[Unistats] National data collection on applications and offers

[David Hallam]

Hi Lachlan

 

I share your concerns about privacy but FYI here is the DESTnowDEEWR
application condition that was developed for the CHESSN by DEST's
lawyers (and used by all TACs), but which does not mention the CHESSN.
DEEWR are convinced this covers them with respect to privacy
considerations:

 

"I understand that SATAC may disclose the personal information I have
given in this application to the Department of Employment, Science and
Training (DEST) and that DEST will collect and store my information in
the Higher Education Information Management System (HEIMS)."

 

Since they have decided to put the admissions collection in HEIMS they
feel even more justified.

 

Hope this helps!

 

David 

David Hallam
Manager, Research and Development
South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre
Telephone: (08) 8224 4070
Facsimile: (08) 8224 4099
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________________________________

From: unistats-bounces at lists.murdoch.edu.au
[mailto:unistats-bounces at lists.murdoch.edu.au] On Behalf Of Lachlan
Murdoch
Sent: Tuesday, 15 January 2008 3:09 PM
To: unistats at lists.murdoch.edu.au
Subject: [Unistats] National data collection on applications and offers

 

Hello all

 

You may have been involved in responding to the communication from DEST
re comments on the Detailed data specifications for the new national
data collection on applications and offers.

 

Does anyone have any comments re these data specs? Three issues come
immediately to mind:

 

1.      Scope creep - the original specs mentioned nothing re CHESSN,
now we are to provide this and other personal data of applicants so that
DEEWR can supposedly link up enrolment and application data. But this
was not the original plan for the dataset.

2.      Compliance - While the Act requires higher education providers
to provide "such statistical and other information the Minister
requests" are there questions about whether that includes providing
personal data on persons who are not actually enrolled at the HEP - what
are the limits to this power? 

3.      Privacy: Have privacy issues been taken sufficiently into
account? TAC applicants must agree to provision of their personal data
to DEEWR for allocation of a CHESSN under the requirements of HEIMS, and
DEEWR believe that this also covers the applicant database, however it
could be argued that these are actually separate requirements and be
challenged on privacy grounds.  

 

Am I just being paranoid, or do other unis have issues with the reach of
this data?

 

Lachlan

Lachlan Murdoch

Manager: Analysis and Strategy

Planning and Assurance Services

University of South Australia

Ph: 08 8302 1071 

Mob: 0407 181 977

lachlan.murdoch at unisa.edu.au

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