Why use this guide?

As part of your research, you may want to know some personal or sensitive information about the people you’re speaking with, such as their name, contact details or their racial or ethnic origin.

If you’re collecting sensitive information, you have obligations under the Privacy Act. The Privacy Act and Australian Privacy Principles Factsheet summarises the thirteen Australian Privacy Principles to help you understand the minimum standards for the collection, storage use and disclosure of information under the Privacy Act 1988. The APPs are not prescriptive. Each organisation covered by the Privacy Act needs to apply the principles to its own situation.

If you’re collecting personally identifiable information, you’ll need to get consent from your research participants