1 . We respect your privacy

1.1 Out N About OT is committed to protecting the right to privacy of every individual including its clients, employees and business partners. 

1.2 It is our policy that the collection, security, quality, use and disclosure or personal information shall be conducted in accordance with the “Privacy Act 1988”, Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000”, Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012, and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained within the legislation.

1.3 Out N About OT are fully committed to complying with consent requirements of the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework and relevant state or territory requirements.

1.4 The purpose of this policy is to clearly communicate how Out N About OT collects and manages personal information

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2. Australian Privacy Principles

2.1 Out N About OT is required to comply with the APPS prescribed under the Act.

2.2 The APPs regulate how we may collect, use, disclose and store personal information and how individuals, including Out N About OT clients may:

• Address breaches of the APPs by Out N About OT

• Address their own personal information; and,

• Correct their own personal information.

2.3 In order to provide clients with adequate health services, Out N About OT needs to collect and use personal information.

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3. Collection of your personal information

3.1 Out N About OT collects information from each individual client that is necessary to provide the patient with adequate occupational therapy services.

3.2 This information will in most circumstances be collected directly through the client through (but not limited to) the Out N About OT consent form, medical treatment forms, referrals and/ or face-to-face consultation.

3.3 In some circumstances, Out N About OT may need to collect personal information about a client from a third-party source, including relative’s and/ or other health services providers. This will only be conducted if the client has provided consent for Out N About OT to do so.

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4. Storage of your personal information

4.1 Out N About OT  stores and retains a client’s personal and health information in an electronic record system – Cliniko,  which is compliant with APP and servers are located in Sydney, Australia.

4.2 Security for personal information includes password protection for IT systems, locked filing cabinets and physical access restrictions with only authorised personnel permitted to access.

4.3 If Out N About OT holds or receives any personal or health information that is no longer deemed relevant or appropriate, Out N About OT will reasonably de-identify and dispose of the information accordingly.

4.4 If Out N About OT receives information that they did not request, we will contact the client and request them to collect it.

4.5 Out N About OT is dedicated to ensuring your information is secure. In the event that a breach of your information is identified, affected clients will be notified by Out N About OT and informed of our processes for handling any breaches. If at any stage a client identifies a breach of their privacy, they are requested to speak to the Director about lodging their concerns formally.

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5. Use and disclosure of your personal information

5.1 Out N About OT only uses personal information for the purpose of providing occupational therapy services to the client, unless one of the following applies:

• The client has consented Out N About OT to use his/her information for an alternative or additional purpose;

• The disclosure of the client’s information by Out N About OT is reasonably necessary for the enforcement of criminal law or a law imposing a penalty or sanction, or for the protection of public revenue;

• The disclosure of the client’s information by Out N About OT will prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to somebody’s life or health; or,

• Out N About OT is required or authorised by law to disclose the client’s information for another purpose

5.2 Out N About OT may need to refer the client onto other health service providers for further treatment, in which case they may require the use of the client’s health information in order to provide adequate health services. Confidentiality and privacy of the patient’s personal information will be upheld during this process.

5.3 At any point a client wishes to be treated by an alternative medical practitioner or health care service that requires access to his/her personal/ health information, Out N About OT requires written authorization to state that the client will be utilizing alternative health services and that these health services have consented for a transfer of personal/ health information.

5.4 In order to provide the best service, Out N About OT may use personal/ health information where necessary for:

• Quality assurance processes, accreditation, audits, risk and claims management and staff education and training;

• Invoicing, billing and account management;

• To liaise with a client’s health fund, Family and Community Services, Medicare, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, relevant government funding bodies, including to (but not limited to) the NDIS, as necessary; and,

• The purpose of complying with any applicable laws

5.5 By providing us with personal information, you consent to the terms of this Privacy Policy and the types of disclosure covered by this Policy. Where we disclose your personal information to third parties, we will request that the third party follow this Policy regarding the handling of your personal information.

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6. Access and changes to your personal information

6.1 If a client reasonably requests access to their personal information for the purposes of changing the information he/she must engage with the director of Out N About OT, through the contact details listed below:

                  Director: Donna Reilly

                  Mobile: 0426 172 202

                  Email: donna@outnaboutot.com.au

6.2 Changes to a client’s personal information will be subject to the client’s consent.

 

7. Complaints handling

7.1 Clients who would like to make a complaint about a perceived breach of the Australian Privacy Principles through Out N About OT, can do so by contacting the Director through the contact details listed in 6.1.

 

8. Access to policy

8.1 Out N About OT provides free copies of this Privacy Policy for clients and staff to access, which can be located on Out N About OT’s website and available in hard copy upon request.

 

9. Review of policy

9.1 Out N About OT in accordance with any legislative change will review the terms and conditions of this policy to ensure all content is both accurate and up to date. This policy will, as a minimum, be reviewed every three (3) years or as required.

 

10. Roles and responsibilities

10.1 It is the responsibility of Out N About OT to ensure that clients and employees are familiar with this policy and to provide a written Privacy Statement to persons and entities involved with us. It is the responsibility of all employees on a day-to-day basis, in everything that they do in the workplace, to ensure that their activities comply with this policy.

10.2Failure by any employee to comply with the requirements of this Policy shall result in disciplinary action that may include termination of employment.

 

11. Variations

11.1 Out N About OT reserves the right to vary, replace or terminate this policy from time to time.