Privacy Act compliance for Australian SMBs —
without hiring consultants
Prepare structured, APP‑aligned compliance evidence with AI‑assisted workflows and practitioner oversight — designed specifically for the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).Learn more about our Privacy Act compliance guide, Privacy Act obligations and APP compliance checklist.
Privacy Act Shield prepares structured compliance evidence aligned to the APPs. It is not legal advice.
Covers all 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) with OAIC‑aligned language, workflows, and documentation.
Built by a practitioner
Privacy Act Shield was created by a PhD information systems researcher with 15+ years managing sensitive government data at IP Australia. Every workflow, document template, and APP mapping is based on OAIC guidance and the actual requirements of the Australian Privacy Act — not adapted from GDPR or overseas frameworks.See our Privacy Act compliance guide, Privacy Act obligations overview and APP compliance checklist.
Organisations with AML/CTF obligations may also require AML Shield Pro for AUSTRAC reporting and transaction monitoring.
The compliance picture your auditor sees
APP Gap Assessment gives you an auditor‑style view across all 13 Australian Privacy Principles — what’s evidenced, what’s partial, and what’s missing. AI pre‑fills each status from your Data Inventory so you can review and confirm before it becomes evidence.Learn more about Privacy Act compliance, Privacy Act obligations and APP compliance requirements.
Six modules. Complete Privacy Act compliance.
Privacy Act Shield is organised into six modules that cover every operational requirement of the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Each module includes guided workflows, evidence prompts, and OAIC‑aligned templates to help you meet your APP obligations with clarity and consistency.
Data Inventory
Guided questionnaire mapping what personal data you collect, store, share, and retain — the foundation everything else derives from.
APP Gap Assessment
Auditor‑style status for all 13 APPs. AI pre‑fills from your inventory; you review and confirm each status.
Document Generator
Privacy Policy, Collection Notice, Data Handling Procedure, Cross‑Border Register — APP‑mapped, Australian language.
Evidence Vault
Decision logs, risk rationales, change history, human sign‑off, export bundle. Proof of process for OAIC investigations.
NDB Breach Workflow
Breach intake, severity scorer, 30‑day countdown, OAIC notification draft, remediation tracker.
Privacy Impact Assessment
For new systems, data types, or integrations. AI‑assisted risk assessment with APP‑specific analysis and approval workflow.
AI accelerates. You stay in control.
AI prepares structured, APP‑aligned evidence. A human decision‑maker always makes the final compliance call.
Pre‑fills APP Gap Assessment from your Data Inventory
Reviews and confirms each APP status before it becomes evidence
Drafts Privacy Policy and Collection Notices from your data inventory
Reviews, edits, and signs off on final wording
Assesses NDB severity from breach description and context
Makes the final eligible data breach determination
Generates PIA risk summary and APP‑specific recommendations
Approves, modifies, or overrides recommendations
Simple, transparent pricing
All prices in AUD, billed monthly. Cancel anytime.
Starter
For SMBs getting started with Privacy Act compliance.
- Data Inventory questionnaire
- APP Gap Assessment (all 13 APPs)
- Document Generator (6 document types)
- AI‑assisted drafting
- Human sign‑off workflow
Professional
For SMBs with active data handling, vendors, and breach risk.
- Everything in Starter
- NDB Breach Workflow
- Evidence Vault + audit trail
- Privacy Impact Assessment
- Solicitor export bundle (PDF)
- 30‑day breach countdown reminders
Advisory
For practices, teams, and multi‑entity organisations.
- Everything in Professional
- Multi‑user (up to 10 seats)
- Priority support
- Branded solicitor bundle
- Quarterly review workflow
Law firm & consultancy reseller — $199/mo
White‑label or co‑brand for your clients. 20% revenue share on referred subscriptions. Offer Privacy Act Shield as part of your advisory services.
Learn about reseller arrangementsTrusted by Australian businesses
“Finally — a compliance tool built for Australian law, not GDPR with Australian branding.”
“The NDB 30‑day countdown alone is worth it. We had no structured process for data breaches before this.”
“I reviewed the AI‑generated Privacy Policy and it cited every APP correctly. It saved me hours of work.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Australian small businesses need to comply with the Privacy Act?
Most small businesses are exempt, but many lose the exemption without realising it — especially if they handle health information, operate online, use customer tracking, or provide services to larger organisations. Privacy Act Shield helps you determine your obligations and prepare APP‑aligned evidence either way.
