Anxious Cape York residents still waiting for cyber attack answers

More than a week on from a devastating cyber-attack Apunipima is still working to determine whether or not patients’ personal information has been compromised, as a roving cyber-safety clinic is organised for affected communities.

More than a week on from a devastating cyber-attack that knocked their IT systems offline, Apunipima is still working to determine the extent of the online assault and whether or not patients’ personal information has been compromised.

On Wednesday last week, a spokesman for Apunipima Cape York Health Council said the attack has caused “some system outages” and staff in the organisation’s health clinics had shifted to paper-based service delivery.

The attack occurred on Monday, October 3.

Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service on Tuesday stepped in to offer assistance, announcing it had engaged the services of national identity and cyber support service IDCARE to conduct cybersecurity outreach clinics at a number of Indigenous communities up and down Cape York, beginning on October 13.

Apunipima Cape York Health Council head office on McCoombe Street, Bungalow. Picture: Brendan Radke

TCHHS chief executive Beverley Hamerton said residents were rightly concerned as to whether or not their personal information had been compromised.

“Apunipima is still working to determine the extent of the attack and what personal information may have been accessed through their systems,” Ms Hamerton said.

“At this time and following a close review by Queensland Health’s CyberSecurity Group, no

associated breaches of TCHHS or broader Queensland Health information systems have been identified.

“However, we acknowledge the breach of Apunipima systems impacts the individuals affected

and recognise they need to be supported and communicated with in a way that is clinically

appropriate, compassionate, and helpful.”

Ms Hamerton said an IDCARE team will begin visiting affected Cape York communities from October 13, starting with Kowanyama that morning.

Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Beverley Hamerton.

She said the TCHHS had liaised with each community that will be visited by the IDCARE outreach team, including councils and other local stakeholders, so that communities and individuals can take full advantage of the team’s visit and the advice and support services offered.

“We encourage all residents of the communities that will be visited by the IDCARE outreach

team to take the opportunity to access specialist advice.

“The Torres and Cape HHS and the CyberSecurity Group will continue to monitor the situation and liaise with Apunipima and provide support as required.”

The IDCARE team will progressively visit these communities:

Kowanyama: October 13, morning

Pormpuraaw: October 14, morning

Coen: October 14, afternoon

Aurukun: October 15, morning

Napranum: October 15, afternoon

Mapoon: October 16, morning

Lockhart River: October 17, morning

Laura: October 18, morning

Hope Vale: October 18, afternoon

Wujal Wujal: October 19, morning

Originally published as Anxious Cape York residents still waiting for cyber attack answers