17 June 2025
The ACT is celebrating Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) from 16-22 June 2025 and we invite public sector agencies and the community to think about their privacy rights and obligations.
This year’s theme, Privacy: it’s everyone’s business, highlights that the community and all levels of the ACT public sector must take privacy seriously. PAW shines a light on the importance of protecting and respecting personal information, from the perspective of both agencies and the community.
Every year Canberrans are becoming more aware of the importance of understanding where government is asking for their personal information and how it is being stored and used. Given the digital world we live in and the ever-increasing amount of information government requires from us to access its services, it is more important than ever to understand your rights under privacy law in the ACT.
The community expects agencies to do everything they can to protect their personal information. In the ACT, privacy rights are also protected by the ACT Human Rights Act and agencies must give proper consideration to human rights when deciding what information they collect and store and how they use that information.
As individuals it is important to be aware of information we share online, protect ourselves by using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, and regularly review our privacy settings. When agencies ask for your information, it is OK to ask questions – like how it will be stored and how it will be held.
If you don’t think an agency needs particular information to provide a service to you it is also OK to raise that with the agency.
PAW is a great time for a refresher, so we’re sharing helpful tips and resources on protecting personal information, from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
If you have a concern about a potential breach of your privacy or want more information about Information Privacy Act give us a call on 02 6205 2222 or email HRCintake@act.gov.au