Latest news with #OPC
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Privacy Commissioner Issues Compliance Notice To Oranga Tamariki
Press Release – Office of the Privacy Commissioner Oranga Tamariki has one of the most important roles in New Zealand – to help safeguard the wellbeing of our children, particularly those children in their care. Improving its privacy practices will contribute to the safety and wellbeing of children, their … A compliance notice has been issued to Oranga Tamariki for failing to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act. The Privacy Commissioner has also taken the step of publicly releasing the Compliance Notice itself. Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says while Oranga Tamariki has taken positive steps to improve its privacy practices, considerably more improvement is needed. 'Oranga Tamariki has one of the most important roles in New Zealand – to help safeguard the wellbeing of our children, particularly those children in their care. Improving its privacy practices will contribute to the safety and wellbeing of children, their whānau, caregivers, and foster parents Transparency about the nature of the Compliance Notice requirements is in the public interest and is an important accountability mechanism. We all have a stake in ensuring Oranga Tamariki improves its privacy performance.' The notice has been issued in response to a series of privacy breaches reported to the Commissioner that have caused serious harm to whānau and tamariki. It relates to the storage and security of personal information, and its unauthorised disclosure. Under the compliance notice, Oranga Tamariki will need to make privacy improvements including improving staff skills and capability, and strengthening three areas: 1. Information access settings 2. Oversight of service providers 3. Accountability and reporting of privacy incidents. These improvements will need to be completed by 31 March 2026. 'I consider the notifiable privacy breaches reported to my Office and the systemic privacy issues identified in an independent review to be significant. This is because the sensitivity of the personal information involved and the vulnerability of the individuals the information relates to is at the high end of seriousness', Mr Webster says. 'Oranga Tamariki currently doesn't have sufficiently robust systems and practices in place to appropriately protect the personal information it holds, as required under the Privacy Act, and there is ongoing likelihood of further privacy breaches.' OPC began an investigation into the privacy practices and culture at Oranga Tamariki in 2022, and in May 2023 recommended it commission an independent review of its privacy practice and culture. 'That report was completed in April 2024 and confirmed our concerns about systemic failures in protecting sensitive personal information that Oranga Tamariki holds. 'In response to that review, Oranga Tamariki has taken steps to improve their privacy practices, including undertaking a privacy improvement plan, and this is a positive move towards helping keep sensitive information about the children they care for safe'. 'This is a good step forward. However, there is still a considerable amount of work for Oranga Tamariki to do to improve their privacy practices that goes beyond this plan to address the ongoing risk of further serious privacy breaches resulting in harm to individuals.' Issuing a Compliance Notice, and publicly releasing it, will ensure Oranga Tamariki takes the steps necessary. 'We are all invested in the safety of the children in Oranga Tamariki's care, and keeping sensitive information about children safe is critical.'
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Privacy Commissioner Issues Compliance Notice To Oranga Tamariki
A compliance notice has been issued to Oranga Tamariki for failing to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act. The Privacy Commissioner has also taken the step of publicly releasing the Compliance Notice itself. Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says while Oranga Tamariki has taken positive steps to improve its privacy practices, considerably more improvement is needed. "Oranga Tamariki has one of the most important roles in New Zealand - to help safeguard the wellbeing of our children, particularly those children in their care. Improving its privacy practices will contribute to the safety and wellbeing of children, their whānau, caregivers, and foster parents Transparency about the nature of the Compliance Notice requirements is in the public interest and is an important accountability mechanism. We all have a stake in ensuring Oranga Tamariki improves its privacy performance." The notice has been issued in response to a series of privacy breaches reported to the Commissioner that have caused serious harm to whānau and tamariki. It relates to the storage and security of personal information, and its unauthorised disclosure. Under the compliance notice, Oranga Tamariki will need to make privacy improvements including improving staff skills and capability, and strengthening three areas: 1. Information access settings 2. Oversight of service providers 3. Accountability and reporting of privacy incidents. These improvements will need to be completed by 31 March 2026. "I consider the notifiable privacy breaches reported to my Office and the systemic privacy issues identified in an independent review to be significant. This is because the sensitivity of the personal information involved and the vulnerability of the individuals the information relates to is at the high end of seriousness", Mr Webster says. "Oranga Tamariki currently doesn't have sufficiently robust systems and practices in place to appropriately protect the personal information it holds, as required under the Privacy Act, and there is ongoing likelihood of further privacy breaches." OPC began an investigation into the privacy practices and culture at Oranga Tamariki in 2022, and in May 2023 recommended it commission an independent review of its privacy practice and culture. "That report was completed in April 2024 and confirmed our concerns about systemic failures in protecting sensitive personal information that Oranga Tamariki holds. "In response to that review, Oranga Tamariki has taken steps to improve their privacy practices, including undertaking a privacy improvement plan, and this is a positive move towards helping keep sensitive information about the children they care for safe". "This is a good step forward. However, there is still a considerable amount of work for Oranga Tamariki to do to improve their privacy practices that goes beyond this plan to address the ongoing risk of further serious privacy breaches resulting in harm to individuals." Issuing a Compliance Notice, and publicly releasing it, will ensure Oranga Tamariki takes the steps necessary. "We are all invested in the safety of the children in Oranga Tamariki's care, and keeping sensitive information about children safe is critical."
