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What we collect
We collect personal information about:
- you, your partner, children in your care and other close family members
- legal guardians and nominees.
This includes:
- your full name, date of birth, residency status, contact and other identity details
- your bank account details
- your eligibility for AVTOP
- your medical information
- financial assistance you may have received from a foreign country, for example, for an injury received as a direct result of the terrorist act.
We may collect information from:
- Department of Home Affairs
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Australian Federal Police
- Department of Health and Aged Care
- Australian Taxation Office
- other organisations that offer or coordinate assistance overseas
- your treating health professionals and allied health professionals.
Why we collect your information
We need to collect personal information to process and manage your claim and payments, and provide services to you. If you don’t provide this personal information, we may not be able to do any of the following:
- process your claim
- determine your eligibility for a payment
- provide other services to you.
We may use your personal information to prevent garnishee action where a third party may make deductions from your AVTOP payment.
How we’re authorised to collect your information
We collect, use and disclose your personal information in line with the:
- Social Security Act 1991
- Privacy Act 1988
- secrecy provisions in other relevant legislation as applicable.
Who we may share your personal information with
We only share your personal information with other parties where you’ve agreed, or where the law allows or requires it.
If you choose to use your digital identity, we’ll also collect information from and disclose information about you to your identity provider, such as your state or territory driver licence authority. This allows us to verify your identity electronically.
If you choose not to allow us to collect this information, you may need to provide identification documents in person at one of our service centres.
We’ll also use information you’ve previously given Services Australia to assess your claim and to administer AVTOP.
We may share your information with other Australian Government organisations, and state and territory government organisations for purposes of the AVTOP claim. This may include:
- Department of Home Affairs
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Australian Federal Police
- Department of Health and Aged Care
- Australian Taxation Office
- your legal nominee and assistance nominee, if applicable
- other parties where the release is authorised by law.
In certain circumstances, we may share your information with:
- other organisations that offer or coordinate assistance overseas
- health professionals and financial institutions for verification purposes
- social workers and other support services, including humanitarian, welfare and charitable organisations.
How to access or correct your personal information
Our Privacy Policy has details about how you can access your personal information. It also tells you how you can ask us to correct your information, if it's wrong.
If your circumstances have changed and you need to update your personal information, please contact Services Australia on 1800 040 226. If you are outside Australia, call (+61 3) 9250 5159.
How to make a complaint or give feedback
Our Privacy Policy outlines how to make a complaint about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act. It also outlines how we deal with such a complaint.
Where to find more information
You can read more about:
- your right to privacy, including why we collect, use and share your personal information
- our Privacy Policy, including how we handle your personal information.