Privacy information
Notification of change of fieldwork agency
Why has the management of Growing Up in Australia changed?
Like many projects of this size and nature, the organisations involved may change from time to time – however, the study continues under a new management structure. The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) is responsible for running the study and has engaged Roy Morgan to assist. AIFS has played an important role in the study since it began in 2003 and will ensure its ongoing success. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) valuable contributions to the study are widely recognised and appreciated. It will continue to be a proud supporter of Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC)..
What information has been transferred from the ABS to AIFS?
Information collected from you during past waves of the study, including sensitive and personal information, has been transferred from the ABS to AIFS. Examples of information transferred include names, addresses and contact details, as well as survey data and linked data.
What information has been transferred from AIFS to Roy Morgan?
Only information that is necessary to conduct fieldwork for future waves of the study has been transferred to Roy Morgan. This will include information such as contact details, to ensure you can be recontacted or identified regarding participation in the study, and survey data from past waves of data collection, to ensure the survey instrument is programmed correctly.
How was my information kept secure during the transfer?
We take the security of your information very seriously. The transfer of data complied with the Australian Government’s cyber security standards set out in the Information Security Manual, and the approval requirements of the AIFS Human Research Ethics Committee. Data transfer procedures have been designed in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 and recommended by independent privacy consultants.
We have strict protection measures in place to ensure the security of your information. This includes using password-protected and encrypted files via secure data transfer methods, and separating contact details from final survey data.
Who is Roy Morgan?
Roy Morgan is an Australian owned and independent research company and is certified for ISO27001 Information Security standards, which means they meet strict criteria for storing and securing data.
The information collected and transferred to Roy Morgan can only be used for the purposes of the Growing Up in Australia study. Roy Morgan has signed a legally binding contract with AIFS to this effect. Roy Morgan complies with the Australian Privacy Principles and the Privacy Act 1988, which govern how personal information is to be treated, used and protected.
What if I didn’t want my information transferred?
Past participant consent forms and privacy brochures informed participants that if the organisation responsible for future data collection phases of the study changes, the ABS will be required to disclose your information to that organisation.
‘If the organisation responsible for future data collection phases of the study changes, the ABS will be required to disclose your information to that organisation.’This ensures that the fieldwork provider responsible for Growing Up in Australia is able to identify you if you were to contact the study.
Your continued involvement in the Growing Up in Australia study is your opportunity to provide a unique insight into what it’s like to live in Australia as a young person. However, your participation in the study is voluntary, and you are welcome to withdraw at any time.
How can I opt-out of the study?
If you would like to opt out of future contact from the study, please contact us via:
- Phone: 1800 005 508
- Email: info@growingupinaustralia.gov.au
If you opt out of the study, your historical data will remain with AIFS for storage but we will not contact you again and Roy Morgan will destroy/remove your contact details from their records.
Who can I contact if I want more information?
General study enquires:
- Phone: 1800 005 508
- Email: info@growingupinaustralia.gov.au
- Website: growingupinaustralia.gov.au
Privacy enquires:
- Phone: 1800 005 508
- Email: enquiries@dss.gov.au or complaints@DSS.gov.au
- Mail:
DSS Feedback,
GPO Box 9820,
CANBERRA ACT 2601
If you have a complaint in relation to the Growing Up in Australia study, you may lodge this by email: privacyofficer@roymorgan.com or you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by visiting oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints
Where can I update my details?
The easiest way to update your contact information is by using the form on our website.
You can also update your contact information via our study hotline, 1800 005 508.
Privacy
Study privacy statement
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.
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.
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 5288 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.
Certification of ethics approval for LSAC [PDF, 112 KB]
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.
Privacy brochure
Find out all you need to know about privacy
Download the Privacy Brochure [PDF, 1.1 MB]
