Patient health information is among the most sensitive data there is — and under Australian privacy law it carries some of the highest obligations. If you hold patient records, you're operating under the Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles, and that framework has been undergoing significant reform.
The practical point for a practice owner isn't to memorise the legislation. It's to know your core duties: collect only what you need, store it securely, be clear with patients about how it's used, and have a plan for if something goes wrong. The introduction of any new tool — including AI scribes and admin assistants, which many practices are now trialling — is exactly when those duties deserve a fresh look, because patient data may be flowing somewhere new.
I'll be straight with you: privacy law is moving, and I'm not your lawyer. Treat this as a prompt to look, not as advice. The OAIC is the authoritative source, and for your specific obligations, confirm with a qualified adviser.
How to run a practice that handles patient data safely — and adopts new tools without creating new risk — is woven through the [Practice Management course].
Explore the Practice Management course
Free first step: the patient data protection checklist.
Annie
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