The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is a statutory authority continued under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (the Act). All personal information and health information collected by the VCAA is handled in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) (PDP Act).

Special Provision Online is a website for the collection of information associated with Special Provision for school-based learning/assessment, applications for Special Examination Arrangements and applications for a Derived Examination Score (DES) for secondary level and/or Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) students.

For more information about the VCAA Special Provision policy, visit the VCAA website: www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/special-provision/Pages/Index.aspx

Collection and Use of Personal Information and Health Information

A range of ‘personal information’, as defined in the PDP Act and ‘health information’ as defined in the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) (HR Act) is collected through this Site, about students who are seeking special provision. Personal information is information about an identifiable individual. Health information is information that can be linked to an identifiable individual, which concerns that individual’s physical, mental or psychological health, disability or genetic make-up.

Information is collected through this Site for the purpose of facilitating and administering the VCAA’s statutory obligations in relation to Special Provision as outlined under s.2.5.11 of the Act. Information collected will be used by VCAA employees and contractors for this purpose, in accordance with the PDP Act and the HR Act.

Information collected may be disclosed to (i) the student for and about whom information is collected and/or a special provision application is made; (ii) the student’s school (that is, employees of the school nominated by the school to receive information about a student’s special provision arrangements or application; (iii) health professionals or other independent professionals who have provided evidence; and/or (iv) the student’s parent or guardian, generally through the student’s school; for the above-mentioned purpose. Information collected will not be used for another purpose, unless the VCAA is required or authorised by law to do so.

When an individual’s personal information or health information is provided to the VCAA by a third party, for example, by a school in support of a student’s application for a Derived Examination Score (DES), the VCAA requests that the individual is made aware their personal information will be or has been provided to the VCAA, the purpose for which it will be or was provided and to whom it will be or is likely to be disclosed.

Use of this website

This Site only uses session cookies during a user’s visit. Cookies are small data files that a website is able to place on a user's hard drive to record aspects of that user's experience of the website. For example, we may use cookies to record that a user visited a particular section of the website, that their browsing software was a particular version or to ensure that online applications and transactions do not require users to re-input information when moving between web pages. In this way, cookies can improve the operation of the website, and make the experience more efficient. The session cookies used on this Site cannot be used to identify users and do not record any personal information.

The default settings of browsers allow cookies, but users can easily take steps to erase cookies from their hard-drive, block all cookies, or receive a warning before a cookie is stored. However, some parts of this Site will not function fully for users that disallow cookies, and/or will make the Site more cumbersome to use.

Consequences of not providing information

If all or part of the requested information is not provided, an application for special provision may not be considered by the VCAA.

Data Quality and Security

The VCAA takes reasonable steps to ensure the information it holds is accurate, complete and up to date.

The Internet is not a secure medium. The VCAA has in place policies and measures to protect your information from unauthorised access, improper use, alteration, destruction and loss.

Retention of Information

Information provided through this Site is stored securely and access is limited to authorised VCAA employees and contractors. Information is retained and destroyed in accordance with the Public Records Act 1973 (Vic) and the relevant retention and disposal authority.

Access and Correction

An individual may request access to personal information the VCAA holds about them, and request its correction if inaccurate. In some circumstances, an application under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) may be required.

If you would like more information

About privacy and this Site:

 

About access to your personal information and other privacy matters:

Read the VCAA’s privacy policy:
www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Footer/Pages/Privacy.aspx