COCA Privacy Act Kits

By now all members should have received their COCA Privacy Kit. This should enable you to comply with the amended Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 which was enacted on 21st December 2001. This Act affects all persons and organisations who in the course of their operations collect and handle an individual’s personal information.

The kit has been put together by COCA for use by its members and has been designed to allow you to handle, hold and collect a person’s personal information, including health information, in a responsible manner which will conform to the National Privacy Principles (NPPs) as set out in the Act.

Included in the this Privacy Kit is an overview of the Act together with an explanation of the 10 National Privacy Principles (NPPs) and how they affect you plus the following forms:

• Privacy Policy Statement
• Privacy Poster to display in your waiting room
• Consent Statement
• Incident Record
• Disclosure Register
• Staff Confidentiality Agreement
• Patient Access Form

It must also be remembered that the provisions contained in the Privacy Act apply not only to the health practitioner but also all staff who handle an individual’s health information.

If any member has not received their Privacy Act, please contact the COCA office on 1300 13 99 50 or Int. 61 3 9725 9022.