Privacy Policy

Sydney Metropolitan Institute of Technology collects and stores personal information on our learners and industry clients. Sydney It complies with the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth). This policy describes how Sydney Metropolitan Institute of Technology collects, manages, uses, discloses, protects, and disposes of personal information in accordance with the thirteen Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) outlined in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012.

Sydney Met is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (see http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/pa1988108/). The APPs provide standards, rights and obligations in respect of how personal information is handled from collection, to use, disclosure, storage and access. Under the Privacy Act 1988 and Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012 (s6(1)), personal and sensitive information is defined as follows:

  • Personal information: “information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable: (a) whether the information or opinion is true or not; and (b) whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not.”
  • Sensitive information: “(a) information or an opinion about an individual’s: (i) racial or ethnic origin, or (ii) political opinions, or (iii) membership of a political association, or (iv) religious beliefs or affiliations, or (v) philosophical beliefs, or (vi) membership of a professional or trade association, or (vii) membership of a trade union, or (viii) sexual preferences or practices, or (ix) criminal record, that is also personal information; or (b) health information about an individual; or (c) genetic information about an individual that is not otherwise health information; or (d) biometric information that is to be used for the purposes of automated biometric verification or biometric identification; or (e) biometric templates”.

Sydney Metropolitan Institute of Technology collects personal information, either directly or indirectly, that is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to its delivery of the services it offers. Some of the information collected may be regarded as ‘sensitive’ as defined by the Privacy Act.

Contact information such as name, organisation, position, address, telephone, and email are collected for marketing, support services, mandatory reporting and for communicating with stakeholders as part of our day to day operation. In addition to information collected training activity, Sydney Metropolitan Institute of Technology will also collect, store and report information relating to satisfaction surveys, complaint handling and on our client employers.

Names, addresses, phone numbers, emergency contact details, bank account details and other employment related information is collected from employees for the purpose of managing human resources. The management of staff personal information complies with this policy.

Learner’s personal and sensitive information as well as training activity information is prescribed by the AVETMIS Standard. This information is collected directly from our learners using enrolment forms which may be paper based or electronic and other administrative forms including but not limited to complaint forms, recognition application, request for refund, transfer application, etc. Much of this information is entered into our learner management software called “RTO Data”. Hard copy records are retained within our learner files.

Survey responses are collected using our Employer and Learner Satisfaction Surveys which are issued both in hard copy and electronic format. These survey results are returned to the main office and entered into our survey analysis software “Satisfaction Data”. Survey forms once entered into Satisfaction Data are either destroyed if hard copy or permanently deleted if in electronic form.

Enquiry information from prospective learners including personal contact information is collected directly from individuals who make data requests either by telephone or email in person or via our website.

Sydney Metropolitan Institute of Technology respects an individual’s right not to receive marketing material, and provides an option within communications and on its website for individuals to unsubscribe from receiving marketing material. Sydney Metropolitan Institute of Technology conducts its marketing communications and dissemination of service information in accordance with Australian Privacy Principle 7 (Direct marketing), the Spam Act 2003 (in respect of electronic communications), and the Do Not Call Register Act 2006. It is not, however, Sydney Metropolitan Institute of Technology practice to ‘cold call’ for the purpose of marketing its products and services.

Sydney Metropolitan Institute of Technology does not disclose personal information other than for the purpose for which it was collected, or an individual has consented to a secondary purpose, or an individual would reasonably expect this (such as receiving communications about upcoming events), or if required by law. Sydney Metropolitan Institute of Technology may share personal information with the Commonwealth government in accordance with Commonwealth contractual obligations. In these circumstances, Sydney Metropolitan Institute of Technology will take reasonable steps to inform and seek consent from the individuals concerned and take all reasonable steps to ensure that the recipient handles the personal information according to the APPs.

For further information on Sydney Met’s private policy and procedures, and questions or concerns about the privacy of information we hold about you, and requests for access to and correction of personal information, and if you wish to make a complaint about a possible breach of privacy, please contact us:

432 - 434 Kent Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61 1300 186 729
Email: [email protected]

Complaints may also be directed to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (http://www.oaic.gov.au) if you think that Sydney Met has interfered with your privacy.