Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

• Name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email address
• Health fund and Medicare details
• Dental and medical history, clinical notes, X-rays, photographs, and treatment records
• Payment and billing information
• Emergency contact details
• Information you provide through our website forms (e.g. new patient guide requests, contact enquiries)

2. How We Collect Information

We collect personal information:

• Directly from you, when you fill out patient forms, book appointments, submit website enquiries, or communicate with our staff
• From third parties such as referring dentists, specialists, or other health practitioners (with your consent)
• Through our website using cookies and analytics tools (see Section 8)

3. Why We Collect Your Information

We collect and use your personal information to:

• Provide dental treatment and manage your ongoing care
• Process appointments, referrals, and follow-up communications
• Process payments and health fund claims
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations (including AHPRA and health records legislation)
• Respond to your enquiries and send requested materials (e.g. new patient guides)
• Improve our services and patient experience

We will not use your personal information for direct marketing without your consent. You may opt out of any marketing communications at any time.

4. Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your personal information with:

• Other dental or medical practitioners involved in your care (e.g. specialists, laboratories)
• Health funds for the purpose of processing claims
• Third-party service providers who assist our operations (e.g. practice management software, appointment booking systems, email delivery services), under strict confidentiality agreements
• Government or regulatory bodies where required by law (e.g. mandatory reporting obligations)

We will not sell or rent your personal information to any third party.

5. Storage and Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access or disclosure. This includes:

• Secure electronic systems with access controls and encryption
• Physical security measures at our clinic premises
• Staff training on privacy obligations

Health records are retained in accordance with applicable state and territory health records legislation. In New South Wales, adult patient records are retained for a minimum of 7 years from the date of last treatment. Records for patients under 18 are retained until the patient turns 25.

6. Accessing and Correcting Your Information

You have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Request corrections if your information is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date
• Request deletion of your personal information (subject to our legal and regulatory obligations to retain health records)

To make a request, please contact us using the details in Section 10 below. We will respond within 30 days. A fee may apply for providing access to records, and we will advise you of any costs in advance.

7. Children's Information

We collect personal information about children in the course of providing dental treatment. A parent or guardian must provide consent for the collection and use of a child's information. Parents and guardians may access their child's records by contacting us.

8. Website, Cookies, and Analytics

Our website (mylocaldentists.com.au) may use cookies and third-party analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) to collect non-identifying information about how visitors use our site. This may include:

• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Browser type, device, and operating system
• Referring website or search terms
• Approximate geographic location (city level)

This information is used to improve our website and does not personally identify you. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

When you submit a form on our website (e.g. contact enquiry or guide request), we collect the information you provide. This data is processed by our email delivery service and is subject to their privacy policy.

9. Complaints

If you believe we have breached your privacy or mishandled your personal information, please contact us using the details below. We will investigate your complaint and respond within 30 days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to make a request regarding your personal information, please contact us:

• Email: info@mylocaldentists.com.au
• WhatsApp: +61 468 809 850
• In person: At any of our clinic locations during opening hours

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated policy will be published on this page with the date of the most recent revision.