Legal Requirements
This Acceptable use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy for External Parties has been developed by TasTAFE to ensure external users understand their specific rights and responsibilities in relation to use of TasTAFE ICT resources.
All external parties using TasTAFE internet and email will be required to indicate their agreement to the usage requirements contained within this policy before being able to access and use these resources. When attempting to log in to a TasTAFE system, external party users will be presented with Terms and Conditions which will require the external party to indicate that they have read the policy and accept the usage conditions before log on can proceed.
The use of TasTAFE ICT resources must comply with relevant state and Commonwealth laws at all times.
It should be noted that while some uses of ICT resources may not constitute criminal activity, they may breach standards of conduct expected of external parties and therefore constitute an inappropriate use of TasTAFE resources.
Copyright and intellectual property
All external party users must comply with guidelines relating to copyright and intellectual property when accessing or engaging with TasTAFE ICT resources.
External parties may not make unauthorised reproductions of copyright material, or use audio-visual material, without permission from the copyright owner. This includes material on the internet and storage media.
- Any misuse of TasTAFE ICT resources is strictly prohibited.
Misuse includes, but is not limited to:
- accessing and/or attempting to access, downloading and/or attempting to download, sending, displaying, disseminating, transmitting, storing or viewing by or through whatever means, any pornographic or sexually explicit material or other material with sexual context that may be considered offensive, obscene or inappropriate for the professional environment. Such inappropriate material may include, but is not limited to, jokes, emails, images, video files, sound bites, screensavers, internet links, or any other formats containing sexual content, innuendo or reference.
- accessing and/or attempting to access, downloading and/or attempting to download, sending, displaying, disseminating, transmitting, storing or viewing by or through whatever means, any material which is considered profane, discriminatory, harassing, defamatory, confronting or similarly inappropriate for the professional environment. Such inappropriate material may include, but is not limited to, jokes, emails, images, video files, sound bites, screensavers, internet links, or any other formats containing, for example, profane language, acts of violence (including violence or denigration of women), or discriminatory or harassing content;
- initiating or forwarding any defamatory, offensive, threatening or harassing material and/or emails;
- engaging in conduct through the use of TasTAFE ICT resources that offends, humiliates, intimidates, insults or ridicules another person;
- the initiation and/or distribution of unauthorised and unsolicited information of a social, political, religious or commercial nature;
- the unwarranted or unauthorised access, duplication or distribution of client, staff, external user or other confidential information or records belonging to TasTAFE;
- the unauthorised access or use of any system, account, password or mailbox;
- forging or misrepresenting identity using electronic facilities and/or performing any activity using an anonymous or misleading identity;
- undertaking private commercial activities using TasTAFE electronic facilities;
- downloading, installing, transmitting, publishing and accessing/using unlicensed software or information without TasTAFE approval and/or in a way that violates copyright law; and
- engaging in conduct through the use of Web 2 technologies and resources such as blogs, wikis, social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter etc.) that presents personal views, ideas, questions or actions that are in conflict with TasTAFE policy.
- External users must not attempt to gain unauthorised access to any information resources, systems (including electronic mail systems) or networks.
- System files, system configurations, folders and other technical data must not be altered.
- External users must not inappropriately modify or destroy TasTAFE data or electronic records.
- Any use of TasTAFE ICT resources should ensure that there is no possibility of transmission of viruses or programs that may harm data.
- Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their account with a valid and appropriate password. External users will be held responsible for any activity under their account and therefore should ensure appropriate measures are in place to protect their log in details and secure their account when the computer is left unattended.
Consequences of misuse
An external user who disregards or commits a serious or persistent breach of these guidelines will have their access revoked.
TasTAFE has a zero-tolerance approach to accessing, attempting to access, downloading, attempting to download, sending, displaying, disseminating, transmitting, storing or viewing by or through whatever means material considered to be of a pornographic or sexually explicit nature.
If it appears that a breach of criminal law has occurred, the matter will be referred to Tasmania Police.
Monitoring and management of ICT Resources
All TasTAFE ICT resources are the property of TasTAFE, which reserves the right to monitor the use of these resources. This right extends to reading the content of files and emails, including personal files and emails, stored on TasTAFE ICT resources.
TasTAFE may exercise its right to monitor the use of resources to:
- ensure that the systems and networks are functioning properly;
- protect against unauthorised use and/or access; and
- ensure compliance with the principles and procedures of TasTAFE ICT use, as described in these guidelines.
TasTAFE's ICT resources will be monitored randomly and/or by exception (e.g. in response to complaints or investigations) with permission from the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director of People, Safety and Culture or the Senior Manager People Experience.
How to respond if an external user experiences discrimination or harassment or receives inappropriate material in connection with ICT resources:
If an external user receives material that may be inappropriate or that other users may regard as discriminatory or a form of harassment, it is the responsibility of that external user to take appropriate action including:
- replying to/informing the sender that the material is inappropriate, and/or;
- discussing the material with or raise the matter via the TasTAFE Complaint Form on the TasTAFE website.