Privacy Policy

Thanks for accessing our Privacy Policy. We (us) are The English Clinic, a registered trading name for Stuart Heath (ABN 75 289 854 623).

This policy was last updated on the 12th of September, 2018.

PART 1 — ABOUT THIS POLICY

The English Clinic is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information we collect and hold about you.

We comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002, other privacy laws that govern how private sector health service providers handle your personal information (including your health information), and Speech Pathology Australia’s Code of Ethics (2010).

This Privacy Policy explains how The English Clinic manages the personal information we collect, use, and disclose.

PART 2 — HOW THE ENGLISH CLINIC HANDLES YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

2.1 The English Clinic’s Legal Obligations

In order to provide you with the services that you have requested, we will need to collect and use your personal information. If you provide incomplete or inaccurate information to us or withhold personal and health information from us, we may not be able to provide you with the services you are seeking.

2.2 What information does The English Clinic collect?

We will only collect the information we need for the particular function or activity we are carrying out.

We collect information from you that is necessary to provide you with speech pathology or English language learning services and to manage our relationship with you. The information we collect may include: your name, date of birth, address, health fund details, and information about your health history and family history.

2.3 If required, how does The English Clinic collect health information?

We will usually collect your health information directly from you. Sometimes, we may need to collect information about you from a third party (such as a relative or another health service provider).

2.4 How does The English Clinic use your information?

We use your personal information for the purpose you have given the information to us. We will use your information to provide communication services to you, to manage our relationship with you, and to contact you in relation to matters concerning your care. We may also use your information for other purposes permitted under the Privacy Act 1988.

Who might we disclose your information to?

We may disclose your information to the following people:

(a) disclosure to other health professionals involved in your treatment

Your personal information will generally only be used by the clinician involved in your care, however on occasion your care may be provided by a number of health professionals (for example, speech pathologist, occupational therapist and/or psychologist) working or consulting together. We may disclose your information to these health professionals as part of the process of providing your care and to other health professionals involved in your care.

(b) the referrer

If you have been referred to us by another professional providing care (e.g. a medical practitioner), we will usually send a discharge summary to the referrer following discharge from The English Clinic or at other times, as required for your care.

If you do not wish us to provide a copy of your discharge summary to the referrer, you must let us know. Also, if the referrer’s details have changed please let us know.

(c) Relatives, guardian, close friends, or legal representative

Where required, we may provide information about your condition to your parent, child, other relatives, close personal friends, guardians, or to a responsible person for you, unless you tell us that you do not wish us to disclose your health information to any such person.

Other uses and disclosures

In order to provide the best possible environment in which to treat you, we may also use or disclose your personal and health information where necessary for:

  • activities such as quality assurance processes, accreditation, audits, risk and claims management, patient satisfaction surveys, and staff education and training;

  • invoicing, billing, and account management;

  • to liaise with your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veteran's Affairs, and; where required, provide information to your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veteran's Affairs to verify treatment provided to you;

  • the purpose of sending you standard reminders, for example for appointments and follow-up care, by text message or email to the number or address which you have provided to us.

(f) Other uses with your consent

With your consent, we may also use your information for other purposes such as including you on a marketing mail list, or research. Please note, however, that unless you provide us with your express consent for this purpose, we will not use your information in this way.

2.5 Access to and correction of your health information

You have a right to access the personal and health information that we hold about you. You can also request an amendment to your personal and health information should you believe that it is inaccurate.

If we do not agree to change your medical record/personal information in accordance with your request, we will permit you to make a statement of the requested changes and we will enclose this with your record.

Should you wish to obtain access to or request changes to your health record, you can ask for our Privacy Officer (see details below) who can give you more detailed information about The English Clinic's access and correction procedure.

Please note that The English Clinic may recover reasonable costs associated with supplying this information to you.

2.6 Data Quality

We will take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information which we may collect, use, or disclose is accurate, complete, and up-to-date.

2.7 Data Security

We will take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. We use technologies and processes such as access control procedures, encryption, and physical security to protect your privacy.

We will destroy or permanently de-identify any of your information which is in its possession or control and which is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was collected, provided The English Clinic is not required under an Australian law or court/tribunal or otherwise to retain the information.

2.8 What to do if you have a complaint about privacy issues

If:

(a) you have questions or comments about this Privacy Policy;
(b) The English Clinic does not agree to provide you with access to your personal information; or
(c) you have or a complaint about our information handling practices,

You can lodge a complaint with or contact our Privacy Officer, Stuart Heath, on the details below. We will promptly review your complaint and provide a response to you.

2.9 How to contact us if you have a complaint about privacy issues

By letter: Privacy Officer, The English Clinic, PO Box 309, SUMMER HILL NSW 2130, AUSTRALIA

By email: contact@english.clinic

By telephone: +61 2 8003 6769

If you are not satisfied with this response, you may make a complaint with Speech Pathology Australia.

PART 3 – HOW THE ENGLISH CLINIC HANDLES YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WHEN YOU VISIT OUR WEBSITE

This section of our Privacy Policy explains how we handle your personal information which is collected from our website (www.englishclinic.com.au)

This Privacy Policy applies to your use of our website and the use of any of the facilities on our website.

3.1 Collection

When you use our website, we do not attempt to identify you as an individual user and we will not collect personal information about you unless you specifically provide this to us.

Sometimes, we may collect your personal information if you choose to provide this to us via an online form or by email, for example, if you:

  • submit a general enquiry or make a booking via the site;

  • register to receive marketing materials; or

  • send a written complaint or enquiry to our Privacy Officer.

When you use our website, our Internet Service Provider (ISP) may record and log for statistical purposes the following information about your visit:

  • your computer address;

  • your top level name (for example, .com.,gov., .org, .au etc.);

  • the date and time of your visit;

  • the pages and documents you access during your visit; and

  • the browser you are using.

Our website management agent may use statistical data collected by our ISP to evaluate the effectiveness of our website.

3.2 Links to third party websites

We may create links to third party websites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices employed by websites that are linked from our website.

3.3 Use and disclosure

We will use any personal information collected via our website in accordance with our privacy policy.

PART 4 — CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

4.1 The English Clinic reserves the right, at its own discretion, to change or remove portions of this Policy at any time. When the Policy is changed, we will place the updated policy on the relevant web pages. The policy includes a revision date in the preamble so that it is easy for you to see if there have been any changes.

We recommend that you revisit this Policy from time to time to learn of any such changes. 

PART 5 — FURTHER PRIVACY INFORMATION

For more information about protecting your privacy and privacy issues in Australia, visit the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (www.privacy.gov.au).