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Topic(s): Corporate information | Health

Major health insurer awarded for privacy training program

12 November 2009

The health insurance giant, Australian Health Management, was named tonight as the winner of the Large Business category of the Australian Privacy Awards 2009.

"Recognising the need for a new approach to staff privacy training, ahm developed two cutting-edge e-learning packages that have served to significantly increase staff members' privacy knowledge," said Karen Curtis, the Australian Privacy Commissioner.

The Award was presented at a gala dinner held in Sydney in the presence of Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig, Cabinet Secretary and Special Minister of State.

Ms Curtis said that the first of ahm's new e-learning packages discusses the National Privacy Principles and ahm's privacy policy. ahm employees will be required to undertake the training each year.

The second package is for ahm's private health insurance division. Aside from outlining privacy obligations, it provides case studies to demonstrate what ahm staff can and cannot tell hospital and health providers.

"As a result of the packages, ahm has seen many more privacy-related issues being recognised as such and being escalated through the workplace for resolution, as staff now better understand privacy is a priority," said Ms Curtis.

The Australian Privacy Awards aim to reward organisations for good privacy practices. Other finalists in the Large Business category were: the National Australia Bank and PayPal (awarded a Highly Commended certificate).

The other category winners were: Loyalty Pacific - FlyBuys (Small-Medium Business Award), the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Symantec Government Award), and the Association of Market and Social Research Organisations (Community and NGO Award). The Victorian Department of Justice won the overall Grand Award, and privacy advocate Dr Roger Clarke was named as the recipient of the Australian Privacy Medal 2009.

The Awards are sponsored by Symantec (Major Sponsor), Clayton Utz (Executive Sponsor), Google (Executive Sponsor), Microsoft (Sponsor), and the Child Support Agency (Sponsor).