6. Identifying Community Needs

6.2. Privacy Act (1988)

The Privacy Act 1988 regulates the way individuals’ personal information is handled.

As an individual, the Privacy Act gives you greater control over the way that your personal information is handled. The Privacy Act allows you to:

·          Know why your personal information is being collected, how it will be used and who it will be disclosed to.

·          Have the option of not identifying yourself, or of using a pseudonym in certain circumstances.

·         Ask for access to your personal information (including your health information).

·         Stop receiving unwanted direct marketing.

·         Ask for your personal information that is incorrect to be corrected.

·         Make a complaint about an organisation or agency the privacy act covers, if you think they’ve mishandled your personal information.[1]