Health Privacy in Australia: Navigating Challenges and Protecting Patient Data

Moderator: Melanie Marks, CIPP/E, CIPM, FIP, Former IAPP ANZ President; Director, ElevenM

Cameron Ball, CIPP/E, Chief Privacy Officer, Cochlear

Megan Knight, CIPP/E, CIPM, FIP, Chief Privacy Officer, Chemist Warehouse Retail Group

With widespread use and adoption of digital health technologies, ensuring the privacy and security of sensitive health data has never been more of an imperative. This panel session will explore the evolving landscape of health privacy in Australia, particularly focusing on the challenges in managing patient data within the frameworks of the Australian Privacy Principles, state and territory laws applicable to public sector agencies and private sector health care providers and My Health Record laws and regulations.
Attendees will gain an understanding of the key privacy protections in place within Australia's health system, including recent developments such as the Health Legislation Amendment (Modernising My Health Record-Sharing by Default) Act 2025. The session will also explore emerging challenges that come with increasing use of digital health tools, telemedicine and supplier technologies.

What you will learn:

• Understand the key legal frameworks applicable to the health sector.
• Identify emerging privacy challenges presented by digital health and practical strategies to improve health privacy practices.
• Gain insights into how Australia can continue to evolve its approach to health privacy.