Understanding New Privacy Act Reforms and How You Can Protect your Organisation?

Do you have a dedicated records and information manager or is customer information and company data handled by a small team in your business? Are you aware of the privacy act reforms and how your organisation handles, stores, retains and uses information may need to change to comply with these reforms.

The Australian Privacy Act reforms change the game for every organisation handling personal customer data. There were 527 data breaches reported in from January to June this year, alone.

What are the changes?

Australia’s Privacy Act reforms in 2024 bring transformative changes that significantly impact records and information managers. With stricter data protection requirements, Records and Information Managers will play a critical role in ensuring organisational compliance and managing risks associated with privacy breaches. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) will have enhanced enforcement powers and be able to impose higher penalties for privacy violations, making compliance a top priority for Records and Information Managers.

For records managers, these reforms mean revisiting data handling processes, especially for sensitive information about children and vulnerable groups. New transparency and consent requirements around data collection, use, and automated decision-making demand that Records and Information Managers maintain clear, accessible records of data practices. The introduction of the "statutory tort" for privacy invasion also means that records management systems must be fortified to protect against misuse and unauthorised access to personal data.

Cross-border data transfer rules have become stricter, with a “whitelist” of approved countries for international data sharing. This development requires Records and Information Managers to stay informed on compliant countries and ensure that third-party data transfers meet Australian standards. Enhanced security protocols are also essential as both personal and de-identified data are subject to stricter protection measures.

Ultimately, these reforms elevate the role of Records and Information Managers in fostering data privacy and security, positioning them as essential contributors to an organisation's regulatory compliance strategy in an evolving digital landscape.

How can you understand how to become more compliant?

We have 3 webinars coming up that can help you understand what your organisation needs to do to become compliant and mitigate risks of breaching Privacy Legislation and most importantly, managing and protecting the information and data that your business manages.

Are you ready for the Privacy Act changes? 6 November

How to Prepare for & Survive a Cyber Attack- 12 November

Compliance Made Easy with Microsoft 365- 26 November

More information on our webinars are here:

https://www.rimpa.com.au/events/rimpa-webinars-2024.html

RIMPA Global is a professional membership organisation dedicated to advancing the practice of information and records management worldwide. Our members have access to professional development with discounted training, networking, learning from peers with our huge range of offerings designed for records and information management professionals. Learn more about RIMPA here:

https://www.rimpa.com.au/

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