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Purpose
To explain to parents/carers how Beaufort Secondary College will collect, use and disclose photographs, video and recordings of students, how parent/carer consent can be provided and how it can be withdrawn.
Scope
This policy applies to the general collection, use and disclosure of photographs, video and recordings (images) of students. It does not cover the use of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV). The use of CCTV is covered in our school’s CCTV policy.
Policy
This policy outlines the practices that Beaufort Secondary College has in place for the collection, use and disclosure of images of students to ensure compliance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic). It also explains the circumstances in which Beaufort Secondary College will seek parent/carer consent and how consent can be provided and/or withdrawn.
As a general rule, use relates to images which are shared and distributed only within the school for school purposes (i.e. ID photos, Compass), whilst disclosure is used for images which are shared and distributed outside of the school staff and are available to other students, parents/carers and the wider school community.
Beaufort Secondary College will ensure that parents/carers are notified upon enrolment and at the commencement of each school year of the ways in which our school may use images of students. There are many occasions during the school year where staff photograph, film or record students participating in school activities or events, for example classroom activities, sports events, concerts, excursions, camps etc]. We do this for many reasons including to celebrate student participation and achievement, showcase particular learning programs, document a student’s learning journey/camps/excursions/sports events, communicate with our parents/carers and school community in newsletters and on classroom blogs/apps/website etc].
Beaufort Secondary College will use student images reasonably, appropriately and sensitively, consistent with our obligations under the Child Safe Standards and our school’s Child Safe Policy. If at any time a parent/carer or student has a concern about the use of any images they should contact the front office by phone.
In addition to the processes outlined below, parents/carers can contact the front office by phone or email at any time to withdraw their consent for any future collection, use or disclosure of images of their child. However:
Official school photographs
Each year Beaufort Secondary College will arrange for a professional photographer to take official school photographs of students. This will generally involve both class photos and individual photos being taken.
Official school photographs may be:
Beaufort Secondary College will notify parents/carers in advance of the official school photographs being taken to give them an opportunity to decide whether their child will be included in the official school photographs.
Parents/carers who choose to opt-out of having their child participate in official school photographs must contact the front office by phone or email before the date photos are scheduled to be taken to advise that their child will not participate. There is no obligation on any parent or carer to purchase any photographs taken.
Images for use and disclosure within the school community and ordinary school communications
From time to time Beaufort Secondary College may photograph, film or record students to use within the school community, including:
An Annual Consent Form and Collection Notice will be distributed to parents/carers on enrolment.
Images to be used or disclosed outside the school community
External use or disclosure by the school
Photographs, video or recordings of students may also be used in publications that are accessible to the public, including:
The Annual Consent Form and Collection Notice also covers these types of uses and will be distributed to parents/carers on enrolment. We will notify you individually if we are considering using any images of your child for specific advertising or promotional purposes.
Media
The media, or the Department of Education and Training’s media team, may seek to photograph, film or record students for a news story or school event. This may include broadcast media, online or social media or print media, including newspapers and magazine publications.
When our school receives such requests Beaufort Secondary College will:
Students will only be photographed, filmed or recorded by the media at school if express consent is provided for that specific media event. Neither the school nor the Department own or control any photographs, video or recordings of students taken by the media.
Other external collection, use or disclosure
If there is a situation which will involve the collection, use or disclosure of images of students by or to third parties which is not otherwise covered by this policy, Beaufort Secondary College will:
School performances, sporting events and other school approved activities
Beaufort Secondary College permits parents/carers, students and invited guests to photograph, film or record school performances, sporting events and other school-approved activities.
Example school requests that parents/carers, students and invited guests who photograph, film or record school activities only do so for their own personal use and do not publish the images in any form, including on social media, without the prior consent of persons whose children also appear in the images.
Neither the school nor the Department own or control any images of students taken by parents/carers, students or their invited guests at school activities.
Images to manage student behaviour or fulfil our school’s legal obligations
On occasion it may be necessary for school staff to photograph, film or record students when necessary to:
Beaufort Secondary College does not require or obtain consent from parents/carers or students to photograph, film or record students for these reasons. However, when Beaufort Secondary College photographs, films or records a student for any of these purposes, staff will only collect and use such images in a way that is reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances.
Staff use of personal devices
School staff may use their own personal devices to capture images of students for reasonable and legitimate educational purposes. If this occurs, staff are expected to upload the images to the school database and delete the images from their device within a week of the images being captured.
COMMUNICATION
This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:
Further information and resources
POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL
Policy last reviewed |
October 2022 |
Approved by |
Principal |
Next scheduled review date |
June 2025 |