Privacy officers

The Privacy Act requires all private and public sector agencies to have a privacy officer.

A privacy officer will:

• be familiar with the privacy principles in the Privacy Act, relevant privacy codes and other legislation, and work to ensure compliance with them
• deal with any privacy incidents and breaches, complaints about possible privacy breaches, and requests for access to personal information
• act as the agency’s liaison with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner
• promote privacy awareness and training within the agency
• advise their organisation on the potential privacy impacts of changes to the organisation’s business practices and how improving privacy practices might improve the business.

To fulfil these responsibilities the privacy officer needs to develop, implement and maintain a privacy programme. 

More information:

• Manage a privacy programme
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner — Privacy Officers
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner — Privacy Act Information Privacy Principles