Scoop
3 days ago
- General
- Scoop
New Photography And Filming Guidance To Help Protect Children And Young People
Press Release – Office of the Privacy Commissioner 'Children and young peoples privacy is a priority area for my office. Its also an important area with the public, with our recent privacy survey recording the highest level of concern (67%) for childrens privacy, Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster … Guidance to help organisations protect and respect children and young people's privacy has just been released. 'We all have a role in protecting children and their personal information. This guidance on photography and filming will help to empower them, and their parents and caregivers to understand and exercise their privacy rights effectively, Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says. 'Taking and sharing images of children and young people helps record their achievements and special moments. But it's also important people are aware of the risks associated with the collection, use and sharing of these images and do what's necessary to protect their privacy and keep them safe from harm.' While the Privacy Act applies to everyone, it requires people to take extra care when collecting personal information about children and young people. The Privacy Act also covers the use and sharing of images. 'As a rule, it's good to ask, why am I collecting this image and is it necessary? How am I using and sharing these images and with who? Retention and deletion are also important as children change as they age; they also move schools and then finish their education. 'An image that was once cute and funny could be distressing or cause embarrassment if used or shared today. Consent is best practice; children, young people or their parents should always know that photography or videoing recording is happening and why, and they should also have the right to withdraw their consent at any time. 'If you're taking an image of a child or young person, think about what the image will show about them. Images can reveal a lot more information than you might realise such as their school, approximate age, gender or sexual orientation, where they may live and other people they associate with.' OPC has also developed other guidance to help those working in the children's sector, including how to apply best practice privacy when responding to requests for a child or young person's personal information, and how to help children, young people and their parents protect their privacy while exploring the online world. 'Children and young people's privacy is a priority area for my office. It's also an important area with the public, with our recent privacy survey recording the highest level of concern (67%) for children's privacy. 'Understanding how to protect and respect a child or young person's personal information and implementing good privacy practices will ensure all children have positive privacy experiences throughout their journey to adulthood', Mr Webster says. Further guidance, including detailed privacy guidance for the education sector, will be released later in the year.
