Privacy

The Department, as NatHERS Administrator, manages the collection, storage and dissemination of NatHERS information in line with the NatHERS Information Collection, Storage and Dissemination Policy.

The Department collects information (including personal information) that is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to, our functions and activities in administering NatHERS. The collection and handling of personal information is regulated by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act). As defined in the Privacy Act, personal information is information that identifies you or could be used to reasonably ascertain your identity.

The department is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act with respect to collection, use, disclosure and storage of personal information (including sensitive information). The Department’s Privacy Policy contains detailed information about the Department's privacy obligations.

Personal information we collect

The Department may collect personal information directly from you, including through your use of our website and web-based channels, telephone and in person conversations and written correspondences. The personal information that we collect from you through our website is limited, for example, your email address is collected when you subscribe to receive emails from us via our mailing list.

We may also collect personal information from a third party if you have consented, or if you would reasonably expect us to collect your personal information from a third party, when direct collection is unreasonable or impracticable (such as in an investigation into assessor-related conduct) or if we are required to collect your personal information by law.

Use and disclosure of personal information

We only use your personal information for the purposes it was collected, or otherwise in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Your personal information will not be shared or disclosed, other than as described in the NatHERS Information Collection, Storage and Dissemination Policy, or unless:

• you have consented;
• the disclosure is authorised or required by or under an Australian law or court/tribunal order; or
• it is otherwise permitted under the Privacy Act.

Storage of personal information

The personal information we receive from you is maintained in a secure environment (in either electronic or hard copy form). Your personal information will not be released unless the law permits it or your permission is granted. We take reasonable steps to ensure your personal information is protected from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Personal information is destroyed or de-identified when no longer needed in accordance with the requirements of the Archives Act 1983 (Cth).

Other information collected through our website

When you use the NatHERS website, our servers automatically record information that your browser sends whenever you visit a website. These server logs may include information such as your server address, your top level domain name (for example, .com.au, .net.au, .gov.au, etc.), the date and time of visit to the site, the pages accessed and documents viewed, the previous other websites visited, and the browser type, browser language, and one or more cookies that may uniquely identify your browser.

Cookies

A cookie is a piece of information in a small data file that a website sends to your browser when you access our website. Our website uses session-based cookies to gather website usage data, for the purpose of improving our website.

If you do not wish to have cookies placed on your device, you can change your web browser settings to reject cookies.

We will only use this information to:

• evaluate your use of our websites;
• compile reports on website activity for website operators; and
• provide other services relating to website activity and internet usage.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to collect anonymised information  to help us analyse user interactions for the purpose of improving our website. Google Analytics uses first-party cookies and JavaScript code to anonymously track how our visitors interact with this website, including how they have accessed the site (for example from a search engine, a link, an advertisement etcetera) and what they did on the site. The information from the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purposes of compiling reports on website activity and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser.

Security 

As our website is linked to the internet, we cannot provide assurance regarding the security of information you communicate to us while being transmitted over the internet. Any personal information or other information you send to us is transmitted at your own risk.

Our website may contain links to other websites operated by third parties. We make no representations or warranties in relation to the privacy practices of any third party website and we are not responsible for the privacy policies or the content of any third party website. We encourage you to examine each website’s privacy policy.

Your choices

You may access personal information that we hold about you, and you can ask us to correct personal information we hold about you, by contacting us via the contact details provided in the NatHERS Information Collection, Storage and Dissemination Policy.

If you are on our mailing lists, you may opt out by selecting the ‘unsubscribe’ option in all emails.