The Ministry of Health (MOH) has advised the PSA of a data breach through Frontier Software. The breach is of historic information dating back to before the upgrade to StaffLink Payroll Systems. You can read the email HERE. There is more information HERE.
The breach has impacted approximately 1600 current and past employees of the following agencies:
- NSW Ministry of Health
- Mental Health Review Tribunal
- Health Professional Councils Authority
- Official Visitors Program
- Health Infrastructure
- the previous Institute of Psychiatry.
MOH has advised that it has notified affected staff, both current and past, as well as providing information on steps they should take to protect themselves. You can read an information sheet on the breach HERE. The Ministry has provided some frequently asked questions HERE.
The PSA has attempted to contact Secretary Phil Minns, unfortunately he does not see the urgency in protecting you.
Our recommendations are that:
- The Ministry take all active steps to investigate the breach themselves
- They do not rely on a third party to undertake the investigations
- That Ministry take appropriate steps to protect their staff and not leave it to the individual.
We are greatly concerned on the identity theft and the sensitivity of the information of each individual should be of paramount importance to MOH. Given the current cyber crimes that have occurred, it is simply unacceptable for the MoH to utilise a third party.
Giving the failing of MOH in protecting its employees the PSA will proceed in lodging an urgent dispute with the NSW Industrial Relations Commission today.