Scoop
3 days ago
- General
- Scoop
New Photography And Filming Guidance To Help Protect Children And Young People
Guidance to help organisations protect and respect children and young people's privacy has just been released. "We all have a role in protecting children and their personal information. This guidance on photography and filming will help to empower them, and their parents and caregivers to understand and exercise their privacy rights effectively, Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says. "Taking and sharing images of children and young people helps record their achievements and special moments. But it's also important people are aware of the risks associated with the collection, use and sharing of these images and do what's necessary to protect their privacy and keep them safe from harm." While the Privacy Act applies to everyone, it requires people to take extra care when collecting personal information about children and young people. The Privacy Act also covers the use and sharing of images. "As a rule, it's good to ask, why am I collecting this image and is it necessary? How am I using and sharing these images and with who? Retention and deletion are also important as children change as they age; they also move schools and then finish their education. "An image that was once cute and funny could be distressing or cause embarrassment if used or shared today. Consent is best practice; children, young people or their parents should always know that photography or videoing recording is happening and why, and they should also have the right to withdraw their consent at any time. "If you're taking an image of a child or young person, think about what the image will show about them. Images can reveal a lot more information than you might realise such as their school, approximate age, gender or sexual orientation, where they may live and other people they associate with." OPC has also developed other guidance to help those working in the children's sector, including how to apply best practice privacy when responding to requests for a child or young person's personal information, and how to help children, young people and their parents protect their privacy while exploring the online world. "Children and young people's privacy is a priority area for my office. It's also an important area with the public, with our recent privacy survey recording the highest level of concern (67%) for children's privacy. "Understanding how to protect and respect a child or young person's personal information and implementing good privacy practices will ensure all children have positive privacy experiences throughout their journey to adulthood", Mr Webster says. Further guidance, including detailed privacy guidance for the education sector, will be released later in the year.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Green360 metakaolin suits high-strength, low-carbon concrete
In a significant step for the company, laboratory test work has confirmed Green360 Technology's new high-reactivity metakaolin is well suited to producing low-carbon cement and high-performance structural concrete. The company produced metakaolin samples from its kaolin resources and deposits that exceed the quality benchmarks of other metakaolin products currently available in Australia. Metakaolin is a sought-after component of low-carbon cements. The anhydrous aluminosilicate is produced via the thermal decomposition of kaolin, a naturally occurring clay containing kaolinite and traces of quartz and other minerals. The kaolin is baked in a kiln at high temperatures for about 90 minutes. This causes a chemical change, transforming the material into metakaolin, which can react with water and calcium hydroxide to form cement. By successfully producing the reactive metakaolin, Green360 has completed the first leg of the new product's development pathway. The company ran lab tests on its new product in partnership with Murdoch University in Perth, using infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The analysis confirmed the complete mineral transformation of kaolin into an amorphous compound suitable for use in high-performance concrete. Amorphous minerals lack an organised, repeating internal crystalline structure, potentially making them stronger than their crystalline counterparts. This enhanced strength particularly applies to finely ground metakaolin products used with coarse cement components, such as sand and gravel. Murdoch's testwork has shown that Green360's metakaolin has a very high amorphous content, greater than 88 per cent and a correspondingly very low residual crystalline content, placing the company's product among the highest quality available. The company says other Australian metakaolin products typically range from 55 per cent to 75 per cent amorphous content, depending on their source material, quality and processing conditions. In general, the addition of metakaolin contributes to a denser microstructure in concrete, which increases the durability and longevity of structures in which it is used. This attribute makes the material suitable to partially replace traditional ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and for use in premium structural concretes for specific high-strength applications. Importantly, metakaolin production emits far less carbon dioxide than OPC manufacturing. Also, in a beneficial double whammy, metakaolin replaces some of the OPC that would otherwise be used in concrete, eliminating some of its vast carbon dioxide emissions. Other additives such as fly-ash and furnace slag are often added to cements, but they are typically coarser and have varying consistencies, strengths and reactivities. Green360 is progressing to the next development stage of its new high-quality metakaolin, kicking off real-world commercial-scale concrete trials with its joint-venture partner PERMAcast. The company is designing its metakaolin/cement formulations in cooperation with both Murdoch University and PERMAcast to meet Australian standards. The company has already begun its trial batches using the new formulations, which will be subject to key short and long-term performance tests, including workability, ease of finishing, slump retention, temperature sensitivity and setting times. The test regimen will also examine the new cement/concrete compatibility with other additives such as plasticisers, to ensure it will perform to real-world precast standards. Green360 will also run parallel test comparisons with other typical standard industry concrete formulations, including OPC with slag and fly-ash cement fillers. These trials are a key step in validating the performance of the company's metakaolin-based low-carbon cement formulations in commercial concrete products. Green360 is making significant strides towards the development and commercialisation of high-quality, low-cost, low-carbon cement formulations, which will address growing pressure for the cement and concrete industry to cut its high carbon footprint. With its breakthrough high-quality metakaolin, the company looks like it is well on the way to playing its part in the green initiative.
