Introduction
At The Weight Loss Specialists, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information and how you can access or correct it or make a complaint.
What Information We Collect
We collect personal information that is necessary to provide you with weight loss, medical, and health-related services. This may include:
- Name, date of birth, gender, address, phone number, and email
- Medicare number, health fund details, pension card number
- Medical history, family medical history, current health information
- Test results, imaging, prescriptions, and referral details
- Billing and payment information
We may also collect sensitive information as defined in the Privacy Act, including health information and details about your racial or ethnic origin (if relevant to care).
How We Collect Personal Information
We collect personal information:
- Directly from you when you complete patient electronic registration forms, speak with our staff, or provide information during consultations
- From third parties such as other healthcare providers, pathology and diagnostic imaging services, your health insurer, or government agencies (with your consent or where required/permitted by law)
Why We Collect, Use and Disclose Personal Information
We collect, use, and disclose your information for purposes including:
- Providing medical care and treatment
- Communicating with other healthcare providers involved in your care
- Billing and claims through Medicare
- Practice management and administrative purposes
- Complying with legal obligations and responding to regulatory requirements
- Conducting quality assurance or clinical audits (de-identified where possible)
Disclosure of Personal Information
We may disclose your information to:
- Other medical practitioners, specialists, or allied health professionals involved in your care
- Pathology and radiology providers
- Medicare, health funds, or other government agencies
- IT service providers or practice management software vendors (bound by confidentiality obligations)
- When required or authorised by law (e.g., to prevent serious threat to life or health)
We do not routinely disclose personal information overseas. If overseas disclosure is required, for example through third-party data storage providers, we will ensure that appropriate privacy safeguards are in place.
Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. This includes:
- Secure electronic medical records systems
- Password-protected digital access
- Staff training in privacy and confidentiality
- Confidentiality agreements with contractors and service providers
Accessing and Correcting Your Information
You have the right to request access to or correction of your personal information.
To do so, please contact us in writing using the contact details below.
Making a Privacy Complaint
If you have concerns about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us. We take complaints seriously and will respond promptly.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):
Website: www.oaic.gov.au
Phone: 1300 363 992
Contact Us
The Weight Loss Specialists
Ph: 07 3193 7745
Mail: PO Box 206, Ashgrove QLD 4060
Updates to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will be available on our website www.twls.com.au