Privacy Policy
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Your Privacy
At Julia Smith Osteopathy, providing safe, respectful and high-quality osteopathic care is our priority. Protecting your privacy is an important part of that commitment.
We recognise that your health information is personal and confidential. Your personal information is managed in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles, and all applicable Commonwealth and State legislation.
This policy explains:
what information we collect
why we collect it
how it is stored and protected
when it may be shared
how you can access your information.
Collection of your health information
To provide safe and appropriate osteopathic care, we are required to collect and maintain clinical records.
The information we collect may include:
your personal and contact details
medical history
medications and allergies
family health history where relevant
imaging and pathology reports
referral letters
examination findings
treatment records
correspondence from other healthcare providers.
Most information is collected directly from you. With your consent, we may also receive information from other healthcare providers involved in your care.
We only collect information that is reasonably necessary to provide your healthcare.
How your information is used
Your health information is used to:
provide osteopathic assessment and treatment
communicate with you regarding your care
prepare referral letters and reports (with your consent where appropriate)
arrange investigations where required
process payments and health fund or Medicare claims
comply with legal and professional obligations.
Disclosure of your information
Your personal information will only be disclosed where necessary, including:
to another healthcare provider involved in your care
to Medicare or your private health insurer for billing purposes
where required by law (such as a subpoena or mandatory reporting obligations)
where you have provided consent.
Workers' compensation and motor accident insurance schemes may require relevant health information to be provided as part of your claim.
Julia Smith Osteopathy does not routinely disclose personal information overseas.
Electronic records
Julia Smith Osteopathy maintains secure electronic clinical records.
Reasonable steps are taken to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, misuse, interference, loss or disclosure.
Access to your records is restricted to authorised persons involved in your care.
Email and electronic communication
From time to time we may communicate with you by:
email
SMS
telephone
These communications may include:
appointment confirmations
appointment reminders
invoices
information relating to your treatment.
While reasonable efforts are made to protect electronic communications, email is not always a completely secure method of communication. If you prefer not to receive electronic communications, please let us know.
Clinical photographs
Occasionally clinical photographs or videos may assist in assessment or monitoring progress.
These images will only be taken with your consent and only where clinically relevant.
Separate written consent will always be obtained if images are proposed for teaching, publication or marketing purposes.
Access to your records
You have the right to request access to your health information.
You may:
inspect your records
request a copy of your records
request that information be transferred to another healthcare provider.
Requests may need to be made in writing to clarify the scope of information requested.
A reasonable administrative fee may apply where copying or preparation of records incurs additional costs.
If you believe information held about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request that it be corrected.
Children and young people
Privacy legislation applies to children as well as adults.
Depending on the child's age, maturity and capacity to make decisions, a child may have rights regarding the privacy of their health information that may limit access by parents or guardians in certain circumstances.
Storage of records
Clinical records are retained for the period required by law.
Generally this is:
at least seven (7) years from the date of your last consultation for adults; and
for children, until the patient reaches 25 years of age where required by applicable legislation.
If Julia Smith Osteopathy closes or transfers ownership, patients will be informed of arrangements for the secure transfer or storage of clinical records.
Questions or concerns
If you have any questions regarding your privacy or the way your information is managed, please contact:
Julia Smith Osteopathy
62 Soorley Street
Tweed Heads South NSW 2486
juliasmithosteopathy@gmail.com
+61416304431Privacy complaints
If you have concerns regarding your privacy, we encourage you to discuss them with Julia Smith Osteopathy in the first instance.
If you remain dissatisfied, you may contact:
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Phone: 1300 363 992
Website: https://www.oaic.gov.au
Julia Smith Osteopathy | Privacy Policy | Version 1.0 | August 2026