Privacy is no monkey business

What we see, hear and tell others about our clients and each other should reflect good privacy practice.

This is the message the Privacy Team has been delivering to Department and funded agency staff in a round of privacy information sessions.

More than1,500 from metropolitan regions have attended the sessions.

The high attendance mirrors the interest and commitment of the people working in the human services sector to integrate privacy into their day-to-day work practices.

Sessions for all rural regions are underway with at least three sessions per region planned.

The sessions provide a consistent baseline knowledge on the requirements and coverage of the new privacy legislation, as well as looking at some generic practice issues.

Agencies have been keen to learn more about the legislative consent requirements, as well as how they can provide their clients with information held about them.

The sessions have encouraged participants to think about practical ways of improving the way they protect privacy including:

• Not leaving personal information on computer screens or in fax machines;

• Not discussing personal information in open plan areas and not disclosing information to others for purposes which would not be expected by the client.

This good privacy practice means that only those who need to see, hear or speak about personal information do so.

The Department-hosted National Privacy Conference will be held at the Sofitel on November 26–27.

• For more information on privacy developments visit www.dhs.gov.au/privacy. For more information on the conference visit www.icms.com.au/privacy.