Privacy Policy

1. About this policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Shira handles personal information in connection with the Shira Melbourne website, membership, donations, events, email updates, enquiries, pastoral care, lifecycle support, children’s programs and other community activities.

In this policy, Shira, we, us and our mean Shira Hadasha Melbourne Inc.

This policy also applies to personal information handled by Shira Hadasha Melbourne Cultural Fund Limited in connection with Cultural Fund donations, receipting and related administration.

2. What personal information we collect

We collect personal information needed for Shira’s activities. This may include contact details, membership and household information, event bookings, donation and payment records, email subscription preferences, correspondence, and information you provide in connection with pastoral care, lifecycle support, children’s programs, accessibility or participation needs.

Some information may be sensitive, including information that indicates religious affiliation, family circumstances, health, support or safety needs. We collect sensitive information only where it is reasonably needed for Shira’s activities and with consent where required.

3. How we collect personal information

We usually collect personal information directly from you when you contact us, join or renew membership, create or update a member or household profile, make a donation, register for an event, subscribe to email updates, participate in Shira activities, or otherwise engage with Shira.

We may also collect limited information about website traffic and usage through website analytics tools.

We may also receive personal information from another member of your household or someone acting on your behalf, such as a spouse, partner, family member, parent or guardian, or from a third-party platform used by Shira.

If you provide us with information about someone else, please make sure it is accurate and appropriate for you to provide it.

4. How we use personal information

We use personal information to manage membership, household records, donations, receipts, payments, events, communications, pastoral care, lifecycle support, children’s and family programs, volunteer and participation arrangements, internal administration, governance, accounting, safety and Shira’s general community activities.

Pastoral care information is used to provide or coordinate care. It is shared only with people who need it for that purpose, unless you agree otherwise or action is needed for a serious safety or child-safety concern.

5. Third-party platforms and service providers

Shira uses third-party platforms and service providers to help run its activities, including for membership, event registrations, donations, payment processing, email communications, website hosting, record keeping and administration.

These providers may include platforms used for membership and household administration, event registrations, donations, payment processing, bulk email communications, website hosting, cloud storage and related administration.

When you use a third-party platform, that provider may also handle your information under its own terms and privacy practices, and may use AI or other automated tools as part of its services. Shira does not control those separate practices.

Payment card details are generally handled by the relevant payment platform, not by Shira.

6. Disclosure of personal information

We give access to, or disclose, personal information to Shira office holders, board or committee members, volunteers, workers, contractors and service providers who need it for Shira’s activities.

We may also disclose personal information where needed to process donations or payments, send communications, manage events, coordinate pastoral care, respond to a serious safety or child-safety concern, obtain professional advice, or comply with a legal requirement.

We do not sell personal information or disclose it to unrelated third parties for their own marketing purposes.

7. Overseas handling

Some service providers may store or process personal information outside Australia, including services used for email communications and online administration.

When this occurs, the information is handled under the provider’s terms and privacy practices. Shira takes this into account when choosing and using service providers.

8. Email updates and fundraising communications

Shira sends newsletters, community updates, event invitations and fundraising communications where you have subscribed, become a member, donated, registered for an event, or otherwise have a relationship with Shira where these communications are reasonably expected.

You can unsubscribe from bulk email communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link or by contacting us.

9. Security and retention

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

Access to personal information is limited to people who need it for Shira’s activities.

We keep personal information only for as long as we reasonably need it for Shira’s activities, including legal, accounting and governance recordkeeping. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete, de-identify or securely archive it.

10. Access, correction, deletion and privacy concerns

You may ask to access, correct or delete personal information that Shira holds about you by updating your member or household profile where that option is available, or by contacting us at admin@shira.org.au.

If you ask us to delete your personal information, we will take reasonable steps to delete it. Some information may still need to be kept for legal, accounting, governance, safety or operational reasons.

We may need to verify your identity before responding.

If you have a privacy concern or complaint, including about Cultural Fund donation information handled under this policy, please contact us at admin@shira.org.au and provide details of the issue. We will consider the matter and respond within a reasonable time.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time by publishing the updated version on the Shira website.