EdSpace takes a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and is fully committed to ensuring its strategies, policies and procedures and practices meet all Child safety Standards as specified in Ministerial Order 1359

1.Your Privacy is important to us.

EdSpace is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act. In relation to health records, the School is also bound by the Health Privacy Principles which are contained in the Health

the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic )

The School may, from time to time, review and update this Privacy Policy to take account of new laws and technology, changes to the School’s operations and practices and to make sure it remains appropriate to the changing school environment.

 

2. Policy

EdSpace is committed to protecting and maintaining the privacy, accuracy and security of all personal information.

 

3. Scope

This policy applies to all members of the EdSpace Staff, volunteers, contractors and students. All staff, volunteers or contractors are required by law to protect the the personal and health information the school holds.

 

4. 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:

 pupils and parents and/or guardians ('Parents') before, during and after the course of a pupil's enrolment at the School, including:  

  o name, contact details (including next of kin), date of birth, gender, language

background, previous school and religion;

o parents' education, occupation and language background;

o medical information (e.g. details of disability and/or allergies, absence notes,

medical reports and names of doctors);

o conduct and complaint records, or other behaviour notes, and school reports;

o information about referrals to government welfare agencies;

o any court orders;

o photos and videos at School events;

 job applicants, staff members, volunteers and contractors, including

o name, contact details (including next of kin), date of birth, and religion;

o information on job application;

o professional development history;

o salary and payment information, including superannuation details;

o medical information (e.g. details of disability and/or allergies, and medical

certificates);

o complaint records and investigation reports;

o leave details;

o photos and videos at School events;

o workplace surveillance information;

o work emails and Internet browsing history; and

 other people who come into contact with the School, including name and contact details and any other information necessary for the particular 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 or pupils, face-to-face meetings and

interviews, emails and telephone calls. On occasions people other than Parents and pupils provide personal information.

Personal Information provided by other people: In some circumstances the School may be provided with personal information about an individual from a third party, for example a report provided by a medical professional or a reference from another school.

Exception in relation to employee records:

The School handles staff health records in accordancewith the Privacy Principles in the Health Records Act.

 

5. How will the School use the personal information you provide?

 

Pupils and Parents: In relation to personal information of pupils and Parents, the School's primary purpose of collection is to enable the School to provide schooling to pupils enrolled at the school, exercise its duty of care, and perform necessary associated administrative activities, which will enable pupils to take part in all the activities of the School. This includes satisfying the needs of Parents, the needs of the pupil and the needs of the School throughout the whole period the pupil is enrolled at the School.

 

The purposes for which the School uses personal information of pupils and Parents include:

 to keep Parents informed about matters related to their child's schooling, through

correspondence, newsletters and magazines;

 day-to-day administration of the School;

 looking after pupils' educational, social and medical wellbeing;

 to satisfy the School's legal obligations and allow the School to discharge its duty of care.

 

In some cases where the School requests personal information about a pupil or Parent, if the information requested is not provided, the School may not be able to enrol or continue the enrolment of the pupil or permit the pupil to take part in a particular activity.

 

Job applicants and contractors: In relation to personal information of job applicants and

contractors, the School's primary purpose of collection is to assess and (if successful) to engage the applicant or contractor, as the case may be.

The purposes for which the School uses personal information of job applicants and contractors include:

 administering the individual's employment or contract, as the case may be;

 for insurance purposes;

 satisfying the School's legal obligations, for example, in relation to child protection

legislation.

 

 

Marketing and fundraising: The School treats marketing and seeking donations for the future growth and development of the School as an important part of ensuring that the School continues to provide a quality learning environment in which both pupils and staff thrive.

 

5. Who might the School disclose personal information to and store your

information with?

The School may disclose personal information, including sensitive information, held about an individual for educational, administrative and support purposes. This may include to:

 other schools;

 government departments (including for policy and funding purposes);

 medical practitioners;

 people providing educational, support and health services to the School, including

specialist visiting teachers, [sports] coaches, volunteers, and counsellors;

 anyone to whom we are required or authorised to disclose the information to by law, including child protection laws.

 

Sending and storing information overseas:

The School will not send personal information about an individual outside Australia without:

 obtaining the consent of the individual (in some cases this consent will be implied); or

 otherwise complying with the Australian Privacy Principles or other applicable privacy legislation.

 

6. How does the School treat sensitive information?

In referring to 'sensitive information', the School means: information relating to a person's racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion, trade union or other professional or trade association membership. 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 the use or disclosure of the sensitive information is allowed by law.

 

7. Management and security of personal information

The School's staff are required to respect the confidentiality of pupils' and Parents' 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.

 

8. Access and correction of personal information

Under the Commonwealth Privacy Act and the Health Records Act, an individual has the right to seek and obtain access to any personal information which the School holds about them and to advise the School of any perceived inaccuracy. Pupils will generally be able to access and update their personal information through

their Parents.

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

To make a request to access or to update any personal information the School holds about you or your child, please contact the School Principal  by telephone or in

writing. The School may require you to verify your identity and specify what information you require.

If we cannot provide you with access to that information, we will provide you with written notice explaining the reasons for refusal.

 

9. Consent and rights of access to the personal information of pupils

The School respects every Parent's right to make decisions concerning their child's education.

Generally, the School will refer any requests for consent and notices in relation to the personal information of a pupil to the pupil's Parents. The School will treat consent given by Parents as consent given on behalf of the pupil, and notice to Parents will act as notice given to the pupil.

Parents may seek access to personal information held by the School about them or their child by contacting the School Principal by telephone or in writing.

 

10. Enquiries and complaints

If you would like further information about the way the School manages the personal

information it holds, or wish to complain that you believe that the School has breached the Australian Privacy Principles please contact the School Principal by writing or telephone at 24 Carrier Street Benalla 3672 VIC or 57625543.

The School will investigate any complaint and will notify you of the

making of a decision in relation to your complaint as soon as is practicable after it has been made.

 

Evaluation:

• This policy will be reviewed as part of the school’s regular one year review cycle.

 

 

October 2022

EDSPACE'S COMMITMENT TO CHILD SAFETY

All students enrolled, and any child visiting EdSpace Benalla, have a right to feel safe and be safe. EdSpace actively works to listen to and empower children. EdSpace has systems to protect children from abuse, will take allegations very seriously and will respond to them consistently in line with the organisation's policies and procedures. EdSpace is committed to promoting cultural safety of Aboriginal Children, cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and provide a safe environment for children with a disability.

WE, CAPABILITY BUILDING TA EDSPACE EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRE, ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND. WE PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THEIR ELDERS PAST AND PRESENT AND TO ELDERS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES.