Welcome to the “Privacy and Confidentiality Training: Using or Disclosing Patient Information” online course. This training is designed specifically for staff in medical practices to help them understand the crucial role they play in protecting patient information. By the end of this course, you will know the ins and outs of privacy laws, how to handle patient information responsibly, and the importance of confidentiality in healthcare.
This format ensures that GPs and staff can quickly acquire essential knowledge and practical tools to begin addressing health inequalities more effectively in their practice, fitting into their busy schedules.
This activity suits self-recorded CPD (EA 1 hour)—program-level requirement – Professionalism and Ethical Practice.
A Certificate will be provided at the end of the course. You can read more about the reasons for using our training courses here.
- Suitable for General Practitioners, Practice staff and Practice Nurses.
- This course is a self-learning, fully online activity.
- You will receive a Certificate at the end of the course. Click on your profile name to access the Certificates.
- This course is free of charge to anyone.
- When you enrol in the course, you must register at www.courses.generalpracticetraining.com.au. It is also free of charge. We will never ask you for your credit card details or any payments. You are not required to enter your real date of birth or address. Advertisements around this website help us cover some of the course costs and keep it free for you.
- When asked to register for this portal, please enter your user name as you wish it to be on the Certificate of completion of the course.
- You are not required to provide your real date of birth or address.
Where can you find your Certificate?
More free resources for General Practice at our main website: https://generalpracticetraining.com.au/
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who should complete this Privacy and Confidentiality training?
A: This course is designed for all general practice staff — including GPs, nurses, receptionists, and administrative personnel. It helps everyone understand when and how patient information can be used or disclosed lawfully and ethically.
Q: Why is this training important?
A: Handling patient information correctly is essential for compliance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and RACGP Standards. A single privacy breach can harm patients, damage trust, and put the practice at risk of penalties.
Q: What topics are covered in the course?
A: The course explains the difference between using and disclosing patient information, the circumstances when disclosure is permitted, patient consent requirements, responding to information requests, and preventing unauthorised access or sharing.
Q: How long does the course take to complete?
A: Most participants complete it in about 30–40 minutes, depending on reading speed and reflection time.
Q: Is the course free and does it include a certificate?
A: Yes. The course is completely free, self-paced, and provides an instant downloadable certificate upon completion.
Q: Is this course suitable for accreditation evidence?
A: Yes. The certificate can be used in your practice’s staff training register as evidence of compliance with RACGP 5th Edition Standards on privacy and confidentiality.
Q: Can this course help reduce the risk of data breaches?
A: Absolutely. Understanding the correct processes for using and disclosing patient information helps minimise privacy incidents and supports safe data handling across all practice activities.
Q: Is this course suitable for non-clinical staff?
A: Yes. Reception and administrative staff frequently handle patient data and must understand what information can be shared, with whom, and under what conditions.
Q: Does the course include practical examples?
A: Yes. It includes real-world scenarios such as responding to family enquiries, handling requests from insurers, and verifying patient consent before disclosure.
Q: Can practices outside Australia use this course?
A: Yes. While aligned with Australian legislation, the principles of confidentiality and patient data protection apply across all healthcare settings internationally.
