The National Redress Scheme collects sensitive information from people applying to the Scheme and from participating institutions. The Scheme places paramount importance on ensuring applicants' privacy and engaging with institutions in good faith.
Broadly speaking, protected information is any information about a person or institution obtained by the Scheme for the purposes of the Scheme and that is, or was, held in the Scheme's records. Protected information includes:
If the Scheme does not hold information about a person or institution this fact in itself is protected information under legislation.
Protected information can only be obtained, recorded, disclosed or used by a person where authorised, and only then within the limits defined under the law.
A person is authorised to obtain, make a record of, disclose or use protected information:
A person is authorised to handle protected information for the purposes of the Scheme if there is a sufficient connection between the person obtaining, recording, disclosing or using the information and the administration of the NRSAct or Scheme. For example, an officer of the Scheme would be authorised to obtain protected information through a person's application form, and obtain protected information from an institution through a request for information.
Protected information can also be used by the Scheme for reporting purposes, so long as this information does not identify a specific person or institution. This means the Scheme can use protected information to identify and report on aggregated data such as patterns and trends in the Scheme's operation. For example, the Scheme will use aggregated protected information to prepare an annual report about the Scheme to be tabled in Parliament.
Act reference: NRSAct section 92 Protected information, section 93 Main authorisation-obtaining, recording, disclosing or using protected information
Last reviewed: 20 March 2024
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