Information privacy

Privacy laws and University policy prohibit the release of information about students to a third party unless they have given written permission for that release. This prohibition also applies to a student's close relatives. There are a number of legal exceptions which apply, and they include:

• Centrelink will be informed of students' enrolment details (but not results) if they are receiving payments.
• Statistical details on students' enrolment forms, which do not identify them, will be released to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).
• The Australian Taxation Office will be informed about students' HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP and OS-HELP each semester/trimester.
• The Department of Immigration and Citizenship will be provided with certain information about students if they are international students.
• The University must respond to a Court which has issued a summons or subpoena.
• Some other legislation such as the Transport Accident Act also requires personal information to be provided to authorised persons.
• In a situation which is considered to be an emergency, where harm to a person or property is substantial and imminent, personal information may be provided to avert that harm.

Please note that if students apply for a course at another institution or if they apply for a job, the University cannot release their academic records without their consent.

Further information regarding Deakin University's Information Privacy Operational Policy can be obtained from the Guide.