Privacy Awareness Week: 4-10 May 2026

Led nationally by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), in partnership with state and territory privacy regulators and the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum, Privacy Awareness Week is an annual initiative focused on building awareness of privacy rights, responsibilities and the importance of protecting personal information.

This year’s theme, Trust is built here. In every privacy complaint. In every resolution., highlights the critical role privacy plays in building confidence, strengthening accountability and improving the way organisations respond to privacy concerns. It places a strong focus on privacy dispute resolution and the practical steps organisations can take to manage personal information more transparently, consistently and responsibly.

Throughout the week, a range of events, resources and activities will be available to help organisations and individuals strengthen their privacy capability. These include webinars, guidance materials, practical tools and promotional resources designed to support internal awareness and encourage better privacy practices across the workplace.

There are several ways to get involved. Organisations can sign on as official PAW supporters to demonstrate their commitment to good privacy practice and access the official PAW toolkit, supporter badge and campaign updates. For those not in a position to formally participate, there are still plenty of ways to take part, including attending events, sharing campaign content, using PAW resources in the workplace and starting conversations about privacy across teams.

For records and information management professionals, Privacy Awareness Week is a timely reminder that privacy is not just a legal obligation. It is a core part of trust, governance and good information practice. From complaint handling and access controls to policy development and data retention, privacy is built through the everyday decisions organisations make about information.

Next week is an opportunity to reflect on how your organisation handles personal information, strengthen internal awareness and take practical steps to build trust where it matters most.

Get involved: Explore events, resources and supporter information via the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s Privacy Awareness Week hub here