Teamwork Speech Pathology’s policy does not tolerate abuse, neglect and/or harm of children and young people and actively seeks to minimise the risks of harm to children and young people.

About this Policy

Purpose

Teamwork Speech Pathology is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information collected and held about individuals. Teamwork Speech Pathology obeys by the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), other privacy laws that govern how private sector health service providers like Teamwork Speech Pathology handle the client’s personal information (including health information), and Speech Pathology Australia Code of Ethics.

This Privacy Policy explains how Teamwork Speech Pathology manages the personal information collected, used and disclosed. Teamwork Speech Pathology is a privately owned Speech Pathology service and will not use or disclose any personal information in any way other than those outlined in this document.

How Teamwork Speech Pathology handles personal information

Legal Obligations

To provide clients with the health care services requested, Teamwork Speech Pathology will need to collect and use the client and their family’s personal information. If client family’s provide incomplete or inaccurate information or withhold personal and health information services may not be able to be provided.

What information does Teamwork Speech Pathology collect?

Information is only collected when necessary for a particular function or activity to be carried out. Only information that is necessary in order to provide speech pathology services and to manage provider/client relationships is collected and maintained. The information collected may include the parent/caregiver and child’s: name, date of birth, address, funding details and information about your health history and family history. Information is required to enable services to be delivered. 

Personal information collection

Personal information will be collected directly from the client or a third party (i.e. relative or other health provider).

Use of information

Teamwork Speech Pathology uses the client’s personal information for the purpose of providing clinical therapeutic services. Information will be used to inform direct service delivery, to manage therapist/client relationship and to contact caregivers in relation to matters concerning the child’s supports. Information may also be used for any other purposes permitted under the Privacy Act 1988.

Disclosure of information

Teamwork Speech Pathology may disclose you or your child’s information to the following people:

a)  Other health professionals involved – With your consent, Teamwork Speech Pathology may share information about your child’s supports with other health professionals or educators in order to work collaboratively to achieve goals.

b)  The referrer - Teamwork Speech Pathology will usually send a discharge summary to the referrer (i.e., your medical practitioner) following discharge from Teamwork Speech Pathology or at other times, as required. This is a requirement of receiving supports under a Chronic Disease Management Plan. Clients should inform Teamwork Speech Pathology if you do not wish us to provide a discharge summary to the referrer.

c)  Relatives, guardians, or legal representative – Teamwork Speech Pathology may provide information about the child’s supports to other parents (if separated), relatives and legal guardians where appropriate and with your consent. We follow any directions for information sharing given in family court parenting orders.

d)  Other uses and disclosures - we may also use or disclose the child’s personal and health information where necessary for:

•   Activities such as quality assurance processes, accreditation, audits, risk and claims management

•   Invoicing, billing and account management (We will not disclose your personal information to any individual who is outside Australia).

Access to and correction of personal information

Client’s and their caregivers have a right to access the personal and health information that we hold about them. In accordance with the Australian Privacy Principals, Teamwork Speech Pathology may deny access to the client’s clinical records, should it be deemed that giving access would pose a serious threat to the life, health, or safety of any individual, or to public health or safety. You can request an amendment to the client or caregivers personal and health information should you believe that it is inaccurate.

 Data Quality

Teamwork Speech Pathology will take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information collected, used or disclosed is accurate, complete and up-to-date. This may include periodic reviews of such information. The client should inform us if any personal or health information changes.

Data Security

Teamwork Speech Pathology will take reasonable steps to protect the client and caregiver’s personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Teamwork Speech Pathology uses technologies and processes such as access control procedures, network firewalls, encryption and lockable physical storage to protect your privacy. Teamwork Speech Pathology will destroy or permanently de-identify any of your information which is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was collected provided Teamwork Speech Pathology is not required under an Australian law or court/tribunal or otherwise to retain the information. In accordance with Australian law, Teamwork Speech Pathology will retain your child’s case information for a minimum of 7 years, or until your child turns 25.

Complaints about privacy issues

If client’s or their caregiver’s wish to gain access to their personal information, have a complaint about a breach of your privacy or any query on how their personal information is collected or used please forward your request via email or phone. The query or complaint will be responded to as soon as possible. If there is a data breach, we will act according to the Privacy Act 1988 guidelines, act to remedy the breach immediately and notify the client with the actions required. If it is a Notifiable Data Breach, Teamwork Speech Pathology will do these aforementioned steps as well as notify the Office of the Australia Information Commissioner.

How to contact us if you have a complaint about privacy issues

Teamwork Speech Pathology values feedback, whether positive or negative. All stakeholders can make a complaint about an action, inaction or situation within the business (at no cost to the person making the complaint). All feedback and complaints will be logged in a confidential case note and/or can be managed through Speech Pathology Australia or NDIS if appropriate. If you wish to provide feedback, please refer to the contact details below:

If a child or young person would like to provide feedback and do not have access to a computer or phone, they will be advised to do so verbally in a therapy appointment or be supported to do so by a parent or therapist if appropriate.

How Teamwork Speech Pathology handles personal information when you visit our website:

This section explains how personal information which is collected from our website: teamworksp.com.au is handled.

Collection

Personal Information is only collected on the website when specifically provided on the ‘contact’ page. Teamworksp.com.au Internet Service Provider (ISP) may record and log for statistical purposes the following information about your visit:

  • your computer address

  • the date and time of your visit

  • the pages and documents accessed during your visit

  • the browser you are using

Our web-site management agent may use statistical data collected by our ISP to evaluate the effectiveness of the website. Domain names and aggregate information are not disclosed to third parties other than agents who assist with the website and who are under obligations of confidentiality.

Cookies

A "cookie" is a device that allows a server to identify and interact more effectively with a visitors computer. Cookies do not identify individual users, but they do identify visitors ISP and browser type. Teamworksp.com.au uses temporary cookies. This means that upon closing your browser, the temporary cookie assigned to you will be destroyed and no personal information is maintained which will identify you at a later date. Visitors may be able to configure your browser to accept or reject all cookies and to notify you when a cookie is used. We suggest that clients refer to your browser instructions or help screens to learn more about these functions. However, please note that if visitors configure their browser so as not to receive any cookies, a certain level of functionality of the Teamwork Speech Pathology website and other websites may be lost.

 Links to third party websites

Teamworksp.com.au may create links to third party websites. Teamwork Speech Pathology is not responsible for the content or privacy practices employed by websites that are linked from teamworksp.com.au.

Use and disclosure

Any personal information collected via our website will be used in accordance with Teamwork Speech Pathology privacy policy.

 

Policy date: February 2023

Next review date: February 2028

Privacy Policy