Better and Fairer Schools (Information Management) 2024

# Better and Fairer Schools (Information Management) Bill 2024 ## What it does This bill updates how student information is managed in Australian schools by amending the existing Student Identifiers Act. It introduces new rules around "schools identifiers" (a type of school-based ID) and "school identity management information" (personal data schools hold about students), with clearer controls on who can access this information and when. ## Why it matters Right now, schools handle a lot of sensitive student data without consistent privacy protections. These changes aim to stop schools and other organisations from sharing or using student information without permission—making it clearer what's allowed and giving the Information Commissioner power to investigate privacy breaches. ## Key details - **Schools identifiers need validation**: Schools can't use a schools identifier as a student identifier until the Student Identifiers Registrar officially validates it—a safeguard to prevent mix-ups or misuse. - **Stricter data sharing rules**: Organisations can only get student information "on request" if they're authorised to do so. Using or sharing a student's protected information without consent is prohibited unless the Act specifically allows it. - **Privacy enforcement**: The Information Commissioner can now investigate and deal with breaches of these rules as privacy violations, giving students and parents a clearer path to complain if their data is mishandled. - **Starts within 6 months**: The bill becomes law once proclaimed, but if the government doesn't set a start date within 6 months of receiving Royal Assent, it automatically kicks in after that period.

🔒 Voting closed — this bill has been decided by parliament