Subscribe for updates on the Early Years Strategy

About your subscription 

The Australian Government is developing an Early Years Strategy, in recognition of the vital importance of the first five years of every child's life. People who are interested in the Early Years Strategy can subscribe to receive updates. By subscribing to receive updates about the Early Years Strategy, you will receive an email to your nominated email address when new information is available. 

Privacy Collection Notice 

Your personal information is protected by law, including under the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act). The Department of Social Services (Department, we, us, our), collects personal information about individuals for a range of purposes to enable it to carry out its functions. More information about how we handle your personal information is set out in our Privacy Policy. This Privacy Collection Notice is designed to ensure you are aware of certain matters in relation to the Department’s collection of your personal information, as required by the Privacy Act. 

Purpose of the collection

The Department is currently inviting people to subscribe to register their interest to receive information and updates on the development of the Early Years Strategy (the Strategy). The subscription will be through a third party provider, Intuit Mailchimp, based in the United States, who will collect your personal information for the purpose of the inclusion on the subscription list. The Department will use the subscription list to provide updates to subscribers on the development and progression of the Strategy. 

Personal and sensitive information

Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. Sensitive information is a subset of personal information. It includes information or an opinion about your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs or affiliations, philosophical beliefs, membership of associations or unions, sexual orientation or practices, criminal record, or health, genetic or biometric information. 

What personal information we collect 

The only mandatory personal information required to subscribe to the mailing list is your email address. There is an option to input your name, postcode, and whether you are registering as an individual or an organisation, but the provision of this information is not mandatory. Through your participation in this subscription list, we will continue to hold the extent of the information provided at the time of subscription, or any subsequent notification following subscription (at a minimum, your email address). The Department does not intend to collect your sensitive information for this subscription list. 

How we collect your personal information 

We will collect information from you directly when you subscribe to the mailing list, or if you email us directly requesting to be included on the subscription list. 

Why we collect your personal information 

Your personal information is collected for the purpose of managing the subscription list related to the development of the Strategy. If you do not provide your email address, we will be unable to successfully subscribe and update you on the development of the Strategy. 

Who we disclose your personal information to 

The department uses Intuit Mailchimp, a service based in the United States of America to maintain the subscription list. Therefore, your personal information will be disclosed and stored outside of Australia for the purpose of using Intuit Mailchimp. We may also disclose your personal information to the following people, organisations or third parties: 

• entities contracted to provide services to assist us with the development of the Strategy, where required (which may include entities contracted to the department to provide information technology, accessibility, analysis and editing services)
• individuals within agencies, organisations and bodies that will be working with the department on the development of the Strategy, including Ministers and their staff, state and territory governments, and advisory groups to the Australian Government 
• other parties where the disclosure is authorised by law. 

All entities contracted by us are subject to strict confidentiality, privacy and security obligations. 

Storage of your personal information 

Storage of personal information (and the disposal of information when no longer required) is managed in accordance with the Australian Government records management regime, including the Archives Act 1983, agency-specific records authorities and general records authorities. This ensures your personal information is held securely by the Department. 

More information 

More information on how Intuit Mailchimp manages your personal information is set out in their Privacy Policy. The department’s Privacy Policy contains more information about how we handle personal information, how you can access any personal information that we hold, and how to seek correction of that personal information. It also contains information about how to make a complaint about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles, as set out in the Privacy Act. If you have any concerns or questions, you can contact us at complaints@dss.gov.au. 

Confirmation and consent 

By providing your personal information to subscribe to the subscription list, you consent to the department collecting your personal information and handling your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Collection Notice.