When you register for a Shaping Yarra Ranges, we collect: an email address, password, a name, location (post code or suburb only), year of birth and gender. It is necessary to complete each of these fields to register for an account.

On registration, we will validate your email address by asking you to respond to a communication to that email address, but we do not check the accuracy of any other information you submit.

You may sign up to Shaping Yarra Ranges using an email address that does not include your name and by providing a nickname rather than your actual name.

Yarra Ranges Council does not seek to identify anyone on the basis of the information submitted, except to address a query made by that account holder to the Yarra Ranges Council.

We may combine your account information with data we collect about your use of our digital services, including behavioural and location data, and other information you provide to the Yarra Ranges Council. This combined information may include data that we have already collected about you.

The data we collect is used for the following purposes:

• administration of your Shaping Yarra Ranges profile;
• performing research and analysis, including receiving anonymised, aggregated reports, aimed at improving our content, services and reach; and
• providing you with information about Yarra Ranges Council activities, services and events that may be of interest to you.

We may allow some third parties to use cookies and other technologies to collect data about your use of our digital services so that they can provide us with promotions, analytics, ratings, and marketing services. Some third parties may be able to match this data with personal information they already have about you.

We require that our service providers have appropriate controls to protect your personal information and that they only use your personal information for authorised purposes.

Please keep in mind all responses to the Council can be subject to Freedom of Information requests.

When you contribute your content, questions, or views we may collect basic personal information such as your name, gender, and age. We may also collect contact details such as your postal address, email address and telephone number, as well as the information or content that you provide as part of the user generated content.

We may give you the option to provide sensitive information about you, including information about your race or ethnicity, political opinions or affiliations, religious beliefs, or affiliations, physical or mental health or sexuality. You should only provide us with such information if you consent to us collecting it and handling it in accordance with our Privacy Policy and any collection statement given to you. We will treat it as personal information and will handle it in accordance with our Privacy Policy on the understanding that you have consented. In some circumstances, you may not be able to participate unless you provide us with sensitive information.

The data we collect may be used to:

• enhance our content and services using your contributions;
• perform research and analysis aimed at improving our content and services;
• help us understand more about the composition of our stakeholders, so we can reflect and represent the Yarra Ranges community in our content and services; and
• manage our relationship with you, including providing you with information about Yarra Ranges Council activities, products, services, and events that may be of interest to you.

Please keep in mind all responses to the Council can be subject to Freedom of Information requests.

When you participate in research or surveys, we may collect basic personal information such as your name, gender, and age. We may also collect contact details such as your email address and telephone number, as well as the specific information that you provide in relation to the research being conducted.

This site is owned and operated by Yarra Ranges Council using software licensed from Social Pinpoint. For details on how Yarra Ranges Council collects and protects your personal information, refer to their Privacy Policy below. For details of how Social Pinpoint may access personal information, please refer to Social Pinpoint’s Privacy Policy.

We may give you the option to provide sensitive information about you, including information about your race or ethnicity, physical or mental health or sexuality. You should only provide us with such information if you consent to us collecting it and handling it in accordance with our Privacy Policy and any collection statement given to you. We will treat it as personal information and will handle it in accordance with our Privacy Policy on the understanding that you have consented. In some circumstances, you may not be able to participate unless you provide us with sensitive information.

The data we collect may be used to:

• conduct surveys;
• perform research and analysis aimed at improving our content and services;
• help us understand more about the composition of our stakeholders, so we can reflect and represent the Yarra Ranges community in our content and services; and
• manage our relationship with you, including providing you with information about Yarra Ranges Council activities, products, services, and events that may be of interest to you.

When you sign up to receive a Yarra Ranges Council newsletter (electronically or in hard copy) or enter a competition or promotion, we may collect basic personal information such as your name, gender, and age. We may also collect contact details such as your postal address, email address and telephone number, as well as the information or content that you may provide for a competition or event.

When you sign up to receive a Yarra Ranges Council newsletter, we may also ask you to provide other information about yourself, including your preferences and interests.

The data we collect may be used to:

• administer your registration for a Yarra Ranges Council newsletter, event, competition or campaign;
• help us understand more about the composition, needs and behaviours of our stakeholders to see whether we are reaching a broad cross-section of Yarra Ranges residents under our objectives;
• help our audiences find content likely to be of interest to them;
• perform research and analysis aimed at improving our content, services and reach; and
• provide you with information about Yarra Ranges Council activities, products, services and events that may be of interest to you.

We may allow some third parties to use cookies and other technologies to collect data about your use of our digital services so that they can provide us with marketing, promotions, analytics and ratings services. Some third parties may be able to match this data with personal information they already have about you.

When browsing this site or Council's main website certain unidentifiable information regarding your visit is logged. Information gathered includes what pages are accessed or downloaded. No attempt will be made to link such data to individuals. 

We may use this data for statistical purposes and to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of our website. 

Council may also use third party applications in the provision of some services, such as the delivery and submission of electronic forms, appointment bookings, secure document signing and the delivery of electronic communication.  The following third-party applications may be used. We advise that you read their individual privacy policies, which are linked below:  

• Try booking (appointment and event booking) 
• DocuSign (Secure document signing)
• Mail Chimp (eNewsletter delivery)
• Whispr (SMS platform)
• Surveymonkey (Consulation and feedback)
• Openforms (Online forms)
• OpenCities (Content Management System)

You don’t have to give us all the information we ask you to provide, but this may limit how we interact with you, and which services we can provide.

You have a right to access any personal information we hold and may ask us to update or correct your personal information.

Yarra Ranges Council is required to comply with the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) and any submission provided to Yarra Ranges Council may be the subject of a request under that Act.

All requests for access to survey results or other engagement activites will be dealt with in accordance with the FOI Act. The Act includes various exemptions for documents such as documents provided in confidence and personal information.

Any FOI application that relates to personal information or confidential survey answers will be processed in accordance with these exemptions. Freedom of information Yarra Ranges Council