1. About This Policy
Elevate Health Care (ABN: [INSERT ABN]) is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we manage personal information, including health information, in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic).
By using our website or attending our clinic, you agree to the collection and use of your information as described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our services or provide us with your personal information.
2. What Information We Collect
Personal information
- Name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email address
- Emergency contact details
- Health fund membership details
- Payment information (processed securely — we do not store full card details)
Health information
- Medical history, current symptoms, medications, and previous treatments
- Clinical notes, assessment findings, and treatment records
- Referral letters and reports from other health practitioners
- Imaging reports and results
Website information
- Browser type, device type, and IP address (collected automatically via analytics)
- Pages visited, time on site, and referral source
- Information submitted via contact forms or booking enquiries
3. How We Collect Information
We collect information directly from you where possible — through intake forms completed before or at your appointment, during consultations, via our online booking system (Jane App), through our website contact forms, and by telephone.
We may also collect information from third parties with your consent, including referring practitioners, specialists, or diagnostic imaging providers.
4. Why We Collect and Use Your Information
We use your personal and health information to:
- Provide chiropractic and related health care services to you
- Communicate with you about appointments, treatment plans, and clinical progress
- Process payments and manage health fund claims
- Comply with legal and regulatory obligations (including AHPRA registration requirements)
- Improve the quality and safety of the care we provide
- Contact you about clinically relevant information or services (you may opt out at any time)
We will not use your health information for marketing purposes without your explicit consent.
5. Disclosure of Your Information
We may disclose your information to:
- Other treating health practitioners involved in your care (with your knowledge or consent)
- Your nominated emergency contact (in an emergency)
- Health funds, Medicare, or other insurers as required to process claims
- Government agencies or regulators where required by law (e.g. mandatory reporting obligations)
- Our software and service providers (e.g. practice management software, secure cloud storage) — these providers are bound by confidentiality obligations and are not permitted to use your information for any purpose other than providing services to us
We will not sell, rent, or otherwise disclose your personal information to third parties for commercial purposes.
6. Storage and Security
Your health records are stored securely in our practice management system (Jane App). We take reasonable steps to protect your information from misuse, loss, and unauthorised access, including password protection, encryption, and access controls limited to treating practitioners and authorised clinic staff.
Patient records are retained for a minimum of seven years from the date of last entry, or until the age of 25 for patients who were minors at the time of treatment, in accordance with Victorian legislative requirements.
7. Access and Correction
You have the right to request access to the personal and health information we hold about you, and to request corrections if the information is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date. To make a request, contact us at the details below. We will respond within 30 days. In some circumstances we may decline to provide access — if so, we will explain why in writing.
8. Website Analytics and Cookies
Our website may use cookies and analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) to understand how visitors use the site. This data is aggregated and does not identify individuals. You can disable cookies through your browser settings, though this may affect some website functionality.
9. Links to Third-Party Websites
Our website contains links to third-party websites, including our online booking system (Jane App) and Google Maps. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.
10. Complaints
If you believe we have not handled your personal information in accordance with this policy or the Australian Privacy Principles, please contact us in the first instance. We will investigate and respond within 30 days.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or by calling 1300 363 992.
For complaints relating to health records specifically, you may also contact the Health Complaints Commissioner (Victoria) at hcc.vic.gov.au.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The current version will always be available on this page. Material changes will be notified to active patients by email where reasonably practicable.
12. Contact Us
For privacy-related enquiries, access requests, or complaints:
- Elevate Health Care
- Suite 30 (Level 1), 93 Wells Road, Chelsea Heights VIC 3196
- (03) 9787 0600