Privacy Policy

Ironbark Speech Pathology's Legal Obligations

In order to provide you with the health care services that you have requested, Ironbark Speech Pathology 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.

What information does Ironbark Speech Pathology 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 services (assessment and therapy) and to manage our relationship with you. The information we collect includes:

• Name, date of birth, address, and other identifying information

• Medicare, health fund, and/or NDIS plan details

• Health and family histories

• Work and education histories

• Financial information to support payment of our services.

How does Ironbark Speech Pathology 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).

How does Ironbark Speech Pathology 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 speech pathology 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 speech pathologist 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
  Ironbark Speech Pathology will usually send a discharge summary to the referrer (i.e., your medical practitioner) following discharge from our service 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
  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.

​

• (d) 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. We will not disclose your personal information to any individual who is outside Australia.

 

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 Ironbark Speech Pathology's

access and correction procedure.
 

Please note that Ironbark Speech Pathology may recover reasonable costs associated with supplying this information to you.

​

Data Quality

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

Data Storage and Security

Ironbark Speech Pathology 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, two-factor authentication, encryption and physical security to protect your privacy.

​

Ironbark Speech Pathology may store your data in:

• electronic information management systems;

• web or cloud based platforms; and/or

• hard-copy files in locked cabinets.

​

Ironbark Speech Pathology 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 we are not required under an Australian law or court/tribunal or otherwise to retain the information.

​

We may engage third party data storage and cloud based application providers that may transfer
personal information outside Australia to countries whose privacy laws may not provide the same
level of protection as Australia’s privacy laws. When engaging third party offshore data storage or
cloud based application providers, Ironbark Speech Pathology will take reasonable steps to try and make sure they are compliant with Australian Privacy Principles and the Australian Privacy Act.

​

What to do if you have a complaint about privacy issues

If:
(a) you have questions or comments about this Privacy Policy;
(b) you have or a complaint about our information handling practices,
 

You can lodge a complaint with or contact Judy (Disheng) Zhao (Owner/Manager) on the details below. We will promptly review your complaint and provide a response to you.

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

​

By letter: PO Box 341, Stanhope Gardens, NSW 2768
By email: judy@ironbarkspeech.com.au
By telephone: 0468 811 949

​

​