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Working together, your
choices and information
Barnardos is committed to being a child safe organisation. We work with children, young people and families in ways that prioritise safety, wellbeing, dignity and voice.
Informed consent is an important part of safe, respectful and rights-based practice. It supports transparency about how Barnardos works with people, how information is collected and used, and what choices are available when accessing our services.
Across Barnardos programs, we explain what information may be collected, why it is collected, how it may be used, and when it may need to be shared. We also explain people’s rights to ask questions, change consent where possible, raise concerns, and make choices about their information.
Your rights and choices about consent
People supported by Barnardos have the right to understand what they are agreeing to and how their information may be used.
This includes the right to:
- Understand what support is being offered before deciding to take part
- Ask questions and have information explained clearly
- Choose whether to take part in a service
- Choose what information they share, where possible
- Know why information is being collected and how it will be used
- Know when information may need to be shared to help keep a child or young person safe, or because the law allows or requires it
- Change or withdraw consent where possible
- Ask to see their information and request changes if something is not right
- Raise a concern, provide feedback or make a complaint without this affecting access to support
- Be treated with respect, dignity and care throughout the consent process.
Barnardos work with the people we support to make sure their choices are understood and recorded.
How we use your information
To provide support and help keep children safe, Barnardos keeps a secure record of the services and support we provide.
We only collect and keep information that is reasonably needed to provide support, meet our responsibilities, and keep people safe.
Your information is stored securely and can only be accessed by authorised Barnardos employees.
Barnardos may also use service information to improve the way we work, including by looking at patterns and feedback. Information is handled carefully and used in line with privacy, consent and reporting requirements.
Some Barnardos programs have specific reporting requirements. If this applies, Barnardos will explain what information is needed, how it is used, and what choices are available.
When information may be shared
Barnardos keeps secure records of the information reasonably needed to provide safe and appropriate support.
We are careful about how information is used and shared. Information is not shared with other services unless there is a clear reason to do so, consent has been provided where consent is needed, or the law allows or requires it.
Sometimes, information may need to be shared to help keep a child, young person or family member safe.
Where it is safe and possible, Barnardos will explain before information is shared with another service:
- What information may be shared
- Who it may be shared with
- Why it may be needed.
Wherever possible and safe, we will talk with you before information is shared.
People supported by Barnardos can choose not to share some information. Barnardos will explain what this may mean for the support available. In some situations, if Barnardos does not have the information needed to provide a safe and appropriate service, we may not be able to provide or continue support through that program.
Changing your consent
Consent is not a one-off decision. Barnardos talks with people we support about consent throughout their involvement with our services.
Children, young people and families can ask questions, ask for information to be explained again, and talk with us about what they have consented to. They can also ask what information is being collected, used or shared.
Where possible, consent can be changed or withdrawn. If consent changes are requested, we will work with the client to understand what has changed, review their circumstances, and talk through the support or programs that may be available.
Questions about consent or your information
Barnardos welcomes questions about consent, how information is used, and the choices available when accessing our services.
If something is unclear or a person has a concern about how their information has been used, they can talk with their Barnardos worker or by providing feedback here:
