Noosa Optical is conscious of the privacy concerns of its patients and the people with whom it deals.  This Privacy Policy sets out how we manage personal information.  It applies to your dealing with us as  a patient or otherwise and any third party information which may be collected by us.

The term "personal information" refers to information from which your identity can be reasonably ascertained.  We are bound by the National Privacy Principles ("NPPs") and comply with these principles to the extent required by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

NPP 1: Collection

We will only collect personal information that is necessary to enable us to provide you with comprehensive eye care. General health, medications taken, occupation and your family history, are examples of the type of information that can have significant effects on your eyes and visual system. You do not have to provide our optometrists with any of this information, but if we are not aware of all relevant information, it may result in you receiving a lower standard of care.

Information will generally be collected directly from you, the patient, although in some cases it may be necessary to obtain information from others, for example the patient’s parents, where patients are unable to provide the information themselves.

NPP 2: Use and Disclosure

Any information we collect about you will only be used by us to assist you in caring for your visual health. In some cases this may require providing information about you to another health care practitioner, for example, if you are referred to an ophthalmologist.

Some information, such as your identity and the type of consultation provided, may be released to obtain Medicare benefits. Similarly, information about optical purchases may be released to your private health fund to obtain health fund benefits.

None of the information we have about you will be released without your permission, except when we are legally required to do so. We use your information to communicate with you, and advise you of enhancements to products or services you have asked us to provide.

NPP 3: Data Quality

We will take every reasonable step to ensure that the information we have about you is accurate, complete and up to date. Where it is established that information we hold about you is not accurate, complete and up to date, we will take all necessary steps to correct it.

NPP 4: Data Security

We will take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss and unauthorised access. The only people with access to patient records are the optometrists involved in your care and staff who need access for dispensing or billing. It is the policy of Noosa Optical that unauthorized release of personal information is grounds for dismissal.

NPP 5: Openness

This policy document outlines how we handle personal information. If you have any concerns about the way in which your personal information is going to be used, or who may have access to it, please feel free to discuss this with your optometrist or management, and we will explain how your information will be stored and used.

NPP 6: Access and Correction

All information we hold about you is available to you and you have the opportunity to add amended information to correct any errors or omissions. If you would like to access this information, please notify us, so we can arrange access. Our optometrists will take you through your records and explain any technical terms, abbreviations or jargon. If any information is found to be inaccurate, you can request that it be amended. Sometimes the original information must be retained for legal reasons, but corrections can be added.

The optometrist will prepare a summary of the information on your file, if you request it. A reasonable fee may be charged for this.

Under some circumstances, the optometrist may refuse access to your information. This will only occur where releasing the information would pose a serious threat to the health of you or another person, would unreasonably impact on the privacy of another person, would interfere in legal investigations or would otherwise be illegal.

NPP 7: Identifiers

Any identifier that has been assigned to you by a government agency, such as your Medicare number, tax file number, or any other such identifier; will not be adopted by us or used to organise our records, and is kept confidential. We may use your Medicare number for claiming Medicare benefits, if applicable.

NPP 8: Anonymity

If it is lawful, and practical, you may interact with us anonymously. This may affect the level of care you receive in the future, as it will be difficult for us to maintain records about your visual health and history. In addition, you will not be able to claim Medicare benefits for the optometric consultation, as Medicare requires that the patient be identified before it will pay benefits. Similarly, private health fund claims may be affected.

NPP 9: Transborder Data Flows

Information we hold about you may only be transferred to someone in another country if the laws in that country give as much protection as Australian laws. This would only apply in a situation in which you were moving (or travelling) to another country and wanted your new optometrist to receive information about your previous care.

NPP 10: Sensitive Information

We may ask you to provide sensitive information, if the information is required to provide you with the best care, and we have your consent. We can also ask you to provide sensitive information if it is required by law, in other specified circumstances, including when it is required to provide a health service. All information about your health is sensitive, and examples of other sensitive information include your ethnic background, political, religious and philosophical views and sexual preferences. We will only ask you to provide such sensitive information if it is required to provide you with the best eye care.