What kinds of personal information does the School collect and how does the School collect it?

The type of information the School collects and holds includes (but is not limited to) personal information, including health and other sensitive information, about:

  • students and parents/guardians before, during and after the course of a student's enrolment at the School
  • staff members, volunteers and contractors
  • other people who come into contact with the School.

Personal information you provide
The School will generally collect personal information held about an individual by way of forms filled out by parents/guardians or students, face-to-face meetings and interviews, emails and telephone calls.

Personal information provided by other people
People other than parents/guardians or students may also provide personal information, for example a report provided by a medical professional or a reference from another school.

How will the School use the personal information you provide?

The primary use is education. Secondary uses are related to the primary use of education and reasonably expected by you, or to which you have consented.

Students and parents/guardians
The primary purpose for collecting personal information is to enable the School to provide schooling for the student including satisfying needs of parents/ guardians, the student and the School throughout the student's enrolment.

The purposes for which the School uses personal information of students and parents/guardians include:

  • to keep parents/guardians informed about matters related to their child's schooling, through correspondence, newsletters and magazines
  • day-to-day administration of the School
  • looking after students' educational, social and medical wellbeing
  • to satisfy the School's legal obligations and allow the School to discharge it's duty of care.

Staff members, other volunteers and contractors
The School's primary purpose of collection of personal information is to assess and engage the staff member, other volunteer, or contractor. The School uses personal information of staff members and contractors for:

  • insurance purposes
  • the School's legal obligations, for example, in relation to child protection legislation.

How does the School treat sensitive information?

Sensitive information is personal information relating to:

  • a person's racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion, trade union or other professional or trade association membership, philosophical beliefs, or criminal record

  • health information and biometric information about an individual.

Sensitive information will be used and disclosed only for the purpose for which it was provided or a directly related secondary purpose—unless you agree otherwise, or use or disclosure of the sensitive information is allowed by law.

Management and security of personal information
Staff are required to respect the confidentiality of students' and parents'/ guardians' personal information and the privacy of individuals.

The School has in place steps to protect the personal information the School holds from misuse, interference and loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure by use of various methods including locked storage of paper records and password access rights to computerised records.

Access and correction of personal information
Under the Commonwealth Privacy Act and the Health Records Act, an individual has the right to access personal information which the School holds about them and to advise the School of any perceived inaccuracy. Students will generally be able to access and update their personal information through their parents/guardians, but may seek access and correction themselves.

There are some exceptions to these rights set out in the applicable legislation.

To make a request to access or update any personal information the School holds about you or your child, please contact the Principal in writing. The School may require you to verify your identity and specify what information you require. The School may charge a fee to cover the cost of verifying your application and locating, retrieving, reviewing and copying any material requested. If the information sought is extensive, the School will advise the likely cost in advance. If we cannot provide you with access to that information, we will provide you with written notice explaining the reasons for refusal.

Consent and rights of access to personal information of students
The School respects parents/guardians' responsibility to make decisions concerning their child's education. Generally, the School will refer requests for consent and notices in relation to personal information of a student to the student's parents/guardians. The School treats consent given by parents/ guardians as consent given on behalf of the student and notice to parents/ guardians will act as notice given to the student.

Parents/guardians may seek access to personal information held by the School about them or their child by contacting the Principal. However, there will be occasions when access is denied as stated in the Collection Notice.

The School may—on the request of a student—when required by law, grant the student: access to information held by the School about them; or allow a student to give or withhold consent to the use of their personal information independently of their parents/guardians.

Enquiries and complaints
Enquiries or complaints about the School with regard to Australian Privacy Principles should be directed to the Principal or Headmaster. The School will investigate your complaint and notify you of a decision in relation to your complaint as soon as is reasonably practicable.