Memorandum to Schools 117/2009

27 October 2009

Student Consents for the Disclosure of Information to Other Organisations

When students undertaking VCE, VET, VCAL or IB programs complete their Student Personal Details form each year, they are given the option in Section B of the form of agreeing to three consents regarding the disclosure of information to other organisations.  These consents are:

• Media Release – signing this consent, the student agrees to the publication of their name and school to the media if they achieve a Study Score of 40 or greater.
• Awards Processing - signing the Awards Processing consent, the student agrees to the release of their personal details to relevant Government Departments for the selection of students for the Premier’s VCE Awards and the Australian Students Prize or VCAL Awards. Information on VCAA awards and prizes may be found in Section 6.5 page 75 and 76 of the VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook 2009.
• On Track Release - signing the On Track consent releases a student’s name and contact information to DEECD so that they can be invited to participate in the On Track project.

When students are registered on VASS the three consents flags must be set to either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

Schools are advised to run the report STUDENT ADMIN→ Student Consents → Results Not to be Released for Year 12 students which identifies where at least one of the above 3 consents have been flagged as ‘No”

Consent flags may be changed for individual students using STUDENT ADMIN→ Modify Student Personal Details or for students by Form Groups using the menu STUDENT ADMIN→ Student Consents → Change Student Consents. Information regarding the three consent flags may be downloaded using the menu SYSTEM ADMIN →  Downloads.  Enter Key word “Consent”.

Due to Privacy legislation neither the school nor the VCAA can assume that students will agree to these consents. For further information on VCAA Privacy for students see page 181 and Section 6.4.1 page 74 VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook 2009.or on the VCAA website at the following link http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/aboutus/policies/privacysupport.html

CONTACTS

Any queries regarding VASS should be directed to the Administrative Support Unit on 9651 4482 or 1800 827 721.  Please leave a message on our Voice Mail service if we are unable to answer your call immediately.  Alternatively, fax enquiries to 9651 4551 or email: vass.support@edumail.vic.gov.au

Any queries regarding the On Track Project should be directed to Trish Corrie On Track Project Manager in the Data and Evaluation Division, Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination on 9637 2802 or email corrie.trish.k@edumail.vic.gov.au