July 2002

Call for managers to promote privacy culture

By Trish Berry

Privacy…talk it up, is the message Victorian Health Services Commissioner Beth Wilson was keen to convey to the Department of Human Services’ Regional Directors when they met to discuss the compliance requirements of Victoria’s new health privacy legislation, the Health Records Act.

In fact, this was Ms Wilson’s message for all managers in the health, disability and aged care field.

‘Promoting a privacy culture within your own organisation from the top down is critical,’ said Ms Wilson.

‘Managers should be looking to ensure privacy protections are in place when handling all personal health information rather than focusing on short cuts or exemptions.

‘Staff and service users need to see that organisations handling health information recognise the sensitivity of that information and actively take responsibility to protect it from misuse.’

Administering the new legislation became Ms Wilson’s responsibility from July 1.

This important new law governs the handling of all health information across the public and private sectors, including providing individuals with a right to request access to their own health information.

Freedom of Information legislation continues to apply to the public sector.

Service users will also be able to complain to the Commissioner if they feel there has been a breach of privacy in relation to their health information.

‘In most cases, I intend to maintain the existing model of handling complaints, which is to refer complaints back to the source of the complaint, hopefully for a satisfactory and conciliated outcome,’said Ms Wilson.

‘Establishing an effective and responsive local complaints handling process will therefore be an essential requirement for all service providers and organisations which handle health information,’ she said.

• For more information visit: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/privacy or www.health.vic.gov.au/hsc/