Privacy Policy
Introduction
This privacy policy provides you, our patient, with information on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may share it with third parties.
Why and when is your consent necessary
When you register as a patient at our practice, you consent to our GPs and staff accessing and using your personal information to provide you with the best possible healthcare. Only staff members who need access to your information will have it. If we need to use your information for any other purpose, we will ask for your additional consent.
My Doctors Clinic Surfers Paradise understands the importance of protecting individuals’ and patients’ privacy and rights regarding their personal and health information. This document is My Doctor Clinic’s privacy policy, explaining how we collect and handle your personal information.
Our Practice is governed by several state-specific privacy laws. We respect your right to privacy and have a legal obligation to abide by the Privacy Act 1988. The rules and regulations under the Privacy Act are known as the Australian Privacy Principles or the APP.
What is a patient health record?
Medical records, whether electronic or not, are a collection of information about a patient’s healthcare that is essential for his or her current and future care (WHO 2001) and are covered by s.3 of the Health Records Act 2001 (AustLII 2012).
As such, the medical record must contain sufficient information to identify the patient to whom it relates, as well as information relevant to the patient’s treatment during current and future episodes of care, for example:
Secure and reliable access to complete information stored in the medical record is vital to ensure healthcare professionals have the correct information available when and where they need it. This maximises the quality and efficiency of the treatments they can deliver to their patients at the point of care.
What is personal information?
Your personal information includes any details we can use to identify you personally. This covers, but is not limited to, your name, date of birth, address, phone number, email address, and profession or occupation. If you can be reasonably identified from the information we collect, then that information is considered personal. Our privacy policy applies to all patients and anyone using our services.
What is sensitive information?
Sensitive information includes any details we need to collect concerning your healthcare. This may involve family, social, or medical history, genetic details, and emergency contacts. In this policy, both personal and sensitive information are collectively referred to as “personal information”.
What personal information do we collect and hold?
My Doctors Clinic Surfers Paradise collects and stores personal information such as:
We may also collect some information that is not personal information because it does not identify you or anyone else. For example, we may collect anonymous survey responses.
How do we collect your personal information?
We collect your personal information directly from you unless it is unreasonable or impracticable to do so. When collecting personal information from you, we may collect it in ways including:
your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (as necessary).
Dealing with us anonymously
You have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym unless it is impracticable for us to do so or unless we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.
What happens if we can’t collect your personal information?
If you do not provide us with the personal information required:
Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?
Our practice will need to collect your personal information to provide healthcare services to you. Our main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your health.
We also use it for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and business processes (e.g., staff training).
Your personal information is not shared, sold, rented or disclosed other than as described in this Privacy Policy or as permitted under the Act.
Telehealth
My Doctors Clinic Surfers Paradise does not conduct audio/visual recorded telehealth. When/if the practice conducts telehealth consults onsite or remotely, they will only use telephone consultations. Doctors will obtain verbal patient consent to enter a record of yourconsultation in your patient’s chart. The patient record will be notated accordingly.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal information is stored electronically.
Our practice is considered paperless and has systems in place to protect the privacy, security, quality and integrity of the personal health information held electronically. Appropriate staff members are trained in computer security policies and procedures.
All personal information, including patient health records, visual records (X-rays, CT scans, videos and photos), and audio recordings, is stored electronically.
Our practice ensures that our practice computers and servers comply with the RACGP computer security checklist and that:
It is most important that we have up-to-date personal information in your file. Please ensure that any changes to your personal information are updated promptly with our reception staff. Out-of-date or incorrect information could lead to adverse health outcomes.
When, why and with who do we share your personal information?
Sometimes we are required to share your personal information:
Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. All referral templates, including those that utilise document automation technology, are regularly reviewed to ensure only relevant medical information is included and released to a third party.
Other than in the course of providing medical services or as otherwise described in this policy, our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.
Direct marketing materials
We may send you information about our services that we believe may be of interest to you. This information might be sent via SMS, email, or post in accordance with all marketing laws, such as the Spam Act 2003. You can opt out of receiving such materials from us at any time. Please inform our reception staff if you do not want to receive this information from us.
How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?
You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.
Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. We require you to put this request in writing to the Practice Manager, My Doctors Clinic, Piazza 16/3221 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217.
Our practice will respond to your access request within 30 days. There may be a nominal fee for photocopying expenses incurred in providing medical records.
There might be times when we cannot provide you with access to the personal information we hold; however, we will only do so in line with our rights and obligations under the Act. For instance, we may need to refuse access if doing so would infringe on others’ privacy or breach confidentiality. If that occurs, we will explain in writing the reasons for any refusal.
Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. From time to time, we will ask you to verify that your personal information held by our practice is correct and current. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing tothe Practice Manager, My Doctors Clinic, Piazza 16/3221 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217. Our practice will respond to your request within 30 days.
How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?
We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously.
You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure. Such requests should be made in writing and addressed to the Practice Manager, My Doctors Clinic, Piazza 16/3221 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217. Our practice will respond to your request within 30 days.
You may also contact the OAIC. Generally, the OAIC will require you to wait for a response before it will investigate. For further information, visit www.oaic.gov.au or call the OAIC on 1300 363 992.
If you believe that your privacy has been breached, please contact us in accordance with the arrangements set out below and provide details of the incident so we can investigate.
Do we disclose your personal information to anyone outside Australia?
We do not disclose your personal information to overseas recipients. In the event that we are required to do so, we will obtain your consent.
Security
We take all reasonable steps to ensure your personal information is protected from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. We hold your information electronically. Personal information is destroyed or de-identified when no longer needed.
Contacting us
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, any concerns or a complaint regarding the treatment of your privacy or a possible breach of your privacy, please contact My Doctors Clinic, Piazza 16/3221 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, in writing at the details below.
We will treat your requests or complaints confidentially. We will aim to ensure that your concern is resolved in a timely and appropriate manner.
The Practice Manager
My Doctors Clinic, Piazza 16/3221 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217.
Reviews and Updates of our privacy policy
This policy is reviewed and updated annually. Updated versions of this privacy policy will be available on our website and from reception.
This privacy policy was last updated on 6th March 2026.