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From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date.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.

Strategic Plan 2007 - 2009

Office of the Privacy Commissioner

Goals and Strategies with Actions for 2009
Goals and Strategies with Actions for 2008
Goals and Strategies with Actions for 2007

Our Vision:

An Australian community in which privacy is valued and respected.

Our Purpose:

To promote and protect privacy in Australia.

Our Values:

As an Australian Government agency the Office of the Privacy Commissioner is committed to upholding the APS Values and Code of Conduct. In particular we will:

demonstrate leadership in promoting and protecting privacy
act with independence, impartiality and integrity
value our staff
be responsive to our clients
work collaboratively with stakeholders.

Context:

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner is established under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) to:

provide advice and assistance to individuals
provide advice and assistance to organisations and agencies with responsibilities under the Privacy Act
promote privacy through policy advice and educational activities
administer the Privacy Act including by investigating individual privacy complaints and systemic issues, and conducting audits.

Goals:

High quality results
Increased awareness of privacy choices and obligations within the community
Robust relationships
A confident and competent workforce.

Goals and Strategies with Actions for 2009 PDF

GOALS	STRATEGIES	ACTIONS for 2009
High quality results	Build our policy and strategic analysis capacity	Continue the development opportunities for collaborative work. Further develop the targeted research program begun in 2008 to inform the Office's policy work and promote consideration of privacy issues.
	Identify and focus our Office's work on areas of maximum impact	Identify new, and build on existing, partnership opportunities to maximise our ability to advise on key policy issues.
	Increase our influence through quality advice and information	Develop standards for excellence in customer service and promote Client Service Charter.
	Manage our resources effectively, flexibly and efficiently	All sections to prioritise their work for maximum effect and develop work plans for 2009-10. Maximise the impact of our policy advice through follow-up strategies.
	Deliver fair, transparent, efficient and effective complaint handling	Provide a timely complaint resolution service. Ensure consistency in decision making. Utilise the range of compliance mechanisms under the Privacy Act.
	Increase our focus on systemic information handling issues	Identify key privacy compliance issues and target systemic issues accordingly.
	Harness and utilise knowledge gained from day-to-day activities to inform our strategic work	Identify key privacy compliance issues in Complaint Handling Audit and Data Matching.
	Ensure robust work practice and information systems support our core business	Further develop continuous improvement systems. Review and enhance internal work processes, including the development of documentation and training to support both technical, administrator and user needs of the Office's internal Information Management system 'The Hub'. Review and build on our knowledge sharing and management systems, specifically the redevelopment of the Office's contact management systems and electronic mailing lists.
	Build our capacity to respond to evolving and emerging technology	Identify evolving and emerging technology issues. Develop greater capacity in technology issues.
Increased awareness of privacy choices and obligations within the community	Communicate effectively with more targeted integrated strategies	Develop an online portal and magazine for young adults to be released during PAW 2009.
	Harness existing communication channels to maximum effect, especially emerging popular mediums.	Progress the development and implementation of communication plans targeting key audiences such as youth and communicating key messages.
	Utilise the media to deliver the privacy message	Further develop and implement media strategy with media outlets. Seek opportunities to contribute to relevant media, particularly during key promotional events such as PAW and the Privacy Awards.
	Ensure that material published by the Office is up-to-date, accurate and targeted at identified key audiences	Update publications and other written material in accordance with the findings of the Publications Review.
	Ensure that the website as the Office's key communication channel is up-to-date and accurate	Launch redeveloped website in accordance with the Office’s Communications Strategy and stakeholder feedback to optimise accessibility.
	Develop guidance material to assist the private sector	Utilise Compliance data to identify need for new guidance material and prepare material. Advance remaining recommendations from the Private Sector Review.
	Re-energise PCO and Privacy Connections Networks	Continue to host forums, seminars and workshops for Privacy Connections members. Continue to host meetings for the Government PCO Network and consider opportunities to work with the network outside of the regular quarterly meetings.
	Develop programs to recognise and reward best practice	Develop and implement Privacy Awards.
Robust relationships	Ensure that effective relationships, partnerships and networks are at the core of how we operate internally and externally	Nurture, manage and build on existing relationships. Review and measure the success of our relationships. Review and develop systems that support internal and external networks and relationships. Develop and support staff to manage internal and external relationships. Commence development of Communications Plan to address internal and external communication needs.
	Develop formal links with external parties where appropriate and useful to maximise influence and understanding	Provide quality and timely advice and services under our MOUs. Identify, build and manage new relationships. Further develop private sector communications, eg: case study workshops. Continue to develop international linkages with other privacy forums, particularly APPA, Privacy Authorities Australia, the International Conference and APEC.
A confident and competent workforce	Attract well qualified staff	Build a reputation as a 'preferred employer'.
	Retain our staff through commitment to training and development, career development, conditions of service, and work-life balance	Finalise Workforce Plan and begin implementation of key actions within that plan including: an assessment of our skills base and a training needs analysis to focus our learning and development strategies; Review career development framework for all staff; Establish a secondment program with other agencies and within the Office; Examine and adopt a range of recruitment and retention strategies; Promote and improve knowledge sharing; Review Statement of Duties and Selection Criteria; Review Performance Agreements and Performance Management Scheme, including consideration of a 360° Feedback Scheme.
	Acquire and develop our skills base to respond to emerging issues including technology	Identify skills requiring development. Provide training and development opportunities.

