Site Changes

On 1 November 2010 the Office of the Privacy Commissioner was integrated into the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and a new website established at www.oaic.gov.au.

Note 1: Major changes to the Privacy Act 1988 will come into effect in March 2014. Agencies, businesses and not for profits need to start preparing for these changes. For more information go to our privacy law reform page at www.oaic.gov.au
Note 2: From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date. For new privacy content visit the www.oaic.gov.au website.

Can the names of people be mentioned in public prayers?

Yes, as long as it is within the person's reasonable expectations of what will happen with their personal information.

It is a long standing practice in many places of worship to mention people's names and personal or health problems in public prayers or to print personal information in the organisation's newsletter.

This practice may be within people's expectations. If there is any doubt about what a person reasonably expects to happen to their personal information it is good privacy practice to check with the person first. This is especially important where sensitive matters such as health or personal troubles are involved.

In addition, it would be good practice to make people aware of this practice when they join the congregation. This could be done by having a clear, available policy about when the organisation will check with people before making information about them public.

For more information about privacy and the private sector go to the National Privacy Principles and the Guidelines to the National Privacy Principles .

For more general information about what the Privacy Act means for you go to My Privacy, My Choice –Your New Privacy rights.