This week marks Privacy Awareness Week – a timely reminder for Australian businesses and professionals of the importance of protecting personal information. Running from Monday 16 June to Sunday 22 June, this year’s theme is: ‘Privacy – it’s everyone’s business’. The message is clear: no matter the size or sector of your organisation, good privacy practices are essential – for your clients, your reputation, and your ongoing success.
Why Privacy Matters
Building and maintaining trust with clients and customers is crucial to the success of any small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) or professional practice. Demonstrating that you take privacy seriously, and that you have systems in place to protect personal information, not only strengthens that trust but also reduces your risk of data breaches, reputational damage, and regulatory scrutiny.
Privacy isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about embedding a culture that respects and protects personal information at every level of your organisation.
New Tool to Help Businesses Get Started
To support businesses on this journey, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has released a free Privacy Foundations tool designed specifically for organisations that want to establish or improve their privacy practices.
This practical tool helps you:
- Assess your current privacy maturity,
- Understand what good privacy practice looks like through real-world examples,
- Identify tailored next steps,
- Create an action plan, and
- Begin forming a Privacy Management Plan.
The assessment takes just 15–20 minutes, with helpful guidance at each step. While the tool doesn’t assess compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) or the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), it provides a helpful starting point — especially for businesses without in-house privacy expertise.
Going Beyond Minimum Compliance
Even if your business is not formally subject to the Privacy Act, the OAIC strongly encourages all organisations to adopt robust privacy management as good business practice. If you are subject to the Privacy Act (such as many professional services providers and health practices), the OAIC recommends complementing this tool with its more in-depth Privacy Management Plan tool and seeking independent legal or privacy advice.
What’s Next?
To take advantage of this free resource:
- Complete the Privacy Foundations questionnaire.
- Review your tailored recommendations and privacy maturity score.
- Use your results to create a practical Privacy Management Plan.
- Take further steps, including seeking independent legal advice, if more formal compliance is required.
At Yarra Lane Legal, we help clients navigate their privacy obligations with confidence. If you need help interpreting your results, understanding the Privacy Act, or developing a customised Privacy Management Plan, we’re here to help.
Make privacy your business — and a part of your business advantage.
This Privacy Awareness Week, take a moment to review your practices and commit to upholding the highest standards of privacy management in our businesses.