Dental Embassy is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information. This policy explains how we collect, use, hold and disclose personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
1. Information we collect
We may collect the following types of personal information:
- Identity information — name, date of birth, address, phone number and email address.
- Health information — medical and dental history, treatment records, x-rays, clinical photographs and notes.
- Financial information — health fund details, Medicare or DVA number, and payment information.
- Website information — if you use our contact form, we collect the details you provide (name, email, phone and message).
2. How we collect information
We collect personal information directly from you when you:
- Register as a patient or complete new-patient forms
- Attend an appointment at our Braddon practice
- Contact us by phone, email or through our website contact form
- Enquire about or book an appointment
We may also receive information from referring dental or medical practitioners, your health fund, Medicare and DVA.
3. How we use your information
We use your personal information to:
- Provide dental treatment and care, including sedation where appropriate
- Manage appointments and communicate with you about your care
- Process payments and health fund, Medicare, CDBS and DVA claims
- Send appointment reminders and recall notices
- Respond to enquiries submitted through our website
- Meet our legal, professional and regulatory obligations
4. How we store and protect your information
We store personal and health information in our practice management system with appropriate security measures, including access controls and secure backups. Physical records are kept in areas accessible only to authorised staff. We take reasonable steps to protect your information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access or disclosure.
5. Disclosure of your information
We may disclose your personal information to:
- Referring or treating dental and medical practitioners involved in your care
- Dental laboratories for the fabrication of prosthetics and appliances
- Health funds, Medicare and DVA for the processing of claims
- Government agencies and regulators where required or authorised by law (for example, AHPRA)
We will not sell your personal information, and we will not share it for third-party marketing purposes.
6. Your rights
Under the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of information that is inaccurate or out of date
- Ask how your information is collected, used and disclosed
- Make a complaint if you believe your privacy has been breached
7. Website and cookies
Our website is a static site and does not use tracking cookies or advertising profiles. If you submit the contact form, your message is delivered to our practice so we can respond to your enquiry. We use privacy-respecting, aggregate analytics to understand how the site is used; this data does not identify you personally.
8. Contact us
If you have questions about this policy, or wish to access or correct your personal information, please contact us:
- Email: care.dentalembassy@gmail.com
- Phone: 1300 000 230
- Address: Shop 7/104 Northbourne Ave, Braddon ACT 2612
9. Complaints
If you are not satisfied with how we have handled your personal information, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.