Privacy

Topics on this page include:

Application of our privacy statement

This privacy statement applies only to this website and its microsites and not to other websites that may be linked. It is consistent with the department's privacy policy.

If you have questions about this privacy statement or want a copy of our privacy policy, please contact the department's Privacy Officer.

Privacy Officer
Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
GPO Box 4509
Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
Email: privacy@ecodev.vic.gov.au

Personal information

In this privacy statement the term 'personal information’ is information or an opinion that is recorded in any form, whether true or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained. This is defined in section 3 of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic).

This Act is the legislation that regulates our collection and handling of personal information.

Detailed information about the Act is available on the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner website.

Collection of personal information

It is intended that our website can be used anonymously. However, for some functions, the collection of personal information is necessary or unavoidable. You will know if we are collecting personal information from you because you will be asked to provide it.

Use and disclosure of personal information

The personal information collected will only be used for the purposes it was collected for. We will not disclose your personal information to a third party, including other state institutions and authorities, except if required by law or other regulation.

We commit to treating any personal information provided by you in accordance with the following legislation:

  • Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014
  • Public Records Act 1973.
  • Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006
  • Health Records Act 2001.

Our website may collect personal information from you in the following ways:

Complaint form

Our website provides a complaint form through the Contact us page. Personal information collected using this form will be used to respond to your query.

Electronic direct mail (EDM) and newsletter subscriptions

We use third-party vendors to provide online communication services for email campaigns and newsletter services.

You can unsubscribe at any time and your email address will be moved to a 'do not contact' email database. To do this, click on the unsubscribe link within each email or newsletter you have subscribed to. You can resubscribe at any time by using the appropriate subscription form on the website.

Subscriptions supported by third-party vendors only share details with us to assist with managing delivery, technical issues and the prevention of fraud or security issues.

Here is the privacy policy of the third-party we use:

Your personal information is stored on secure databases located in Australia, and the United States. If you do not consent to your personal information being stored outside of Australia, please do not submit your personal information to us.

Social media

If you engage with us using social media channels such as LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter) or YouTube, you should be aware of the following:

  • We only collect information that you voluntarily provide via polls, responses, competitions, posts, comments, direct messages, and other social channels
  • Your social media profile contact details may be used to contact you for feedback or to reply to you. All contact will be made via the channels you are using
  • Your individual privacy settings for profiles and accounts on social media networks are your responsibility. We have no control over these settings, which may allow information you post to be available to other people on the same or other social media channels
  • We strongly recommend that you regularly check and update the privacy settings of all your social media profiles and accounts to make sure that you know what information you are making available, and to which audience.

Here are the privacy policies for some of the social media channels and tools used by the department:

Website usage measurement

Cookies

Our website uses cookies to make your experience of the website easier and more efficient. A cookie is a small data file placed on your hard drive by the web page server. A cookie cannot retrieve any other data from your hard drive, pass on a computer virus, or capture your email address. Note that the cookie will remain on your computer as a record for future visits to this website.

You can configure your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie, allowing you to either accept or reject it. You can also refuse all cookies by turning them off in your browser or deleting all cookies from your computer if required.

Google Analytics

Our website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (Google). Google Analytics uses cookies, which are text files placed on your computer, to help analyse how people use the site.

The information generated by 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 to evaluate your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage.

Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.

You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser; however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.

By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above. For further information, please visit the Google Privacy Center.

Google Signals

This website uses Google Signals, which is a feature of Google Analytics that allows for enhanced cross-device tracking and reporting by leveraging signed-in user data from various Google services. If you have enabled personalised advertising in your Google account, Google will be able to prepare data models and reports on website habits, which is used to provide aggregated and anonymised insights into users’ cross device behaviours.

Other analytics tools

Our website uses Hotjar, an all-in-one analysis and feedback tool that reveals the online behaviour and feedback of a website's visitors. For information relating to privacy, refer to Hotjar's privacy statement.

This website also uses Monsido to review the website’s accessibility and functionality. For information relating to privacy, refer to Monsido’s privacy statement.

Internet user risks

We cannot guarantee uninterrupted or error-free functions of this site. In addition, we are not responsible for the propagation of viruses or other harmful components transmitted from this site or any other third-party sites.

We recommend that you have updated virus protection software on all devices.

Access to and correction of personal information

You may request access to any personal information that we have collected about you. You may also request correction of your personal information if it is not accurate, complete or up-to-date.

The Victorian Information Commissioner recommends that the appropriate means to access and correct information held by government departments is in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic).

The Freedom of Information Officer may be contacted using the details below.

Freedom of Information Officer
Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
GPO Box 2392
Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
Email: foi@ecodev.vic.gov.au

Page last updated: 11 July 2024