Overview

Altera Strategy (‘Altera’) ABN 72395533786 complies with all relevant Australian and European best practice (GDPR) privacy requirements and guidelines as well as the Codes of Conduct of The Research Society, Australia’s market and the principal global industry association, ESOMAR. 

Altera prioritizes the protection and responsible and transparent management of personal and commercial information. 

As part of our business activity, Altera conducts market research projects (the primary purpose), whether by direct data collection activities such as focus groups or interviews, or via surveys conducted by our vendors such as market research panel companies. 

All personal information collected as part of these activities and any other business activity we conduct is treated in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APP) and the primary Privacy Act of 1988 and recent updates.

Information Collected and Handling

Our market research activities may require collection of personal information (name, address, telephone or other details) from research participants and also their behaviours, attitudes, opinions and demographics in relation to the specific areas we are researching on behalf of our clients. This information is typically aggregated for analysis purposes before reporting to the client and we do not disclose any of this information connected to any personal information such that any individual or their responses can be identified. 

In all cases, these personal information will only be collected with up-front transparency and participant consent. Any vendors used by Altera will also follow the same approach and be compliant with the relevant privacy regulations and industry guidelines (see above). 

Personal information collected by Altera will only be used for research and analysis purposes, not for selling or marketing purposes. Personal information will not be passed to the client or any third party at any time without the express permission of the participant. 

Personal information is collected only for the purposes of market research and only the necessary information relevant to the study will be collected (e.g. re-contacting a sub-set of a sample for quality checking purposes is a standard industry practice). Where personal information is required to be stored it will be secure and suitably protected and when possible Altera follows best practice to de-identify data on completion of a project. Any transfer of data will be in accordance with the relevant regulations and will be secure and protected. 

Altera will not generally request sensitive information of research participants. This includes information related to race, religion, politics, health, sexuality, drug use, trade or union association, criminal record or other sensitive topics. Where this type of sensitive information is required and relevant (e.g. for a government health study); the purpose and usage of this information will be shared prior; and an opt-out and options for anonymity will be provided, with most projects using de-identified data. When covered, sensitive topics will be handled in a respectful and suitable manner in terms of interviewing, analysis and reporting. 

Any study that requires the necessary participation of persons under 18 years of age will only proceed with prior consent of a parent or guardian and will ensure the suitability of the topics and design for a younger audience. 

Where third party vendors are contracted by Altera to provide data collection and research technology or panel services they will operate under an agreement of commercial confidentiality with Altera and will comply with the relevant APP regulations and will not handle or pass on personal information unless with permission and transparency. 

For a small proportion of projects we conduct, an Altera client will pass to us a permissioned customer list for the purposes of research and in this situation prior permission must have been obtained by the client and all requirements for transparency and secure handling will be followed. Any such lists will only be used for research purposes and will be destroyed and data de-identified once the project is completed. We are clear with all participants about the purposes of the research and the client (though we may ask to wait until the end of the interview to share this to avoid biasing your answers). 

If you believe you may have been contacted without permission, please consider whether you are a customer of the Altera client organisation as many companies include opt-in permissions for marketing and market research contact as part of their sign-up processes for new customers or members.  

In using the inquiry form of this website you are sharing personal information with implied consent. This information will be stored for a period suitable for business purposes then destroyed. 

Any individual whose personal information is held by Altera has a right to confirm, review and edit or request deletion. We welcome any questions or feedback relating to privacy. This can be done be contacting Altera at hello@alterastrategy.com

Policy Implementation and Contact

This policy is periodically reviewed and updated as the relevant laws, guidelines and best practice evolve. All staff, subcontractors and vendors of Altera must demonstrate awareness and compliance with the above and the relevant laws and guidelines. 

To reiterate, please contact our Privacy Officer via hello@alterastrategy.com if you:

• Have any questions regarding our Privacy Policy; 

• Have any complaint about a potential breach of the Australian Privacy Principles; 

• Would like to request access to or deletion of your personal information; or 

• Would like to correct personal information. 

Alternately you can contact us at: Privacy Officer, Altera Strategy, 76 Patrick St, Avalon NSW 2107. Where you do not wish to contact us but do require further information please refer the website of the The Research Society (Australia’s industry organisation) or the Office of Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), contactable at: enquiries@oaic.gov.au. 

Further information is also available via these sources:

• The Research Society - Privacy

• The OAIC - Market & Social Research Privacy