Disabled Victorians’ details leaked in privacy bungle

Families are furious after private details of vulnerable Victorians with disabilities were at the centre of a massive privacy bungle.

Disabled Victorians had their details disclosed in a major privacy bungle.

The personal details of 1500 vulnerable Victorians with disabilities have been disclosed after a massive privacy bungle by a state government department.

The family of one person whose private information was sent to another family described the gaffe as a “shocking breach of privacy” and that the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing was “a shambles”.

Letters were sent to the families and guardians of people living in shared or supported accommodation outlining changes to their rental agreements.

But the correspondence contained sensitive information about other people in the scheme.

The state’s Information Commissioner was now reviewing the mix-up.

Changes to the operation of community residential units means that new rental contracts were posted out to parents or carers.

But the correspondence contained another person’s name and street address as well as NDIS and Supported Disability Accommodation reference numbers.

“It’s a shambles and quite distressing for families,’’ the family member told the Herald Sun.

“It’s a shocking breach of privacy that should be properly investigated.’’

“Do other families have details about our family? We just don’t know.’’

Families were advised to simply throw the wrong documentation away, raising more questions about the secure disposal of sensitive information.

DFFH spokesman said the department would contact families to apologise and that

the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner had been alerted.

“We are aware of a data error made while contacting financial administrators of residents of Supported Disability Accommodation that has led to some people receiving letters with the wrong resident’s details on them,’’ the spokesman said.

“Clearly this should never have occurred, and steps are being taken to prevent this occurring again.’’

A spokeswoman for the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner said the DFFH had self-reported the incident to the office.

“Any individual affected who believes their privacy has been interfered with and is dissatisfied with how DFFH has handled the incident can make a privacy complaint,’’ she said.

The family member also said the 38-page legal document detailing the new rental contract would be challenging for many people.

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