Privacy notice
Your personal information is protected by law, including under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).
The Department of Social Services (Department, we, us, our) collects personal information about individuals for a range of purposes to enable us to carry out our functions. This privacy collection notice aims to ensure you are aware of certain matters in relation to our collection of your personal information, as required by the Privacy Act for the purposes of the newsletter.
What is the purpose of collection?
The Australian Government has committed to conduct an independent investigation into the historical Republic of Korea (ROK)-Australia adoption program (the Investigation), to identify any irregularities in historical adoptions between 1964 and 1999 and examine how relevant agencies, organisations and authorised individuals acted within their roles and responsibilities.
The findings from this investigation will inform future policy decisions and support transparency, accountability and inform what supports are needed for affected adoptees and their families. The investigation will be led by an eminent person engaged by the Department.
As part of the Investigation, the Department will engage with the community. You can subscribe to receive updates about engagement activities.
What is ‘personal information’ and ‘sensitive information’?
‘Personal information’ is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. This applies whether the personal information is true or not or recorded in a material form or not. For example, personal information can include an individual’s name, signature, residential address, phone number, email address, date of birth, photographs, employment information, location information from mobile devices and internet protocol addresses.
‘Sensitive information’ is a subset of personal information. It includes information or an opinion about your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs or affiliations, philosophical beliefs, membership of associations or unions, sexual orientation or practices, criminal record, or health, genetic or biometric information. Health information includes any information regarding whether an individual has a disability and the nature of their disability.
Who is collecting your personal information?
Your personal information will be collected by the Department and Swift Digital if you subscribe for the newsletter updates in relation to the Investigation. The Department has engaged Swift Digital to manage this subscription. This means your email address will be shared with Swift Digital so that you can receive the updates. You can access Swift Digital’s privacy policy(Opens in a new tab/window).
Who we disclose your personal information to
We may disclose your personal information to the following people, organisations or third parties:
- Minister for Social Services;
- Employees from the office of the Minister for Social Services;
- the eminent person, engaged by the Department to lead the Investigation
- any contracted service providers, such as Swift Digital;
- other commonwealth departments or organisations who support the Department in relation to the Investigation, such as the New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice and the Intercountry Adoptee and Family Support Service;
- our ICT Contracted Service Provider, for the purposes of assisting the Department with information technology services; and
- other parties where the disclosure is required or authorised by law.
What we collect
If you decide to subscribe for updates, we may be able to identify you (for example, your email address or other computer information). Please only subscribe to newsletter updates on your behalf or if doing so for another individual, please ensure you have the consent of the other person.
How we use and collect your personal information
The Department may use and disclose personal information collected as otherwise permitted or required by law.
Our website uses Google Analytics, a service which transmits website traffic data to Google servers outside of Australia. You can find out more information about our use of analytics and how to minimise the amount of information collected about you in our privacy policy.
Storage of your personal information
Storage of personal information (and the disposal of information when no longer required) is managed in accordance with the Australian Government records management regime, including the Archives Act 1983, agency specific records authorities and general records authorities. This ensures your personal information is held securely by the Department.
Any information disclosed to third parties will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act and stored in accordance with agreed security protocols.
More information
The Department’s Privacy Policy contains more information about how we handle personal information, how you can access any personal information that we hold, and how to seek correction of that personal information. It also contains information about how to make a complaint about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles, as set out in the Privacy Act.
You can contact ICAInvestigation@dss.gov.au if you have any questions or for more information.
Confirmation and Consent
By subscribing for updates, you consent to the Department’s handling of your personal information in accordance with this collection notice and the Department’s Privacy Policy.