Document background
A Personal Information Impact Assessment is a critical privacy governance tool used by organizations in Australia to evaluate and address privacy risks associated with new initiatives or significant changes to existing processes that involve personal information handling. This document is required when implementing new systems, processes, or projects that may impact individual privacy, particularly under the Australian Privacy Principles and Privacy Act 1988. It helps organizations identify and mitigate privacy risks early in the project lifecycle, demonstrate compliance with privacy regulations, and implement privacy by design principles. The assessment typically includes detailed analysis of information flows, risk assessments, compliance evaluations, and specific recommendations for privacy protection measures. It's particularly important for high-risk processing activities or when handling sensitive personal information, and may be required for regulatory compliance or as part of privacy best practices.
