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This weekly blog is to explore the news around the larger issues around Digital Health, data security, data privacy, AI / ML. technology, social media and related matters.
I will also try to highlight ADHA Propaganda when I come upon it.
Just so we keep count, the latest Notes from the ADHA Board were dated 6 December, 2018 and we have seen none since! It’s pretty sad!
Note: Appearance here is not to suggest I see any credibility or value in what follows. I will leave it to the reader to decide what is worthwhile and what is not! The point is to let people know what is being said / published that I have come upon.
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https://www.innovationaus.com/australias-online-safety-reform-not-worthy-of-its-name/
Australia’s online safety reform ‘not worthy of its name’
Denham
Sadler
National Affairs Editor
19 January 2022
The federal government’s online safety laws and the eSafety Commissioner are “woefully inadequate”, and planned reforms will do nothing to help those most impacted from online harms, according to University of Western Australia research associate Noelle Martin.
Ms Martin, who was the WA Australian of the Year in 2019, told a public hearing for the Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety on Tuesday that the series of planned online safety reforms will not live up to their name.
The government last month unveiled draft anti-trolling legislation which would enable those who have been defamed to identify anonymous posters of the defamatory material and reverse the High Court’s decision that administrators of social media pages are liable for defamatory comments posted by third parties.
While the government is branding this as an effort to assist victims of abuse online, Ms Martin said the reform will do nothing to help those who actually need it.
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OAIC wants stronger accountability measures in upcoming revised Privacy Act
Australia's Information Commissioner has called for a positive duty on organisations to handle personal information fairly and reasonably in light of the federal government considering amendments to the Privacy Act.
Written by Campbell Kwan, Journalist
on January 18, 2022 | Topic: Security
The Office of Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has called for more data accountability measures across the board in light of the Attorney-General's Department (AGD) seeking consultation for its review of the Privacy Act.
The AGD began its review into the country's Privacy Act at the end of 2020 as part of the Commonwealth's response to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Digital Platforms Inquiry, which found the laws needed to be updated to adequately protect consumers and their data.
Among those measures [PDF] recommended by the OAIC is a central obligation to collect, use, and disclose personal information fairly and reasonably for entities under the scope of Australia's Privacy Principles (APP). The OAIC envisions this would entail providing consumers with the right to erasure, meaningful consent through requiring them to be properly and clearly be informed about how their personal information will be handled, and the right to notification when their personal information is collected.
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Commercial surveillance the more immediate problem for citizens: Home Affairs chief
Mike Pezzullo says Australia needs a broad societal discussion about privacy, but government spying will always be more restricted. Meanwhile, our surveillance laws need bulldozing and a complete rebuild.
Written by Stilgherrian , Correspondent
Posted in The Full Tilt on January 21, 2022 | Topic: Security
Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo has made clear his intended approach to the reform of Australia's electronic surveillance laws: Bulldoze everything and start again.
We also need "a broader societal discussion about privacy", he said.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) on Thursday, Pezzullo described the surveillance law reforms now under way as more of a rebuild, not just a renovation.
"I'd like to get to a point if we can design the legislation almost as if we are... not just renovating an existing structure, but literally clearing a site, levelling it, understanding what's in the ground, what all the different conditions are in relation to that site, and building the new structure together," he said.
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Australia-Britain cyber pact to shape a ‘secure’ internet
8:15PM January 20, 2022
Australia and Britain have agreed to a cyber and critical technology partnership following high-level ministerial meetings on Thursday, as the countries seek to strengthen ties and work together to tackle “malign” actors in the Indo-Pacific region.
Scott Morrison is hosting Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in Sydney this week as part of AUKMIN talks to discuss how the allies can bolster diplomatic relations in the face of rising authoritarian regimes.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the partnership would shape a “positive” and “secure” internet environment.
She said the policy would be centred around four pillars: “tackling malign actors; promoting our values and positive vision for technology; strengthening global technology supply chains; and harnessing technology to solve global challenges”.
