Legislation with confidentiality provisions
In this section you'll find an overview of selected legislation that has significant confidentiality provisions relevant to community and disability services workers.
- Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld)
- Family Law Act 1975 (Cwlth)
- Freedom of Information Act 1992 (Qld)
- Juvenile Justice Act 1992 (Qld)
- Mental Health Act 2000 (Qld)
- Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth)
Research activity: Key legislation relevant to your work role
Identify three key pieces of legislation that define your role as a community and disability Services Worker.
For each piece of legislation identify:
- the name of the Act
- the key provisions of the Act
- how the Act defines your responsibilities and obligations as a community and disability services worker.
The range of legislation that could be chosen is broad: however, the following provides an example response:
Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 (Qld)
- Defines the ethical principles and the obligations arising from those principles.
- Forms basis of departmental codes of conduct.
Public sector employees are bound by five ethics principles:
- respect for the law and system of government
- respect for people
- integrity
- diligence
- economy and efficiency.
Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld)
The Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld) sets out the laws about health and safety requirements affecting most workplaces, work activities and specified high-risk plant in Queensland. It seeks to protect your health and safety and the health and safety of everyone at a workplace, while undertaking work activities or using specified high-risk plant.
Employees should be familiar with Division 3, s.36, which outlines the obligations of workers.
See also Duty of care and negligence