Goals and Strategies with Actions for 2008 PDF

GOALS	STRATEGIES	ACTIONS for 2008
High quality results	Build our policy and strategic analysis capacity	Develop opportunities for collaborative work. Initiate a targeted research program to inform the Office's policy work and promote consideration of privacy issues.
	Identify and focus our Office's work on areas of maximum impact	Identify partnership opportunities to maximise our ability to advise on key policy issues.
	Increase our influence through quality advice and information	Develop standards for excellence in customer service.
	Manage our resources effectively, flexibly and efficiently	All sections to develop and implement means for prioritising their work for maximum effect. Maximise the impact of our policy advice through follow-up strategies.
	Deliver fair, transparent, efficient and effective complaint handling	Provide a timely complaint resolution service. Ensure consistency in decision making. Utilise the range of compliance mechanisms under the Privacy Act.
	Increase our focus on systemic information handling issues	Identify key privacy compliance issues and target systemic issues accordingly.
	Harness and utilise knowledge gained from day-to-day activities to inform our strategic work	Identify key privacy compliance issues in Complaint Handling Audit and Data Matching.
	Ensure robust work practice and information systems support our core business	Further develop continuous improvement systems. Review and enhance internal work processes. Review and build on our knowledge sharing and management systems.
	Build our capacity to respond to evolving and emerging technology	Identify evolving and emerging technology issues. Develop greater capacity in technology issues.
Increased awareness of privacy choices and obligations within the community	Communicate effectively with more targeted integrated strategies	Develop a specialist publication for young adults.
	Harness existing communication channels to maximum effect, especially emerging popular mediums.	Progress the development and implementation of communication plans targeting key audiences and communicating key messages.
	Utilise the media to deliver the privacy message	Further develop and implement media strategy.
	Ensure that material published by the Office is up-to-date, accurate and targeted at identified key audiences	Update publications and other written material in accordance with the findings of the Publications Review.
	Ensure that the website as the Office's key communication channel is up-to-date and accurate	Redevelop website in accordance with the Office's Communications Strategy and stakeholder feedback to optimise accessibility.
	Develop guidance material to assist the private sector	Utilise Compliance data to identify need for new guidance material and prepare material. Implement remaining recommendations from the Private Sector Review.
	Re-energise PCO and Privacy Connections Networks	Review and develop services provided to PCO and Privacy Connections Networks.
	Develop programs to recognise and reward best practice	Develop and implement Privacy Awards.
Robust relationships	Ensure that effective relationships, partnerships and networks are at the core of how we operate internally and externally	Nurture, manage and build on existing relationships. Review and measure the success of our relationships. Review and develop systems that support internal and external networks and relationships. Develop and support staff to manage internal and external relationships. Commence development of Communications Plan to address internal and external communication needs.
	Develop formal links with external parties where appropriate and useful to maximise influence and understanding	Provide quality and timely advice and services under our MOUs. Identify, build and manage new relationships. Further develop private sector communications, eg: case study workshops. Continue to develop international linkages, particularly APPA and APEC.
A confident and competent workforce	Attract well qualified staff	Build a reputation as a 'preferred employer'.
	Retain our staff through commitment to training and development, career development, conditions of service, and work-life balance	Finalise Workforce Plan and begin implementation of key actions within that plan including: an assessment of our skills base and a training needs analysis to focus our learning and development strategies; Review career development framework for all staff; Establish a secondment program with other agencies and within the Office; Examine and adopt a range of recruitment and retention strategies; Promote and improve knowledge sharing; Review Statement of Duties and Selection Criteria; Review Performance Agreements and Performance Management Scheme, including consideration of a 360° Feedback Scheme.
	Acquire and develop our skills base to respond to emerging issues including technology	Identify skills requiring development. Provide training and development opportunities.