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https://marketplace.service.gov.au/2/digital-marketplace/opportunities/18621
Australian Digital Health Agency
Data Architect
Opportunity ID 18621
Deadline for asking questions Tuesday 25 January 2022 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Application closing date Thursday 27 January 2022 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Published Thursday 20 January 2022
Category Software engineering and Development
Additional terms Comprehensive terms apply
Overview
Reporting directly to the Director of Enterprise Architecture, the Data Architect will be a technical Reporting directly to the Director of Enterprise Architecture, the Data Architect will be a technical expert responsible for the development, maintenance, and ongoing evolution of the organisations Data Architecture, underpinning the program agenda. You will be responsible for advocating data integration benefits and leading technical project teams in the adoption of best practice. Additionally, you will ensure the analytical data solutions meet business intelligence requirements by working in conjunction with other specialist resources and subject matter experts from across the Agency and the broader Health sector to support the development of project deliverables, program and Agency objectives. This will involve acting as intermediary between the project team, other Agency project teams and external stakeholders to ensure that solution designs and their trade-offs are identified, documented, communicated, endorsed and delivered. the Data Architect will be responsible for: • Working in partnership with business units to understand business needs, gather data requirements and develop and enterprise data model, and assist project teams with implementation. • Provide advice to projects and apply expertise in native cloud implementation including developing and maintaining the logical and physical data models consistent with enterprise standards and objectives. • Perform metadata design and maintenance, developing and maintaining the formal description of the data and data structures. • Design project data integration and data migration activities, advising on the transition from current to desired state. • Contribute to building the capability by mentoring, training, and providing expert advice to other staff. • Develop transition and target Data Architecture to achieve strategic objectives. • Assist with the definition and maturity of Data Governance and Data Quality programs. • Develop standards and assist with the selection and implementation of systems for Master Data and Reference Data management. • Provide leadership with a multi-disciplinary team to ensure delivery of quality outcomes, and • Follow all Agency policies, procedures and instructions and take reasonable care for your own health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace.
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Australian tech spending to exceed $111 billion in 2022, says Gartner
By Velvet-Belle Templeman on Jan 20, 2022 5:39PM
Australian
tech spending is forecast to increase by 6.3 percent this year, exceeding $111
billion in 2022, according to Gartner research.
The research house’s latest IT spending forecast reveals that the highest
spending growth area in tech this year will be in enterprise software (up by
14.9 percent), followed by the IT services segment (up 6.1 percent from last
year).
This
growth in IT services spending, which includes consulting and managed services,
makes the segment the largest category for IT spending in Australia, expected
to reach $39.2 billion.
Heightened demand for IT services, comes as a result of organisations
increasingly relying on external consultants to assist with their digital
transformation agendas.
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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/senior-policy-advisor-06022022
Senior Policy Advisor
EL1
($122,716 - $139,959)
Digital
Strategy Division > Info/Comm Tech (ICT)
Brisbane,
Canberra, Sydney
Closing - 6 Feb 2022
Division overview
The Digital Strategy Division’s purpose is to support the delivery of the Australian Digital Health Strategy and the Agencies workplan by continually delivering insights and research which shapes the future strategy and expands digital health enablement through continually delivering solutions for quality customer experiences.
Primary purpose of position
The Senior Policy Advisor will work collaboratively across teams to provide specialist policy advice and shape strategic thinking to deliver Agency priorities. The Digital Strategy section leads a range of strategic projects including development of strategy documents, business cases and policy proposals.
The Senior Policy Adviser will be responsible for the following, but not limited to:
- Preparing written material such as meeting papers, briefings, presentations and emails.
- Provide specialist policy advice and complex problem solving for a range of Agency initiatives and projects.
- Work collaboratively across the Australian Digital Health Agency to cultivate productive working relationships and implement digital health services and systems.
- Engage and collaborate with key stakeholders to identify opportunities, achieve outcomes and facilitate cooperation and partnership in digital healthcare delivery.
- Act strategically to develop practical, innovative and creative solutions to manage complex issues.
- Communicate and make decisions that are based on professional judgement, evaluating risks and in the context of a complex and changing environment.
- Adhere to the Agency Values and Code of Conduct.
- Developing strategic policy advice on complex matters in tight timeframes that meets the needs of the Agency and the government.
- Successfully engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders and marshalling the necessary specialist expertise to deliver effective solutions to challenging problems and opportunities.
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My Health Record has proof of COVID-19 vaccinations
Published 20 January 2022 ADHA Propaganda
GPs can inform patients that they can find proof of their vaccination in their My Health Record. The record provides an immunisation history statement as well as the COVD-19 digital certificate. Patients can also download their digital certificate to a digital wallet for ready access. To access it, patients need to link their My Health Record through their myGov account.
The Australian Digital Health Agency has advised that the My Health Record has a new dashboard with everything COVID-19-related in one place – this includes COVID-19 vaccination details and test results, medical conditions, relevant medicines and allergy information (eg anaphylaxis), plus links to the COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder and side effect checker.
My Health Record also gives health care providers information on pre-existing conditions and medicine history of the patient which may be useful in assessing potential allergic reactions or side effects of immunisation.
COVID-19 vaccination data flows into My Health Record from all states and territories after it has been reported to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Providers can access this data through their clinician information system or the National Provider Portal.
For patients having problems with linking to My Health Record via myGov this FAQ page. on digitalhealth.gov.au may help or they can contact the My Health Record Help line is 1800 723 471. It is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
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Digital health services prove merit as frontline of pandemic response under pressure
By Jackson Graham ADHA Propaganda
Thursday January 20, 2022
As pressure mounts on health systems from surging coronavirus cases, an initially controversial digital record of Australians’ medical information is proving its merits.
The My Health Record sparked opposing views from medical and privacy advocates when the government automatically started storing information for all Australians who didn’t opt out before early 2019.
Now it’s recording clinical information for more than 22.2 million people and relieving administrative pressure on health professionals during the pandemic, the Australian Digital Health Agency acting chief, Paul Creech, told The Mandarin.
Creech said the record became more useful as the pandemic dragged on, with many Australians needing the continuation of their interactions with the health system stored together.
“More and more, that information will become important in the context of the overall information, not just single pieces of it,” he said.
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https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=9d9c40bc-7926-488c-b314-97b1351c5e30
Breaking down an employer’s ability to collect and store an employee’s vaccination status under the Privacy Act
Cooper Grace Ward Annie Smeaton and Megan Cheng
Australia January 18 2022
With a rising number of employees claiming that asking for their vaccination status is a ‘breach of their privacy’, it is important for employers to understand their rights and obligations under the Privacy Act.
It comes as no surprise that many employers across Australia have commenced collecting their employees’ COVID‑19 vaccination status. However, on 30 November 2021, Virgin Australia entered into Federal Court consent orders to delete all proof of certain COVID-19 vaccination documents.
In this article, we explain who the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) applies to, when employers can collect an employee’s vaccination status, and what employers must do with the information they collect.
We also discuss why Virgin Australia was required to delete all proof of COVID-19 digital certificates and Immunisation History Statements, and how employers can avoid making the same mistake.
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https://www.myhealthrecord.gov.au/help/advance-care-plan-and-goals-of-care
Advance care planning and goals of care
Your future medical treatment depends on your wishes and the plan you have in place. This information can be captured in an advance care plan or a goals of care document.
What is an advance care plan?
An advance care planning document details your future medical care preferences. It provides guidance to your family, close friends and healthcare providers if you can no longer speak for yourself or make your own decisions. Adding your advance care plan to your My Health Record can ensure this information is available to your treating doctors if it’s ever needed.
What is a goals of care document?
A goals of care document includes medical and non-medical goals of care information determined through a shared decision-making process between healthcare providers, patients and families or carers in relation to an episode of care. This is consistent with the national guidelines which are currently being developed.
What is an advance care plan document custodian?
An advance care document custodian is someone who holds a copy of your advance care planning document. Up to two custodians for your advance care plans can be stored in your My Health Record.