Is this legal advice?
No. Privacy Act Shield prepares structured compliance evidence aligned to the APPs and OAIC guidance. You remain the decision‑maker, and you can export everything for review by your solicitor if required.
How does the AI work — and does it make compliance decisions?
AI accelerates drafting and analysis, but it never makes a final compliance determination. It pre‑fills APP statuses, drafts documents, and generates risk summaries. You review and confirm every decision before it becomes evidence.
Does this help with the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme?
Yes. Privacy Act Shield includes a structured NDB workflow with severity scoring, a 30‑day countdown, remediation tracking, and OAIC notification drafts. It helps you meet statutory timeframes and maintain a defensible breach assessment record.
What documents can the system generate?
Privacy Policy, Collection Notice, Data Handling Procedure, Cross‑Border Disclosure Register, PIA summaries, breach assessment records, and APP Gap Assessment evidence — all aligned to Australian language and OAIC expectations.
Can I export everything for my lawyer or auditor?
Yes. You can export a complete evidence bundle including APP statuses, decision logs, document drafts, breach assessments, and PIA outputs. This is ideal for solicitor review or external audits.
How long does it take to get compliant?
Most SMBs complete their Data Inventory in under an hour. From there, AI pre‑fills your APP Gap Assessment and documents, and you review and sign off. Many businesses reach audit‑ready status within a single day.
Can multiple team members collaborate?
Yes. The Professional and Advisory plans support multi‑user access, shared workflows, and approval processes across teams or entities.
What happens if the Privacy Act reforms pass?
Privacy Act Shield will update workflows, documents, and APP mappings to reflect any legislative changes. Your compliance evidence will remain current and aligned to the latest OAIC expectations.
Do I still need a lawyer?
Many SMBs use Privacy Act Shield as their primary compliance system and engage a lawyer only for final review or complex matters. The platform reduces legal costs by preparing structured, APP‑aligned evidence upfront.
Get your Privacy Act compliance managed today
Speak with a privacy advisor and receive a tailored compliance plan for your business, aligned to the Privacy Act 1988 and the APPs.
Talk to a Privacy AdvisorPrivacy Act Shield prepares structured compliance evidence aligned to the APPs. It is not legal advice.
Privacy Act compliance software for Australian businesses
Privacy Act Shield helps Australian organisations meet their obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). Designed specifically for Australian law, the platform provides structured, audit‑ready compliance evidence aligned to OAIC guidance — without relying on repurposed GDPR templates or generic privacy tools.
Whether you operate in healthcare, professional services, fintech, education, retail, or government‑adjacent industries, Privacy Act Shield adapts to your data environment. The system maps what personal information you collect, how it is stored, who it is shared with, and how long it is retained — forming the foundation for APP‑aligned documentation and risk assessments.
Built for the Australian Privacy Act — not adapted from overseas frameworks
Many privacy tools are built for GDPR and retrofitted for Australia. Privacy Act Shield is different. Every workflow, document template, and APP mapping is based on OAIC guidelines, APP requirements, and Australian regulatory expectations. This ensures your compliance evidence reflects the actual obligations of Australian businesses — not international equivalents.
The platform supports internal audits, external reviews, client due‑diligence requests, and regulatory investigations. With clear APP status tracking, decision logs, and exportable evidence bundles, organisations can demonstrate compliance quickly and confidently.
NDB scheme support and breach response workflows
Under the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme, organisations must assess suspected breaches within 30 days. Privacy Act Shield includes a structured breach workflow with severity scoring, countdown timers, remediation tracking, and OAIC notification drafts. This helps teams respond consistently and meet statutory timeframes.
The platform also maintains a complete audit trail of breach decisions, ensuring defensibility during investigations and internal reviews.
AI‑assisted, human‑verified compliance
Privacy Act Shield uses AI to accelerate drafting and analysis — but never to make compliance decisions. AI prepares structured evidence, drafts documents, and pre‑fills APP statuses. A human reviewer always confirms the final determination, ensuring compliance remains accurate, defensible, and aligned to your organisation’s context.
From Privacy Policies and Collection Notices to APP Gap Assessments, PIAs, and breach workflows, the platform provides a complete compliance infrastructure for Australian SMBs.
Privacy Act Shield is part of the CompliAI Suite, supporting Australian organisations with WHS, Fair Work, Privacy, AML/CTF, and operational compliance.