International Humanistic Aid

Menu
Contact Us
Contact Us
Menu

Privacy Policy

International Humanistic Aid (IHA)

Last updated: January 2026
International Humanistic Aid (IHA) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains, in plain language, how we collect, use, store, and protect personal information in Australia and worldwide. It applies to our website, programs, events, fundraising, communications, and humanitarian operations.
We are committed to handling personal information lawfully, fairly, and transparently, in line with Australian privacy law and recognised international privacy principles.

1. Who we are

International Humanistic Aid (IHA) is an independent, non-profit humanitarian organisation. We work to protect human dignity and save lives during humanitarian crises, disasters, and emergencies around the world.

2. What personal information we collect

We only collect personal information that is necessary for our work.
This may include:
  • Contact details – such as name, email address, phone number, postal address
  • Donation and payment information – including donation history (payment details are handled securely by trusted providers)
  • Volunteer and partner information – such as skills, experience, availability, and references
  • Program-related information – limited information needed to deliver humanitarian assistance
  • Website and digital information – such as IP address, browser type, and pages visited
  • Communication records – emails, messages, or feedback you send to us
We do not intentionally collect unnecessary or excessive personal information.

3. Sensitive information

In humanitarian contexts, we may need to handle sensitive information (for example, health or vulnerability-related details) to provide assistance safely and effectively.
We:
  • Collect sensitive information only when necessary
  • Use it only for humanitarian purposes
  • Take extra care to protect it
  • Limit access to authorised staff and partners

4. How we collect information

We collect personal information when you:
  • Volunteer or apply to work with us
  • Subscribe to updates or newsletters.
  • Contact us by email, phone, social media, or online forms.
  • Participate in our programs, events, or research our website
  • Where possible, we collect information directly from you.

5. Why we collect and use your information

We use personal information to:
  • Deliver humanitarian aid and support.
  • Process donations and manage fundraising.
  • Communicate with donors, volunteers, partners, and supporters.
  • Manage volunteers and staff.
  • Improve our programs, services, and website.
  • Meet legal, regulatory, and reporting obligations.
  • Protect the safety, rights, and dignity of people we serve.
  • We do not sell personal information.

6. Legal basis for processing (global context)

Depending on where you are located, we process personal information based on:
  • Your consent
  • The need to deliver humanitarian or charitable services.
  • Legal or regulatory obligations
  • Legitimate organisational purposes that do not override your rights

7. Sharing personal information

We may share personal information only when necessary and appropriate, including with::
  • Trusted service providers (such as IT, payment, and communication services)
  • Humanitarian partners involved in program delivery.
  • Government authorities, where required by law.
  • Auditors, regulators, or professional advisers
  • All partners are required to respect confidentiality and data protection standards.

8. International data transfers

As an international organisation, personal information may be transferred or stored outside Australia.
When this happens, we take reasonable steps to ensure your information is protected to standards comparable to Australian privacy law.

9. How we protectyour information

We use physical, technical, and organisational safeguards, including:
  • Secure systems and access controls
  • Staff training on confidentiality and data protection
  • Limiting access to information on a need-to-know basis
  • Secure disposal of information when no longer required
Despite our best efforts, no system is completely secure. We continuously review and improve our safeguards.

10. How long we keep information

We keep personal information only for as long as needed to:
  • Fulfil the purpose for which it was collected.
  • Meet legal, financial, and reporting obligations.
  • Support ongoing humanitarian or organisational needs.
  • When no longer required, information is securely deleted or anonymised.

11. Your rights

You have the right to:
  • Access your personal information.
  • Request correction of inaccurate or outdated information
  • Withdraw consent (where processing is based on consent)
  • Opt out of communications at any time.
  • Ask questions or raise concerns about privacy.
Some rights may be limited in emergency or humanitarian settings, where safety and protection are essential.

12. Cookies andwebsite use

Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to:
  • Access your personal information.
  • Request correction of inaccurate or outdated information
  • Enhance user experience.
  • You can adjust your browser settings to manage cookies.

13. Children’s privacy

We take special care to protect children’s personal information. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children unless it is necessary for humanitarian protection or assistance, and handled with appropriate safeguards.

14. Complaints and concerns

If you have a concern about how we handle your personal information, please contact us first. We take privacy complaints seriously and aim to resolve them promptly and fairly.
If you are in Australia and are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect legal, operational, or humanitarian changes. The latest version will always be available on our website.

16. Contact us

For privacy-related questions or requests, please contact: