Children's Centre

Privacy Policy

Protecting the Privacy of personal and sensitive information collected by our service and the need for confidentiality is a fundamental for Seaton Community Children’s Centre in providing a Quality Child Care Service.

Seaton Community Children’s Centre complies with the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 – Privacy Amendments (Private Sector) Act 2000.

Seaton Community Children’s Centre follows the standards of the National Privacy Principles to regulate the way in which our service manages personal and sensitive information.

Seaton Community Children’s Centre requires certain information be collected, in accordance with the regulatory framework of operating a children’s service.

1. Collecting Information

Personal information must only be collected and used specifically for the purpose of the organisation’s function. Personal information should be collected in a fair and unobtrusive way.
Persons providing the information should be given appropriate access to their information and be advised about the purpose for the collection of the information.
Collection of information is limited to only the amount of information that is necessary for the organisation’s activities. It is generally only collected with the consent of the individual.
The primary purpose for collecting information is to enable Seaton Community Children’s Centre to provide your child with an individual developmentally appropriate program that is educational, stimulating, nurturing and safe.

Seaton Community Children’s Centre will only collect personal information after providing our “Privacy – Information Management Statement”, to the individual (or their parents) about which the information is being collected. This statement is in the Parent Handbook.

2. Use and Disclosure

Personal Information – Disclosure of Information should only be for the purpose for which it was collected. This is with limited exceptions, and can only be used fro a secondary purpose when it relates specifically to the primary purpose of the collection of the information.
Sensitive information – can only be used when informed consent is obtained at the time the information was collected.
Seaton Community Children’s Centre will obtain parent / guardian permission before disclosing a child’s personal and sensitive information to a professional attending our centre for the specific purpose of providing a service for your child. This includes early intervention teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, doctors and counsellors.
Personal information collected about children is regularly disclosed to their own parents or guardians. On occasions information such as children’s personal achievements, child portfolios and photos are displayed within the boundaries of our service’s building.
Seaton Community Children’s Centre engages in fundraising activities. Information received from you may be used to make an appeal to you. We will not disclose your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes without your consent or for any other reason than for the purpose in which it was collected.
Seaton Community Children’s Centre will disclose specific information, including your child’s name, age and specific needs to the carers of your child.
Seaton Community Children’s Centre may include your emergency contact details in a class list , access to this is limited to the staff and boundaries within Seaton Community Children’s Centre.
If you provide Seaton Community Children’s Centre with the personal information of others, such as doctors or emergency contacts, we encourage you to inform them that you are disclosing that information to the centre and why. You will also need to inform them that they can access that information if they wish to do so.

3. Data Quality

Seaton Community Children’s Centre takes all reasonable precautions to ensure personal information that we collect, use and disclose is accurate, complete and up-to-date. However, the accuracy of that information depends to a large extent on the information that is provided by the individuals.
Individuals will be required to advise our service of any changes that may affect the initial information provided.
The licensee of the service will ensure information is collected and maintained in a confidential and secure manner.

4. Data Security

Seaton Community Children’s Centre will protect personal information form misuse, loss, change, unauthorised access / disclosure.
The licensee of the service will ensure personal information is stored in a secure area with staff access only.

5. Openness, Access and Correction

Parents / Guardians may seek access to the personal information collected about them and their son / daughter by contacting the Centre. Children may also seek access to personal information about themselves.

However, there will be occasions when access is denied. Such occasions would include where access would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others, where access may result in a breach of the Service’s duty of care to the child or where children have provided information in confidence.

6. Identifiers

Seaton Community Children’s Centre recognises that Government identifiers such as Medicare number or Veteran’s Affairs numbers will only be used for the purpose for which it was issued.

7. Anonymity

Seaton Community Children’s Centre will offer anonymous transactions within the organisation wherever possible.

8. Transfer Data Flows

Seaton Community Children’s Centre does not transfer personal information outside of Australia.

9. Sensitive Information

Seaton Community Children’s Centre respects the rights of individual’s sensitive information
A higher level of privacy protection applies to sensitive information
Sensitive information relates to information about an individual’s religious beliefs, racial or ethnic origin, philosophical beliefs, political opinions, membership of a political association, membership of a trade union, sexual preferences or practices, criminal records or health information.
Sensitive Information can only be collected with an individuals consent to do so.
Sensitive Information – can only be used when informed consent is obtained at the time the information was collected.

References: Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988
Privacy Amendments (Private Sector) Act 2000
Health Records Act 2001
Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998

Information Management Statement

Protection of privacy and the need for confidentiality is fundamental in providing a high quality childcare service.

The primary purpose our service collects information is to enable Seaton Community Children’s Centre, to provide your child with an individual developmentally appropriate program that is educational, stimulating, nurturing and safe.

Seaton Community Children’s Centre requires certain information be collected, in accordance with administration of Child Care Benefit, regulations or legislation that directly relate to the operation of a children’s service.

Seaton Community Children’s Centre, discloses personal and sensitive information to the service’s staff, for the specific purpose of administration and education of your child.

Seaton Community Children’s Centre will obtain parent / guardian permission before disclosing a child’s personal and sensitive information to a professional attending our centre for the specific purpose of providing a service for your child. This includes early intervention teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, doctors and counsellors.

Personal information collected about children is regularly disclosed to their own parents or guardians. On occasions information such as children’s personal achievements, child portfolios and photos are displayed within the boundaries of our service’s building.

Parents / guardians have the right to access personal information collected about them or their child. However, there may be occasions when access is denied. Such occasions would include where access would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others, where access may result in a breach of the service’s duty of care to the child or where children have provided information in confidence.

Seaton Community Children’s Centre engages in fundraising activities. Information received from you may be used to make an appeal to you. We will not disclose your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes without your consent or for any other reason than for the purpose in which it was collected.

Seaton Community Children’s Centre will include your child’s name, age and specific needs in their carer’s, focus children’s folder. Seaton Community Children’s Centre, may include your emergency contact details in a class list. Access to these is generally limited to the staff at Seaton Community Children’s Centre.