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Aussies concerned about how personal details are used for marketing
Australians want more control over how their information is used by businesses to contact them for marketing, according to new research released by the ACMA.
The research found that in the 6 months leading up to the survey, 98% of Australians received some form of unsolicited communication and that more than 7 in 10 Australians would like more control over the communications they receive. Only one in 10 of those surveyed felt they always have control over how their information is used by business to sell or promote something.
Of Australians who asked a business to stop contacting them, 56% had trouble unsubscribing and 59% said they were still contacted after unsubscribing, the ACMA advised.
The research also showed that scam calls were the most prevalent type of unwanted communication received, with 86% of Australians reporting that they had a scam call in the 6 months before the survey and 4 in 10 Australians receiving them at least weekly.
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‘Big tech must be punished for allowing online abuse’
8:32PM January 18, 2022
Online abuse victim Noelle Martin has revealed the torment she endured after bullying from anonymous trolls who published photoshopped pornographic images of her, saying not enough was being done to punish social media sites and perpetrators.
Broadcaster and journalist Erin Molan also spoke of the relentless online abuse she experienced, noting there was “no incentive for them to stop”.
The pair addressed the Inquiry into Social Media and Online Safety on Tuesday, detailing the pain they both experienced at the hands of online trolls and urging tougher measures be implemented to end abuse.
Ms Martin, 27, a legal researcher based in Perth, told the inquiry how she discovered when she was 18 digitally fabricated images of herself online that had been stolen from social media and turned into a “deepfake” sexual video of her.
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The home computer is dead, we said in 1985. Oops
As part of our 70th anniversary, the Financial Review is reproducing classic stories. On March 21, 1985, David Noble debunked what became one of the biggest selling home items ever: the home computer.
Jan 18, 2022 – 5.39pm
The surprise announcement by IBM yesterday that it will stop making its PCnr next month has confirmed that the home will never be a viable market for computers, except for specialist applications.
The announcement comes as US high technology stocks lose their gloss, several companies in America announce slow-downs in projected sales, and share prices drop across the board.
IBM’s decision is not expected to affect its revenue greatly, but it could be one of the final nails in the coffin of a market which never grew to meet industry analysts’ original high expectations.
And IBM’s withdrawal leaves what is left of the market open to Apple and a handful of niche market suppliers.
It is an embarrassing move for a company which rose to dominate the personal computer market in just four years, and follows moves by some leading computer marketing companies to scrap their involvement in the home computer area.
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https://www.afr.com/technology/microsoft-buys-activision-blizzard-in-96b-game-deal-20220119-p59pc8
Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard in $96b game deal
Dina Bass and Nate Lanxon
Jan 19, 2022 – 3.50am
Microsoft agreed to buy Activision Blizzard in a $US68.7 billion ($96 billion) deal, uniting two of the biggest forces in video games to create the world’s third-biggest gaming company.
In its largest purchase ever, Microsoft will pay $US95 a share in cash for one of the most legendary gaming publishers, known for titles including Call of Duty and World of Warcraft but which is also grappling with a cultural upheaval over its treatment of women.
Activision chief executive Bobby Kotick will continue to serve in that role until the deal closes, a person familiar with the deal said. It was unclear what position, if any, he would take afterward.
Once the transaction is completed, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil Spencer, who was promoted along with the deal to CEO of Microsoft Gaming.
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https://anmj.org.au/my-health-record-contains-all-covid-19-info-including-proof-of-vaccinations/
My Health Record contains all COVID-19 info, including proof of vaccinations
By ANMJ Staff|
January 18th, 2022| ADHA Propaganda
The Australian Digital Health Agency is reminding people that My Health Record holds all COVID-19 information, including proof of vaccinations.
Agency Acting CEO Paul Creech called on Australians who use My Health Record to take advantage of theirs to help manage the impact from COVID-19.
“COVID-19 test results come from pathology providers and the majority of pathology providers in Australia routinely upload test results to My Health Record,” he said.
