Privacy Policy

1. About This Policy

Parabanks Dental (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our patients and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information, including health information.

We are bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). As a healthcare provider, we also comply with applicable state and territory health records legislation.

2. Who We Are

Parabanks Dental is a registered Australian healthcare practice. You can contact us at:

Phone: (08) 8258 6603

Email: info@parabanksdentalclinic.com.au

Website: www.parabanksdentalclinic.com.au

3. What Information We Collect

3.1 Health Information

As a healthcare provider, we collect health information necessary to provide you with care. This may include:

Medical history, diagnoses, and treatment plans
Clinical notes, X-rays, scans, and other images
Medications, allergies, and referral letters
Medicare, DVA, or private health insurance details

3.2 Personal Information

We also collect general personal information such as:
Name, date of birth, and gender
Contact details (address, phone number, email)
Emergency contact information
Payment and billing information

3.3 Website Data

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect non-personal data (such as your IP address, browser type, and pages visited) via cookies or similar technologies.

4. How We Collect Your Information

We collect your information:

Directly from you — when registering, completing forms, or booking appointments
From other healthcare providers — via referrals or shared care arrangements, with your consent
From Medicare, DVA, or your health fund — as part of billing and claiming processes
Through our website — via contact forms, online booking tools, or cookies

5. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Provide, manage, and improve your healthcare and treatment
Communicate with you about appointments, results, and follow-up care
Process payments and submit claims to Medicare, DVA, or your private health fund
Meet our legal and professional obligations
Conduct quality assurance, training, and accreditation activities
Send appointment reminders (you may opt out at any time)

6. Disclosure of Your Information

We will not disclose your information to third parties without your consent, except:

To other treating healthcare providers involved in your care
To Medicare, DVA, or your private health insurer for billing purposes
To our IT and software providers, who are contractually required to protect your data
Where required by law (e.g. mandatory reporting obligations or court orders)
To prevent a serious and imminent threat to health or safety

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

7. Storage and Security

Your information is stored securely in our practice management system. We take reasonable steps to protect it from misuse, loss, and unauthorised access, including:

Password-protected systems with role-based access controls
Encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS)
Regular software updates and security patches
Staff training on privacy obligations

No internet transmission is completely secure. While we take all reasonable precautions, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some features may not function correctly. We may use third-party analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) that collect anonymised usage data under their own privacy policies.

9. Your Rights

Under the Privacy Act 1988, you have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information
Opt out of receiving marketing or promotional communications
Lodge a complaint if you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us:

Phone: (08) 8258 6603

Email: info@parabanksdentalclinic.com.au

We will respond to access and correction requests within 30 days.

10. Complaints

If you have a privacy concern, please contact us first. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):

Website: www.oaic.gov.au | Phone: 1300 363 992

11. Data Retention

We retain patient health records for a minimum of 7 years from the date of last entry, or until the patient turns 25 years of age (whichever is longer), in accordance with applicable Australian legislation. When no longer required, records are securely destroyed or de-identified.

12. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The current version will always be available at our practice and on our website. We encourage you to review it periodically.