NOTICE OF A DATA MATCHING PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
From 10 December 2014 the Department of Human Services (the Department) intends to undertake a new data matching activity in which customer data is matched with data received from the Department of Education (DoE). Under the current Service Agreement between the Department and DoE, specific education and job placement data is provided on a monthly basis.
This data matching will assist the Department to assess a customer’s ongoing eligibility for a benefit by identifying those customers who may not have correctly disclosed income and/or assets to the Department.
The objectives of this data matching exercise is to:
- Prevent incorrect program outlays by identifying customers with undisclosed and/or under-declared income or assets;
- Deter customers from neglecting to disclose income or assets
- Promote voluntary compliance through public awareness of the program.
It is intended that the data matching activity will continue on a regular basis.
A protocol document describing this program has been developed in consultation with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Copies of the document are available from:
Director
Intelligence Section
Serious Non Compliance Branch
Business Integrity Division
Department of Human Services
PO Box 7788
CANBERRA BUSINESS CENTRE ACT 2610
The department adheres to the Australian Information Commissioner’s Guidelines on Data Matching in Australian Government Administration which includes standards for data matching to protect the privacy of individuals.