Privacy Policy

Westside Dental (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our patients and visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose and protect your personal information, including health information, in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and applicable South Australian health records legislation.

1. Who we are

Westside Dental operates from Westside Medical Centre, 25 Loudon Road, Port Augusta SA 5700. The responsible entity, ABN and registered business details will be inserted here once provided. For any privacy-related queries, contact us via the contact channels listed on our website.

2. What information we collect

We may collect the following kinds of personal information:

• Identifying details (name, date of birth, address, contact numbers, email)
• Medicare, DVA, private health fund and concession card details
• Emergency contact and next-of-kin details
• Health information, including medical and dental history, medications, allergies, clinical notes, photographs, X-rays and treatment records
• Payment and billing information
• Correspondence with you, including appointment requests and feedback

3. How we collect it

We collect information directly from you wherever practical — for example, when you complete a patient form, book an appointment, or speak with our staff. In some cases we may collect information from third parties such as referring practitioners, specialists, radiology providers, your health fund, or Medicare, where it is necessary for your care.

4. Why we collect and use it

• To provide safe, appropriate dental care and treatment
• To communicate with you about appointments, recalls and treatment
• To process payments and claim from Medicare, DVA or your health fund
• To comply with our legal, regulatory and professional obligations
• For internal quality assurance, training and clinical audit

5. Disclosure of your information

We will only disclose your personal information where it is necessary for your care, where you have consented, or where we are required or permitted by law. This may include sharing information with:

• Other treating practitioners (e.g. specialists, your GP, dental laboratories)
• Medicare, DVA, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule and private health funds
• Our practice management software and IT service providers (under confidentiality)
• Regulators, courts or law enforcement where lawfully required

We do not sell your personal information and we do not disclose it overseas.

6. Storing and protecting your information

Your records are held in secure electronic and, where applicable, paper systems. We take reasonable steps to protect information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, including access controls, staff confidentiality obligations and secure backups. Health records are retained for the periods required by law (generally at least 7 years from the last entry, or until age 25 for minors).

7. Accessing and correcting your information

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, and to ask us to correct it if it is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete. Requests should be made to the practice in writing. We may charge a reasonable fee for retrieving and copying records.

8. Complaints

If you have a concern about how we have handled your personal information, please raise it with us first so we can try to resolve it. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The current version will always be available on our website.