Smartraveller privacy collection notice

Purpose

We manage the personal information we collect from you through Smartraveller in accordance with our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act), which incorporates the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

As part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) consular services, DFAT provides travel advice and consular information using its Smartraveller platform. You can:

  • subscribe to receive email updates to Smartraveller travel advice for a country or region
  • opt in to get SMS critical alerts that DFAT may send if there is a crisis in the country or region you’re subscribed to

Personal information is information that identifies you. It includes your name, date of birth, address, email address and phone number. In a crisis, when you register online through Smartraveller for consular assistance, your personal information may include sensitive personal information (for example, details about your situation and the type of consular assistance you require).

Read more about our services.

Collection and use

We collect your personal information to:

  • send email updates to Smartraveller travel advice for the country or region you are subscribed to
  • send SMS ‘critical alerts’ about a crisis in a country or region you are subscribed to
  • register your need for consular assistance in a crisis

If you choose not to provide your personal information for a Smartraveller subscription, DFAT will not be able to notify you of any updates to travel advice or send you SMS critical alerts we may issue for overseas crises. You can still read our travel advice online.

If you do not wish to provide personal information by registering your need for consular assistance during a crisis, DFAT may not be able to help you. For more information about how DFAT handles your personal information when you register, please read DFAT’s Consular Privacy Collection Statement.

Disclosure and storage

We will only disclose your personal information where we are authorised or required to do so by law. We will not use or disclose personal information for direct marketing. We will store your personal information securely on a database in Australia.

When you unsubscribe, DFAT will delete the personal information collected from you through Smartraveller for subscription.

How we will handle your personal information

We protect your personal information against misuse, interference and loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. We use a range of physical and technological controls to ensure that only staff who need access to your personal information are able to access it.

In accordance with the Archives Act 1983 (Cth), DFAT will keep your personal information according to DFAT’s Administrative Functions Disposal Authority.

How to unsubscribe from email alerts to travel advice updates

You can unsubscribe from further emails using the links in the email message. If you have trouble unsubscribing or you continue receiving updates after unsubscribing, please send an email to smartraveller@dfat.gov.au.

When you unsubscribe, DFAT will delete the personal information collected from you through Smartraveller for subscription.

Consular Privacy Collection Statement

Providing consular assistance to Australians overseas is a core function of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). To do this effectively, we (DFAT) are required to collect, use and disclose an individuals’ personal information.

The privacy of consular clients and their families is a fundamental aspect of managing consular cases. In accordance with Australian Privacy Principle 5, this statement outlines how we collect, use, disclose and store personal information related to consular cases in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act). Our privacy policy is available at dfat.gov.au.

Read the full consular privacy collection statement.

DFAT’s Privacy Policy and contact details

Please refer to DFAT’s Privacy Policy for further information about how:

  • you can access information we hold about you
  • to seek correction of information we hold about you
  • you may complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles
  • DFAT deals with privacy complaints

If you have any questions – information is available using the following methods:

  • Website: www.dfat.gov.au
  • Phone: +61 (0)2 6261 1111
  • Email: privacy@dfat.gov.au
  • Mail: Director, Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
    Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
    RG Casey Building
    John McEwen Crescent
    BARTON ACT 0221

This Privacy Policy

From time to time, we will review and revise this Privacy Policy. We reserve the right to amend this policy at any time. The current version is always on our website.