In pursuit of its mission, V-M Group values:

• continuous quality improvement
• accountability as befits a learning organisation
• commitment to individual rights, ethical standards and social justice
• participatory decision-making and problem-solving
• lifelong learning and personal development
• contributing to a robust, equitable and environmentally sustainable society
• tolerance and understanding of diversity within society

The V-M Group's commitment to individual rights, ethical standards and social justice includes commitment to the appropriate collection, storage and use of information, and to the protection of the privacy of personal information.

In undertaking our normal business of teaching the V-M Group collects, stores and uses personal information. Learning and research in all fields of human endeavour will often necessarily involve the collection of personal information. While we treat this information with the highest standards of confidentiality and privacy, there are occasions when we may disclose this information to third parties where required by law, or where necessary for the conduct of our business.

This Privacy Plan represents the integration of the Queensland Information Standards into the V-M Group's existing policy framework, and is the umbrella instrument for all documents relating to confidentiality and privacy within the V-M Group.

The overall responsibility for privacy in the V-M Group resides with the Managing Director and RTO Manager. The responsibility for day to day management has been delegated to the Program Manager (Administration). The Program Manager is the first point of contact for participants and the public on privacy matters including general information, requests to access and/or amend personal information and for internal review and resolution of complaints.

Legislative Requirements

The V-M Group Privacy Plan has been developed in accordance with the Queensland Government Information Standard 'Queensland Privacy' (IS42) which provides 11 Information Privacy Principles (see 3.1 in IS42for IPPs). These IPPs represent the community standard for collecting, storing, using and disclosure of personal information by public agencies in Queensland. The Queensland IPPs are similar to the 11 Information Privacy Principles in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988.

Queensland Privacy is State Government policy, not legislation, and is subject to legislation and existing contractual responsibilities of agencies: e.g. legislation which takes precedence includes the Queensland Freedom of Information Act 1992; the confidentiality provisions of the Queensland Child Care Act 2002; section 63 of the Queensland Health Services Act 1991; the Libraries Act 1988, and pre-existing contracts might require adherence to the privacy regime of the Commonwealth, of other states and of other countries for the purposes of that contract.

Under the provisions of IS42, all agencies are required to appoint a Privacy Contact Officer and develop a Privacy Plan and a Privacy and Information Security Statement. In accordance with those requirements, the V-M Group has appointed a Privacy Contact Officer and has developed this Privacy Plan and accompanying Privacy and Information Security Statement. The Privacy Plan is reviewed annually in accordance with IS42.

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V-M Group is committed to protecting user privacy. We understand and appreciate that visitors and users of this website are concerned about their privacy and the confidentiality and security of any information that may be provided to us.

The Queensland Government has established a privacy regime based on 11 Information Privacy Principles. These are contained in Information Standard 42 "Information Privacy" to which Queensland statutory agencies and government agencies are required to adhere.

When you look at this website, the V-M Group web server makes a record of your visit and logs the information for statistical purposes and to assist the V-M Group to improve our web-based services. The types of information that may be recorded are:

• the date and time of your visit to the site
• how long you spent browsing our site
• the page you visited immediately prior to accessing our site
• the Internet address of the server accessing our site
• the pages from which you entered and exited our site
• the pages accessed and documents downloaded
• your top level domain (for example .com, .gov, .au, etc)
• the browser you were using and
• the operating system you are using

No attempt is or will be made to identify users or their browsing activities except, in the unlikely event of an investigation, where a law enforcement agency may seek access at the request of V-M Group, or to exercise a warrant.

Email correspondence sent to this site will be treated as a public record and will be retained as required by the Libraries Act 1988, the Freedom of Information Act 1992 and other relevant regulations.

Your name and address details will not be added to a mailing list nor will we disclose these details to third parties without your consent unless required by law. Email messages may be monitored by the V-M Group's web team for system troubleshooting and maintenance purposes.

Participants are able to make payments via the V-M Group website.

When you make a payment through our website, your personal and financial details are protected at all stages of the transaction. In order to process your payment we need to know your participant number, name, email address and credit or debit card details. The St George Bank supports our electronic funds transfer system so these details are shared with their system for the purpose and period of processing the payment. While the payment is being processed your credit or debit card details are suppressed from being read by any other person. When a receipt is generated your credit or debit card number is suppressed.

Your credit or debit card details are not stored on our servers at any stage of the transaction. Once the transaction has been processed, your credit or debit card details are no longer known to the system.

Our agency accepts VISA, Bankcard, American Express and MasterCard credit cards and most debit cards for payment through our website.

At times you may be asked to complete survey questionnaires on the V-M Group site. These may ask you to provide identifying information. If you agree to participate in these surveys, you will be asked to review and accept certain additional terms and conditions relating to the use of the information you provide in the survey. You will be given the reasons for the collection of such information and the purpose for which it will be used.