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Privacy statement

This privacy statement applies to your use of all features of the Museum's website.

Introduction

As a Commonwealth Government agency, the Museum is obliged to comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). This statement outlines the Museum's practices in relation to collecting, using and disclosing information via its website.

In addition to this privacy statement, your use of the Museum's website is also subject to the following:

Cookies and general website traffic

The Museum uses technology called 'cookies' to record information about your access to the website and to provide increased security. Cookies are small pieces of information that can be stored on your hard drive (persistent cookies) or in temporary memory (session cookies). Cookies do not contain personal information and cannot be used to identify you.

Session cookies are used for:

  • security reasons, allowing you to be recognised once you have logged into a secure part of the site such as the Shop
  • tracking the time you have spent on a site so as to enable a page to be automatically locked after a specified time to prevent unauthorised access to your credit card or other personal details
  • more accurately tracking visitor activities
  • examining path-based data that tracks the sequence of pages through the site.

The Museum uses both session and persistent cookies to automatically collect general website traffic information, for example:

  • your server or IP address (the name or number which uniquely identifies the computer through which you are connected to the internet)
  • the address of the referring site (for example, the previous site visited)
  • the date and time of a visit
  • the top-level domain name (for instance .gov, .org, .uk, .au)
  • the address of the pages accessed and the documents downloaded.

This information is compiled into statistics (for example, total page visits, most visited pages, most common entry page) that are used to evaluate the quality of the website's content and services. No attempt will be made to identify individual users or their browsing activities except, in the unlikely event of an investigation, where a law enforcement agency may exercise a warrant to inspect the Museum's internet service logs.

Control over cookies is browser based. You can set you browser to refuse cookies, and you can use tools/options or preferences to delete cookies whenever you choose.

Collection and use of information

General

The Privacy Act 1988(Cth) defines 'personal information' as information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database), whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion.

The Museum collects your personal information through a variety of website features and online forms. The information we collect may include your name, address, telephone numbers, email addresses and, if you are using the Online Shop, credit card information. The Museum may also collect your opinion on the Museum's products and services on an anonymous basis. The Museum will tell you why it is collecting your personal information, and how that information will be used, at the time the information is collected. With limited exceptions (for example, when someone uses the website to send you an e-card), the Museum will only collect your personal information directly from you.

Your personal information will only be used for the purpose for which you provided it. For example, if you have supplied an email address so that you can be sent Museum publications, your email address will only be used for that purpose. The Museum will not use your personal information for any other purpose unless you have given your consent.

The Museum will store your personal information in secure computer storage facilities and, where necessary, paper-based records. Staff will securely handle and store your personal information in a manner which complies with this Privacy Statement and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Online Shop

The Museum will collect your credit card information if you make a purchase through the Online Shop. The conditions of purchase for the Online Shop contain specific information about how your credit card information is used when you make a purchase from the Online Shop.

Online recruitment application form

Information provided will be used for recruitment purposes only. Applications will be retained in the Museum's recruitment section for 12 months after the selection and then destroyed. Applicants should be aware that the name of successful applicants will be published in the APS Employment Gazette at http://www.apsjobs.gov.au.

Disclosure of personal information

The Museum will not disclose your personal information unless you have given your consent or the Museum has advised you, at the time the information is collected, that it is our usual practice to disclose the information. The Museum may also disclose your personal information if it is required to do so by law.

Access to your personal information  

The Museum will endeavour to provide you with access to your personal information upon request. The Museum will correct any errors in the personal information it holds about you as soon as you tell us about them.

Important notice

If you are submitting personal details, credit card numbers or other information over the internet, please be aware that, while all reasonable efforts are made to secure information transmitted to the website, there is a possibility that information you submit could be observed by a third party while in transit.

The Museum is not responsible for any unauthorised disclosure or misuse of your personal information that may occur in transit.

Comments or concerns 

For comments or concerns regarding privacy please contact the Privacy Contact Officer, email privacy@nma.gov.au or telephone +61 2 6208 5131.