Privacy Policy
Effective Date: 7 July 2026
The Australian Council of the Mission to Seafarers Inc. (“Mission to Seafarers Australia”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose and protect your personal information when you visit our website (www.mts.org.au), contact us, make a donation, volunteer with us, seek assistance, or otherwise interact with our organisation.
We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
Who We Are
Mission to Seafarers Australia is a registered Australian charity dedicated to providing practical, emotional and spiritual support to seafarers visiting Australian ports, regardless of nationality, culture or faith.
Our national website supports the work of the Australian Council and Australia’s network of Mission to Seafarers centres.
What Personal Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information including:
your name
postal address
email address
telephone number
organisation or employer
donation history
payment information (processed securely by third-party providers)
volunteer applications
employment applications
event registrations
enquiries submitted through our website
communications with our staff or chaplains
information you choose to provide when requesting assistance or support.
Where necessary, we may also collect sensitive information, such as health or welfare information, but only with your consent or where permitted by law.
How We Collect Information
We collect information when you:
complete an online form
make a donation
register for an event
subscribe to our newsletter
contact us by phone, email or social media
volunteer with us
seek support from one of our chaplains or centres
visit our website.
In some circumstances we may receive information from:
your employer
shipping companies
port authorities
welfare agencies
government agencies
other Mission to Seafarers centres
organisations working alongside us
publicly available sources where appropriate.
Website Information
When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:
IP address
browser type
operating system
pages viewed
files downloaded
referring website
date and time of access.
This information helps us improve the performance, security and usability of our website.
Cookies
Our website may use cookies to improve your browsing experience.
Cookies help us understand how visitors use our website and allow some features to function properly.
Most web browsers allow you to disable cookies through your browser settings, although this may affect website functionality.
Why We Collect Personal Information
We collect personal information so that we can:
provide support to seafarers
respond to enquiries
process donations
issue tax receipts
administer fundraising activities
communicate with supporters
recruit and manage volunteers
organise events
improve our services
comply with legal obligations
maintain accurate organisational records.
Where you have given your consent, we may also send newsletters, appeals, updates and information about our work.
You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.
Donations and Payments
Online donations are processed through secure third-party payment providers.
Mission to Seafarers Australia does not store your complete credit card details on our systems.
Payment providers are responsible for securely processing your payment information in accordance with industry security standards.
Disclosure of Personal Information
We may disclose your personal information to:
trusted service providers who assist us with our operations
payment processors
website hosting providers
IT support providers
professional advisers including accountants and lawyers
mailing and communications providers
government authorities where required by law
other Mission to Seafarers organisations where necessary to provide support.
We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.
Overseas Disclosure
Some of our technology providers or cloud-based systems may store information outside Australia.
Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information is protected in accordance with Australian privacy laws.
Security of Information
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from:
unauthorised access
misuse
loss
alteration
disclosure
destruction.
These measures include secure systems, password protection, access controls and appropriate administrative safeguards.
While we take reasonable precautions, no internet transmission or electronic storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Access and Correction
You may request access to the personal information we hold about you.
If any information is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, you may request that we correct it.
Requests should be made in writing using the contact details below.
We may require proof of identity before releasing personal information.
Retention of Information
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected or as required by law.
When information is no longer required, it is securely destroyed or permanently de-identified.
Third-Party Websites
Our website may contain links to external websites.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites and encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing personal information.
Children’s Privacy
Our website is intended for general audiences.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate parental or guardian consent where required.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
The latest version will always be available on our website and will include the effective date.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to access or correct your personal information, or would like to make a privacy complaint, please contact:
The Australian Council of the Mission to Seafarers Inc.
33 John Street
Oakleigh VIC 3166
Email: admin@mts.org.au
Website: www.mts.org.au
If you are not satisfied with our response to a privacy complaint, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):
Last Updated: 7 July 2026