PRIVACY STATEMENT
Background
The Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (Vic) (the National Law) established a national system to regulate education and care services for children.
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is established by the National Law.
Section 263 of the National Law applies the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 (the Privacy Act) in relation to the bodies that undertake the administration of the ‘national education and care services quality framework’. These bodies include ACECQA and the relevant Regulatory Authority in your State or Territory (Regulatory Authority).
The National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations (the National Law Regulations) modify the way in which the Privacy Act applies to the national education and care services quality framework and the bodies that administer it, including ACECQA.
Privacy Policy
ACECQA is committed to protecting personal information. This Privacy Statement embodies this commitment and applies to personal information collected by ACECQA.
ACECQA adheres to the requirements of the Information Privacy Principles contained within the Privacy Act and the Guidelines for Federal and ACT Government World Wide Websites, issued by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
This Privacy Statement outlines how ACECQA maintains this commitment, and how the personal information collected is handled. Further detail regarding our personal information handling practices is available in our Privacy Policy - link to document.
What is personal information?
Personal information is broadly defined under the Privacy Act as information or an opinion about a person, which identifies that person or would allow his or her identity to be reasonably ascertained.
Some examples of personal information include names, addresses, phone numbers, photographs and email addresses.
The definition of personal information only relates to ‘natural’ persons. It does not extend to other ‘legal’ persons, such as companies or businesses.
Information ACECQA collects and how that information is used
ACECQA only collects personal information for purposes which are directly related to its functions or activities, and only when it is necessary for or directly related to those purposes (unless otherwise required by or authorised under law).
The functions of ACECQA include the following:
- guiding the implementation and administration of the national education and care services quality framework
- promoting national consistency in its application
- reporting on this to the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs
- processing applications for assessment of equivalent qualifications, reviews of assessments
- managing applications for an Excellent rating and conducting reviews of rating levels
- selection, recruitment and engagement of staff, consultants and contractors.
ACECQA Website Collection
ACECQA does not collect personal information from individuals who only browse the website.
ACECQA will collect information from individuals that choose to complete online forms or contact us by email, for example when individuals:
Information collected through emails and mailing lists
Your email address may be recorded on ACECQA’s servers if you send ACECQA a message online.
Email subscriptions
Your personal information is collected for the purpose of maintaining ACECQA’s mailing lists and answering your queries.
This information will not be disclosed except as required or authorised by law.
Conditions of subscription
The following conditions apply to subscriptions to our mailing lists.
- Subscribers may cancel their subscription to the mailing lists at any time.
- A subscription can be cancelled by emailing enquiries@acecqa.gov.au with ‘Unsubscribe’ in the subject line of the email.
- ACECQA reserves the right to change the frequency with which updates are forwarded to subscribers.
Access and alteration of records containing personal information
When you provide personal information in relation to ACECQA services, you are allowed access to your personal information and may correct the information if it is inaccurate (subject to restrictions on such access/alteration of records under the applicable provisions of any law of the Commonwealth).
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 also provides you with an opportunity to request access to documents in ACECQA's possession. Further information is set out on the Freedom of Information site.
Contact
If you have any questions or complaints about privacy, confidentiality or access to your personal information, in the first instance please write to the ACECQA Privacy Contact Officer at this address:
PO Box A292
SYDNEY NSW 1235
Alternatively, you can email privacy@acecqa.gov.au.
ACECQA will attempt to resolve your concerns. If you are not satisfied, you are able to complain to the National Education and Care Services Privacy Commissioner. The Commissioner's website is www.necsombudsmanprivacy.edu.au
Changes to this Privacy Statement
Please note that this Privacy Statement and the Privacy Policy may change from time to time. This policy was last updated on 14 November 2012.