Goals and Strategies with Actions for 2007 PDF

GOALS	STRATEGIES	ACTIONS for 2007
High quality results	Build our policy and strategic analysis capacity Identify and focus our policy and analysis effort on areas of maximum impact Increase our influence through quality advice and information Manage our resources effectively and efficiently Deliver fair, transparent, efficient and effective privacy complaint handling Increase our focus on systemic privacy issues Harness and utilise knowledge gained from day to day activities to inform our strategic work Ensure robust work practice and information systems support our core business Build our capacity to respond to evolving and emerging technology	Identify partnership opportunities to maximise our ability to advise on key policy issues Maximise the impact of our policy advice through follow-up strategies Implement recommendations from the Private Sector Review Implement recommendations from the Complaint Handling Review Eliminate backlog of complaints Identify key privacy compliance issues Expand our audit program Review our approach to data matching and monitoring Review and build on our knowledge management systems
Increased awareness of privacy choices and obligations within the community	Communicate effectively with more targeted integrated strategies Harness existing communication channels to maximum effect especially pop culture medium Utilise the media to deliver the privacy message Ensure that material published by the Office is up-to-date, accurate and targeted at identified key audiences Ensure that the website as the Office's key communication channel is up-to-date and accurate Develop guidance material to assist the private sector Re-energise PCO and Privacy Connections Networks	Implement recommendations from Private Sector Review Develop and implement communication plans targeting key audiences, for example, young people, industry sectors, regional, disadvantaged, people from a Non English Speaking Background Develop and implement media strategy Review content and structure of our publications and other written material Review content and design of website Review and develop services provided to PCO and Privacy Connections Networks, including the provision of training Develop programs to recognise and reward best practice
Robust relationships	Ensure that effective relationships, partnerships and networks are at the core of how we operate internally and externally Develop formal links with external parties where appropriate and useful to maximise influence and understanding	Nurture, manage and review existing relationships Identify, build and manage new relationships Train and support staff to manage internal and external relationships Further develop the private sector communications program Provide quality and timely advice and services under our MOUs Develop international linkages particularly APPA and APEC Review and develop systems that support internal and external networks and relationships Review and measure the success of our relationships
A confident and competent workforce	Attract well qualified staff Retain our staff through commitment to training and development, career development, conditions of service, and work-life balance Acquire and develop our skills base to respond to emerging issues including technology	Develop a Workforce Plan that: Includes learning and development strategies based on an assessment of our skills base and a training needs analysis Reviews career development framework for all staff Establishes a secondment program with other agencies and within the Office Examines a range of recruitment and retention strategies Promotes and improves knowledge sharing