Privacy Policy

Why we collect personal information

Hobart Hearing Care is dedicated to providing exceptional services for people with hearing impairment or other audiological concerns, with the aim of improving both their hearing and overall wellbeing. To achieve this, we routinely collect information from you to help us best meet your hearing needs and deliver appropriate audiological services. Hobart Hearing Care practices in accordance with the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988, the Australian Privacy Principles and the Personal Information Protection Act 2004. The APPs regulate how we must collect, use, disclose, store and secure your Personal Information.

 

By engaging Hobart Hearing Care for audiology services, it is assumed that you agree to our Privacy Policy. If you choose not to provide your personal information to us for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, we may not be able to meet your hearing needs or provide you with the services you require.

 

Types of information collected

This includes personal information such as your name, date of birth, address, phone number and email address, to ensure we can identify and contact you. We may also ask you for your Medicare, DVA or Pensioner Concession Card number in order to assist you to access additional government funding for services or products or manage your profile within the Hearing Services Program. We may also collect “sensitive information”, such as information about your hearing and general health, for us to appropriately diagnose and treat your hearing with a holistic approach. We may also confirm or update your personal information to ensure your records are relevant and complete. We may also collect indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse identifiers to help us deliver better services to clients in culturally appropriate ways (e.g. the need for interpreters or referral to specialist services such as those provided by Hearing Australia).

 

How your information is collected

Your information may be collected through the following methods:

  • Face-to-face during your audiology appointments

  • Questionnaires, surveys or other forms which may be filled out in-person or digitally (e.g. via email)

  • Requesting information about us, our products or services (e.g. via phone or email)

  • Requesting Hobart Hearing Care to complete applications on your behalf, such as Hearing Services voucher applications (in which case, your information will also be shared with the Department of Health and Aged Care)

  • Telephone call, email or text at the time of booking your appointment

  • Through our online booking form

  • Clinical results are recorded at the time of audiological testing

  • Third parties such as your GP or other health professionals via letters or referrals with your consent

In some cases, we may also collect personal information about you from other third parties such as family members or legal guardians where it is unreasonable or impractical to collect this information directly from you with your consent, or if it is required by or authorised by law.

 

How we use your information

We may use the personal information we collect about you for the purpose of verifying your identity, assessing your eligibility or applying on your behalf for funding such as through the Hearing Services Program. We may email, call or text you for the purpose of appointment notifications, confirmations and reminders, and occasionally inform you of special offers; however, if you prefer not to receive certain types of communications, please inform one of our staff members and we will update your communication preferences in our system. We may use clinical results collected or notes written to make informed recommendations regarding your treatment, or to produce written reports for your GP, ENT or other health professionals when necessary. We may also use your personal information with regards to ordering products from third party suppliers such as hearing aid manufacturers, and managing and responding to requests for information or complaints. We will always ask your permission prior to sending your information to a third party such as your GP or another health professional.

 

How we store and manage your information

Hobart Hearing Care is committed to protecting your privacy and aim to keep your personal information secure by taking reasonable steps to protect it from misuse, loss, unauthorised access and disclosure. These steps include:

  • keeping as much information in electronic form as possible, on a secure cloud system which meets IRAP certification, with data storage facilities based in Australia

  • reducing paper records where possible by scanning paper records into the secure cloud system, and destroying paper copies

  • where paper records are necessary, these are locked in a fireproof safe with manager access only

  • ensuring our premises has secure access

  • retaining records for a minimum of 7 years from your last appointment or recorded contact with us

  • employees of Hobart Hearing Care who handle personal information are trained to respect the confidentiality and privacy of your information, and are only provided with access to the information that is necessary for them to carry out their tasks within Hobart Hearing Care

Your information will never be provided to or sold to a third party without your permission, unless the disclosure is: in accordance with this Privacy Policy or any agreement you enter into with us, or required by law. If you have not had an appointment with Hobart Hearing Care or contacted us in the past 7 years, your records may be destroyed.

 

Handling of information for Hearing Services Program voucher-holders

If you receive services through the Hearing Services Program, any clinical records which are produced by Hobart Hearing Care or other audiology providers are considered property of the Commonwealth. Therefore, if we receive notifications from the Commonwealth requesting to view your records (e.g. for audit purposes), we must oblige. If you are to relocate to another audiology provider, we are also obliged to send a copy of all your records from Hobart Hearing Care and any previous providers to your new provider, if you have received services from us in the past 7 years,

 

How to access your information

Under the Freedom of Information Act and the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988, you have the right to access your information and request any corrections of details that you believe may be incorrect. To obtain a copy of any of your records, you must request this in writing from Hobart Hearing Care’s manager (see details below). You may be asked to verify your identity and specify what information you require. On receipt of your written request, you can expect a response within 10 business days.

Breaches or potential breaches of privacy

If Hobart Hearing Care becomes aware of any breaches or potential breaches or privacy, we will contact any clients who are or may be involved. If you believe your privacy has been breached, please contact Hobart Hearing Care’s manager directly (see details below).

 

Updates to the Privacy Policy

We periodically update this Policy to reflect changes in legislation, technological advancements, and shifts in our operational and business landscape. We recommend that you regularly visit this page to stay informed of any modifications, additions, or removals we may implement at our discretion.

 

Hobart Hearing Care Manager: Jackie Misson

Phone: (03) 6292 5607

Email: jackie@hobarthearingcare.com.au

Mail: Att: Jackie Misson, Hobart Hearing Care, 53 Sandy Bay Road, Battery Point, TAS 7004