Glossary of terms

An employee is any person working in a casual, temporary or permanent capacity in DCS, including volunteers, consultants, contractors and any person performing an official public function whose conduct could be investigated by an investigating authority 

The collection of personal information refers to the way information is acquired by DCS. This can include a written form, a verbal conversation, an online form or a photographic image 

The 12 Information Protection Principles (IPPs) are the key to the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIPA). These are legal obligations which NSW public sector agencies, statutory bodies, universities, and local councils must abide by when they collect, store, use or disclose personal information. The most up-to-date factsheet may be found at Information protection principles for the public.

The 15 Health Privacy Principles (HPPs) are the key to the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIP Act). These are legal obligations which NSW public sector agencies and private sector organisations must abide by when they collect, hold, use and disclose a person’s health information. The most up-to-date fact sheet may be found at Health Privacy Principles (HPPs) explained for members of the public

Personal information is information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database and whether or not recorded in material form) about an individual whose identity is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained from the information or opinion. This includes such things as individual’s fingerprints, retina prints, body samples or genetic characteristics. Exclusions to the definition of personal information are contained in section 4(3) of the PPIPA. Health information is like a special type of personal information and is regulated separately. 

Sensitive information is information referred to in section 19(1) of PPIPA. Some of our privacy obligations are different for ‘sensitive information’. There are special restrictions on the disclosure of personal information relating to a person's race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, political or philosophical beliefs or membership of a trade union.The most up-to-date fact sheet may be found at Information protection principles for the public.

Health information is:

• personal information
• an opinion about a person’s physical or mental health or disability
• a person’s express wishes about future provision of health services, or
• a health service provided, or to be provided, to a person.

Any personal information collected for the purposes of the provision of health care will generally be ‘health information’ and will also include personal information that is not itself health-related but is collected in conjunction with health service provision.