“We’ve seen huge demand since last July, with more than one million views a month by consumers across Australia.
“Previously, people needed to wait seven days to view their test results, however for COVID-19 test results, consumers can read them as soon as they are uploaded to their record and in the majority of cases this would be sooner than they would receive an SMS.”
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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/newsroom/podcasts/my-health-record-emergency-access
My Health Record emergency access
Published 17 January 2022 ADHA Propaganda
In this podcast we explore the appropriate use of the My Health Record emergency access function, by healthcare providers.
Speakers: Dr Andrew Rochford (Facilitator), Jennie McDonald (Director Compliance Outreach), Dr Xiu Lee (Emergency Physician and Agency Clinical Reference Lead), Neil Fraser (Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Positive Life NSW and Agency Consumer Adviser), Diana Weston (Assistant Director, Regulation and Strategy Branch Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC))
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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/business-support-officer
Business Support Officer
APS5
($89,205 - $96,471)
Digital
Strategy Division > Administration
Brisbane,
Canberra, Sydney
Closing - 30 Jan 2022
Division Overview
Digital strategy – responsible for national digital health design and strategy, underpinned by strong clinical governance and digital health standards.
Primary purpose of position
Supporting a Division in the Agency, the Business Support Officer is an important conduit within the Division which provides executive support to senior executives and is required to consult and engage with stakeholders to deliver Division outcomes. The Business Support Officer is accountable for:
- Acquiring, maintaining and applying a well-developed understanding of the legislative and Agency’s administrative policy frameworks, practices, and procedures in providing a high level of executive; administration; secretariat and business support to senior executives in the Division.
- Managing the workflow and enquiries for senior executives: coordinating competing requests and demands; setting priorities; seeking clarification; escalating sensitive issues and proposing solutions to be considered.
- Assisting, supporting, and coordinating corporate activities within the Branch including: supporting HR and recruitment processes; monitoring expenditure against budget; coordinating IT and infrastructure resource requirements.
- Acting as a point of contact between the senior executive, senior managers, and other areas within the Division.
- Developing relationships and liaising with internal and external stakeholders on policy; project; administration; or operational issues to ensure the relevant information is available to the senior executive.
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https://www.miragenews.com/my-health-record-has-all-covid-information-707855/
17 Jan 2022 4:18 pm AEDT
My Health Record has all Covid information including proof of vaccinations
Australian Digital Health Agency ADHA Propaganda
The Australian Digital Health Agency is reminding people that My Health Record has proof of COVID-19 vaccinations.
Agency Acting CEO Paul Creech said more and more Australians were using My Health Record and consumers should take advantage of theirs to help manage the impact from Covid-19.
“COVID-19 test results come from pathology providers and the majority of pathology providers in Australia routinely upload test results to My Health Record,” he said.
“We’ve seen huge demand since last July, with more than one million views a month by consumers across Australia.”
“Previously, people needed to wait seven days to view their test results, however for COVID-19 test results, consumers can read them as soon as they are uploaded to their record and in the majority of cases this would be sooner than they would receive an SMS.”
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‘He said, I’m in Canada’: the doctor will see you now – but not from Australia
Australian-trained doctors living overseas are treating patients in rural and regional New South Wales, to curb the bush doctor shortage
Lauren MarerLast modified on Mon 17 Jan 2022 11.15 AEDT
Bet Matthews set off on a trip of salvation from Queensland to Victoria last year, to visit her sister and ex-husband who had both been diagnosed with cancer. She was there to assist with whatever they needed, but in the end it was she who needed the help.
The 73-year-old has diabetes and constant high blood pressure was causing her to have dizzy spells throughout the driving trip. In Cobar in western New South Wales, she couldn’t go on.
After multiple visits to the local GP, her husband took her to the Cobar hospital for more specialised treatment. Unbeknown to her, the doctor she was about to see was nearly 14,000km away.
“I was having a telehealth consult, because there was no hospital doctor and no doctor that could come to the hospital,” Matthews says.
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David.
