Privacy Policy

At Oldfield Early Learning Centre (OELC), we are committed to protecting the privacy of the children, families, and staff who make up our community. This policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and manage your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

1. The Information We Collect

To provide high-quality early childhood education and care, we need to collect a range of personal and sensitive information, including:

• Parent/Guardian Details: Name, address, contact details, date of birth, and financial information for billing (including Customer Reference Numbers).
• Child Details: Name, date of birth, gender, and language spoken at home.
• Sensitive Information: Medical history, immunization records, dietary requirements, developmental reports, and court orders (if applicable).
• Digital Information: Photos and videos of your child’s learning journey (for use on the OWNA app or marketing, subject to your consent).

2. How We Collect Information

We collect information directly from you through:

• Enrolment forms and our website inquiry portal.
• The OWNA family communication app.
• Face-to-face meetings and phone consultations.
• In some cases, from third-party government agencies (such as Centrelink regarding CCS).

3. Purpose of Collection and Use

We collect your information to:

• Ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of every child in our care.
• Process Child Care Subsidy (CCS) claims and manage billing.
• Communicate with you regarding your child’s daily routines and developmental milestones.
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations under the Education and Care Services National Law.

4. Disclosure of Information

We do not sell your data. We only disclose personal information to:

• Government Agencies: Specifically the Department of Education and Services Australia for CCS and regulatory reporting.
• Service Providers: Such as OWNA (for daily updates) and our secure payment gateways.
• Medical Professionals: In the event of an emergency involving your child.

5. Security of Your Information

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, or disclosure. This includes:

• Secure, password-protected digital storage.
• Locked physical filing systems for paper records.
• Regular staff training on data privacy and the Australian Privacy Principles.

6. Access and Correction

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you and request corrections if you believe the information is inaccurate or out of date. To do so, please contact the Centre Director at info@oelc.com.au.

7. Marketing and Consent

We will only use photos or videos of your child for marketing purposes (such as our Facebook or Instagram pages) if you have provided explicit written consent on your enrolment form. You may withdraw this consent at any time.

8. Cookies and Website Traffic

Our website uses “cookies” to improve user experience and track site traffic. This data is non-identifiable and is used solely to optimize our website for Seven Hills families.

9. Complaints

If you have any concerns about how we handle your privacy, please contact our Management Team directly. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.