected privacy breach. If you are unhappy with the Trust’s response you can make a complaint to Ombudsman SA (external site) (external site) (external site).
Related Information
Controlling Documents
- State Records Act 1997 (external site) (external site) (external site)
- Public Sector (Data Sharing) Act 2016 (SA) (external site) (external site) (external site)
- Freedom of Information Act 1991 (external site) (external site) (external site)
- Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) Act 2017 (external site) (external site) (external site)
- Cabinet Circular PC012 – Information Privacy Principles (IPPS) Instruction (PC012) (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF)
- Information Sharing Guidelines for promoting safety and wellbeing (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF)
- Public Sector Data Sharing Regulations 2017
- South Australian Cyber Security Framework (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF)
- Appendix to the Information Sharing Guidelines for promoting safety and wellbeing (PDF, 763.1 KB)
Supporting Documents
- Annual Reporting Requirements (PC013) (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF)
- Home Visits Policy
- Ending a public housing tenancy policy (external site) (external site) (external site)
- Information Systems Management Policy
Related Documents and Resources
- User Consent to share personal information (external site) (external site) (external site) – www.sa.gov.au website
- Freedom of Information request (external site) (external site) (external site) – www.sa.gov.au website
- Proof of income, identity and rent – www.housing.sa.gov.au website
Date this policy applies from
15 December 2025
Version number
1.2
For further information or assistance please contact email: HousingOCEPolicyGovernance@sa.gov.au ✉