What is privacy?

Privacy has been described as:

• the right to be left alone
• the right to exercise control over your personal information
• a set of conditions necessary to protect personal dignity and autonomy.

Privacy can relate to:

• physical privacy
• information privacy
• freedom from surveillance.

Common privacy issues

The Office of the NSW Privacy Commissioner's website deals with a full range of privacy issues that are common in the community, including:

• privacy at home
• privacy in the street
• privacy and government organisations
• privacy and business.

This Privacy at UTS website will refer you to privacy issues that arise at UTS associated with:

• UTS as a place of work or study
• personal information held by UTS
• health information held by UTS.

Protection of privacy

There are three ways in which privacy can be protected:

1. Legislation

   UTS is subject to the following privacy legislation, and how we have responded to the requirements in this legislation is outlined on this website.

   • Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW)
   • Health Records Information Protection Act 2002 (NSW)
   • Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth) (Note: The Privacy Principles set out in the Commonwealth Act do not impose wider or higher levels of compliance than those of the NSW legislation.)
   • Freedom of Information Act 1989 (NSW)

   Freedom of Information at UTS also provides information on the rights which exist under this legislation.

2. Confidentiality

   UTS is often involved in dealings and relationships that are based on a high level of confidentiality, and we have developed practices and procedures to preserve relationships through respect for that right.

3. Professional obligations

   Many of our staff members provide professional services such as legal advice, and medical and counselling services, and they are encouraged to adhere to the ethical and moral duties and standards imposed on them as members of the relevant professional bodies.

How UTS complies with the legislative requirements for the protection of the personal information collected, stored, used and disclosed by UTS, is shown in the existing Privacy Management Plan.

Other UTS websites relating to privacy

At UTS we respect the right to privacy of our staff, students and clients, and throughout UTS websites you will find references to the systems we use to protect this important right.

Some examples of pages you may wish to refer to are:

• UTS Student Charter
• UTSWeb's Privacy Statement
• Counselling Service's confidentiality policy
• Human Resource Recruitment and Selection Policy
• Principles of Grievance Handling

Is there anyone at UTS to help me with a question about privacy?

If you have a question about a privacy issue you are encouraged to email or phone the Privacy Contact Officer, whose assistance is available to staff, students and members of the public. Whether your concern relates to the operation of the University's existing systems, or you are involved in designing a new system or activity that may have privacy implications, the Privacy Contact Officer will deal with your request.

The Privacy Contact Officer's role is to:

• assist you to clarify the meaning of the provisions of the Acts
• identify issues that may need to be considered or that are of concern to you
• provide you with Information Sheets or specific written advice
• identify the right officers for you to consult, or undertake inquiries on your behalf.

Further information

For further information, contact the Privacy Contact Officer:

Deborah Edwards
Coordinator, University Records
Telephone 02 9514 1245
Email Deborah.Edwards@uts.edu.au