Privacy

The Growing Up in Australia study is an ongoing study with information collected using a variety of approaches including computer self-interview, paper and web form, telephone interview and face-to-face interview. Information is being used to further the understanding of child and adolescent development and wellbeing to help the government plan future policies and services. Data released to researchers or policy makers is de-identified, and only combined results (aggregate) are published. All information collected is kept strictly confidential.

In line with the Privacy Act 1988, separate consent is sought from study participants to release personal and sensitive information to any other person or organisation for the purpose of the study. If the organisation responsible for collecting data for Growing Up in Australia changes again in the future, AIFS and Roy Morgan will be required to disclose information to that organisation.

Participation in the study is voluntary. Growing Up in Australia study participants may withdraw from the study at any time or choose not to take part in some aspects of the study. However, information collected prior to withdrawal continues to be used and forms part of the Growing Up in Australia data. Any queries can be directed to Growing Up in Australia by:

• Phone: 1800 005 508
• Email: info@growingupinaustralia.gov.au
• Mail:
  Roy Morgan
  GPO Box 2282,
  MELBOURNE, VIC, 3001

Introduction to privacy

Your privacy is very important to us. The Growing Up in Australia study (the Study) follows strict procedures to ensure that only authorised people have access to the information provided to us and that all interviewers, researchers and others involved in the Study comply with the Privacy Act 1988.

Over time, the Growing Up in Australia study has collected a range of information from you, including personal and sensitive information.

• Personal information is defined as any information or opinion about an identified individual.
• Any details relating to race, ethnicity or health are considered as sensitive information.

More information on privacy definitions as used in the Study is available on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.

Basic information about you may have been collected from the members of your family/household who have been asked to participate in a Growing Up in Australia survey. This information collected about you may include contact information, details of relationships, caring roles, COVID-19 impacts, and financial support. This enables us to better understand the situation that Study participants are living in.

Participant privacy considerations during the change of fieldwork agency

Information previously collected from you for the Growing Up in Australia study will be transferred from the ABS to AIFS and Roy Morgan. The following steps will be taken to ensure that your privacy is protected during this process:

• Personal information will be transferred to Roy Morgan through the AIFS Data Linkage and Integration Authority (DLIA), an accredited Commonwealth Data Linkage and Integration Authority which meets strict criteria for the storage of research data and materials (for more information on the DLIA, refer to the relevant FAQ).
• Personal or sensitive information will only be passed from the DLIA to Roy Morgan if it is required for the conduct of future waves of the study.
• Contact details will be transferred and stored separately from final survey data.
• Hardcopy documents (e.g. consent forms) will be transferred via a registered courier and stored in approved secure facilities.
• Electronic files being transferred will be password protected, encrypted and transferred to secure, AIFS-approved services located in Australia.

Privacy policies: DSS, AIFS, Roy Morgan

Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children has previously been conducted as a partnership between the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), with advice provided by a consortium of leading researchers. In 2022, the ABS will cease their role in the study and AIFS will begin managing the ongoing fieldwork for the study through a new provider, Roy Morgan.

• Privacy policy, DSS
• Privacy policy, AIFS
• Privacy policy, Roy Morgan

Further information on privacy

Under the Privacy Act 1988, you are entitled to access, or seek correction of, personal information held about you by the Study by: Emailing: info@growingupinaustralia.gov.au or by Calling: 1800 005 508 or by Writing to: Roy Morgan, GPO Box 2282, MELBOURNE, VIC, 3001 

If you have a privacy complaint in relation to the Growing Up in Australia study, you may lodge a complaint by: Emailing: complaints@dss.gov.au or by Writing to: DSS Feedback, GPO Box 9820, Canberra ACT, 2601

For general advice on privacy, or if you are not satisfied with DSS’s response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by visiting the Website: oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints or by Writing to: GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001

Ethics

The research methodology and survey content of Growing Up in Australia is reviewed and approved by the Australian Institute of Family Studies Ethics Committee, which is a Human Research Ethics Committee registered with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The Ethics Committee ensures that Growing Up in Australia meets the ethical standards outlined in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans.

Approval has been granted by education authorities in each state and territory in order to conduct research among the teachers of young people in the study.

Concerns/complaints regarding the ethical conduct of the study

AIFS is committed to researcher integrity and the ethical conduct of research projects. However, if you do have any concerns or complaints about the ethical conduct of the study you may contact the AIFS Ethics Committee secretariat on (03) 9214 7921 or ethics-secretariat@aifs.gov.au. The Ethics Committee secretariat is not connected with the research project and can facilitate a resolution to your concern in an impartial manner.

Approval from education authorities

Growing Up in Australia has been granted written approval from education authorities across Australia to approach schools and teachers to participate in the study.

If you have trouble accessing the letters of approval please email info@growingupinaustralia.gov.au.

Letters of approval

State/Territory Government schools

Australian Capital Territory [PDF 36 KB]

New South Wales [PDF 112 KB]

Northern Territory [PDF 44 KB]

Queensland [PDF 402 KB]

South Australia [PDF 417 KB]

Tasmania [PDF 37 KB]

Victoria [PDF 107 KB]

Western Australia [PDF 35 KB]

Catholic schools

Archdiocese of Brisbane [PDF 62 KB]

Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn [PDF 38 KB]

Archdiocese of Melbourne [PDF 445 KB]

Archdiocese of South Australia [PDF 44 KB]

Archdiocese of Sydney - original approval [PDF 208 KB], Archdiocese of Sydney 2012 approval [PDF 124 KB]

Archdiocese of Tasmania [PDF 515 KB]

Diocese of Armidale [PDF 96 KB]

Diocese of Ballarat [PDF 243 KB]

Diocese of Bathurst [PDF 489 KB]

Diocese of Broken Bay [PDF 20 KB]

Diocese of Cairns [PDF 322 KB]

Diocese of Darwin - Please call (03) 9214 7888 and ask to speak to a member of the LSAC team

Diocese of Lismore [PDF 254 KB]

Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle [PDF 111 KB]

Diocese of Parramatta [PDF 267 KB]

Diocese of Rockhampton [PDF 110 KB]

Diocese of Sale [PDF 385 KB]

Diocese of Sandhurst [PDF 280 KB]

Diocese of Toowoomba [PDF 45 KB]

Diocese of Townsville [PDF 20 KB]

Diocese of Wagga Wagga [PDF 24 KB]

Diocese of Western Australia [PDF 359 KB]

Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes [PDF 22 KB]

Diocese of Wollongong [PDF 50 KB]

Independent schools

Support for Growing Up in Australia has been received from the Independent Schools Council of Australia. However, the decision to participate in the study rests with each school principal.