Can we share a client's details with another service in Queensland?

The starting point is consent

Section 169B sets three principles. Whenever it is safe, possible and practical, get the person's consent before providing a service or disclosing their information. Because the safety of people who fear or experience domestic violence is paramount, their safety takes precedence over consent. Before sharing, consider whether it could make the person, or someone else, less safe.

Which kind of service you are

Part 5A names three groups. Prescribed entities are mainly Queensland government bodies, such as police, health services and relevant departments. Specialist DFV service providers are non-government organisations funded by the State or Commonwealth to work with people who experience or use domestic violence. Support service providers are other non-government organisations that provide assistance or support to people who may be affected by violence. The Act's examples are counselling, health, housing and legal services. Whether a disability or NDIS provider fits depends on the definition in section 169C and the services it provides. The guidelines also expect the practitioner's role to include assessing or responding to threats to safety; if yours does not, speak to someone in your organisation whose role does.

Sharing to assess or respond to a serious threat

To assess risk, a prescribed entity or specialist provider may share with another prescribed entity or specialist provider if it reasonably believes a person fears or is experiencing domestic violence and the information may help assess whether there is a serious threat to their life, health or safety (s 169D). A support service provider may give information for this purpose but cannot receive it.

To respond, any of the three groups may share with each other if the information may help lessen or prevent a serious threat because of the violence (s 169E). Some information can never be shared, including information protected by court orders (s 169J). Shared information is confidential (s 169K), and people who share honestly and in good faith are protected from liability (s 169N).

When Part 5A does not apply

The Privacy Act 1988 covers organisations with annual turnover above $3 million and all private health service providers. Under APP 6 you can disclose information for its original purpose, with consent, where the law requires or authorises it, or in a permitted general situation. One of these is where getting consent is unreasonable or impracticable and you reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to life, health or safety (s 16A).

Queensland agencies follow the Queensland Privacy Principles in the Information Privacy Act 2009. Funded organisations whose contracts bind them have had to comply with those principles since 1 July 2025. Concerns about a child are handled under child protection law.

In practice

Share only what the other service needs to keep the person safe. Record what you shared, with whom, why and whether consent was sought. Follow your organisation's policy, talk to your supervisor, and use the department's information sharing guidelines and decision tree. Get legal advice where the situation is unclear.