Privacy policy

Rationale
As a Catholic school, Mercy College strives to uphold the dignity of the human person and acknowledges the rights of staff, students and their parents to privacy. In this context, Mercy College is responsible to various government and Church agencies and is bound by the National Privacy Principles (NPP's) contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000. Aims

• To ensure the rights of students, parents and staff;
• to ensure the College follows the spirit and the letter of the law as described in the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 and the National Privacy Principles therein;
• to ensure the College Community (staff, parents and students) are aware of the ramifications of the Act;
• to ensure that College procedures and practices are in line with the Act.

Policy Statement
Mercy College 's primary purpose for collecting personal information is to enable the College to provide an effective education for the student throughout the period she is enrolled at the College. The purposes for which Mercy College uses personal information about students and parents include:

• looking after students' educational, spiritual, social, physical and emotional well-being;
• day-to-day administration;
• to satisfy the College's legal obligations and allow it to discharge its duty of care;
• to keep parents informed about matters related to their daughter's education, through correspondence, newsletters and magazines;
• for future planning and development of College curriculum and resources.

Information will be used and disclosed only for the purpose for which it was provided or a directly related secondary purpose, unless otherwise agreed to by parents, or the use or disclosure of such information is allowed by law. This information is to be stored securely and accessed by appropriate personnel so designated by the College. The College's staff are required to respect the confidentiality of students' and parents' personal information and the privacy of individuals. Mercy College may, at its discretion, on the request of a student, give that student access to information held by the College about them. A student can withhold consent to the use of their personal information, independently of their parents. This would normally be done only when the maturity of the student and/or the student's personal circumstances so warranted. A senior member of the College staff will be designated at the Privacy Officer through whom all requests for information should pass. Mercy College will review and update its Privacy Policy to take account of new laws and technology, changes to the College's operations and practices ensuring it remains appropriate to the changing education environment.

Associated Documentation
Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) Privacy Compliance Manual
Mercy College Privacy Procedures and Practices
Mercy College Standard Collection Notice, Employment Collection Notice, Contract/Volunteer Collection Notice