Privacy Policy

Current as of 01/01/2025

Introduction

This privacy policy provides information to you, our patient, on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may share it with
third parties.

Why and when your consent is necessary.

When you register as a patient of our practice, you provide consent for our dental practitioners and practice staff to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible dental care. Only staff
who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If we need to use your information for anything else, we will generally seek additional consent from you to do this, unless obtaining your consent is not practical or
reasonable, and an exception under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) applies.

Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?

Our practice will need to collect your personal information to provide dental services to you. Our main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your dental health. We also use it for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and
business processes (e.g. staff training).

What personal information do we collect?

The information we will collect about you includes your:

name/s, date of birth, address/es, contact details (e.g. telephone, email), family contact information.
details of your oral health condition and the treatment/s and service/s you have received.
details of your general health (e.g. medications, allergies, medical conditions) and medical history that may impact the dental treatment you receive.
private health insurance information
Medicare number (where available) for identification and claiming purposes.
information about other funding sources, where relevant (e.g. Child Dental Benefits Schedule, Department of Veterans’ Affairs)
healthcare identifiers, where relevant.

How do we collect your personal information?

Our practice may collect your personal information in several different ways.

When you make your first appointment our practice staff will collect your personal information via your registration.
During the course of providing dental services, we may collect further personal information.
We also collect your personal information when you visit our website, make online appointment via Dentally Portal (Patient Management Software), send us an email or SMS, telephone us or communicate with us using social media.
In some circumstances personal information may also be collected from other sources. Often this is because it is not practical or reasonable to collect it from you directly. This may include information from:
● your guardian or responsible person
● other involved healthcare providers, such as specialists and diagnostic imaging services
● your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (as necessary).

When, why and with whom do we share your personal information?

We sometimes share our personal information:

with third parties who work with our practice for business purposes, such as information technology providers– these third parties are required to comply with APPs
with other healthcare providers
dental laboratories to whom your jobs are being sent.
digital smile designating team/clear aligner companies if applicable to the treatment being sought.
when it is required or authorised by law
when it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent.
to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim.
for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process
when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (e.g. some diseases require mandatory notification)

Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing dental services or as otherwise described in this policy, our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.

We will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent. Our practice will not use your personal information for marketing any of our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying our practice in writing.

How do we store and protect your personal information?

Your personal information may be stored at our practice in various forms such as paper records, electronic records, visual records (X-rays, CT scans, videos and photos) Our practice stores all personal information securely in a password protected electronic format and hardcopy in secure cabinets.

How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?

You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information. Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their dental records. We ask that you put this request in writing to Practice Manager – [email protected] and our practice will respond within a reasonable time (30 days). Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate
or up to date. From time to time, we will ask you to verify that your personal information held by our practice (PMS) is correct and current. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and to assist us with attending to your request we would prefer you to make such requests in writing to [email protected]

How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?

We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you mayhave in writing to Practice Manager, 237 Shellharbour Road Barrack Heights, 2528, NSW. Email [email protected]. Contact No – (02) 42169919. We will then attempt to resolve your issue/s in accordance with our resolution procedure within reasonable time. We collect personal information that occurs through the website or social media and the use of website analytics, cookies, etc.

This privacy policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it is in accordance with any changes that may occur. We will notify as when we amend this policy and if it applies to you.