The Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) are a set of principles covered by the Privacy Act that tell agencies and organisations how to handle and keep private information that is personally identifiable.
The APP guidelines outline the mandatory requirements of the APPs, how the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) will interpret the APPs, and matters they may take into account when exercising functions and powers under the Privacy Act.
The OAIC has published a range of resources to help organisations adapt their practices to comply with the APPs. They are all available on the Australian Privacy Principles website.
Among the most useful and relevant are:
- a guide to information security, specifically the reasonable steps entities are required to take under the Privacy Act to protect the personal information they hold
- training material to help staff adjust to privacy law reform.
The RACGP has a Privacy Policy template for practices to customise.
What’s Next?
- Read the RACGP guide to information security in general practice.
- Read the RACGP guide to secure use of email in general practice.