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Your privacy is of utmost importance to Smidgen Group. We are committed to protecting and supporting all who receive our services, including upholding your privacy rights.
We collect certain types of personal information in the course of operating our training, supervision programs and therapy services. This document describes how and why we collect your personal information, the purposes of which we may use or disclose such information. We also aim to empower you with information on how to raise issues or complaints with us or relevant regulators in respect of your personal information.
In order to provide you with the speech services that you have requested, Smidgen Group may need to collect and use your personal information. If you provide incomplete or inaccurate information to us or withhold personal and health information from us we may not be able to provide you with the services you are seeking.
What is personal information?
What is personal information?
Personal information is defined by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and means information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. Personal information can include your name, home address, email address and date of birth.
What kinds of personal information do we collect?
What kinds of personal information do we collect?
We will only collect the information we need for the particular function or activity we are carrying out. The personal information we collect may include your name, home address, contact details, date of birth or educational information. In some circumstances, we may collect sensitive information about you while providing certain services. Sensitive information may include information about family history or health history.
How do we collect personal information?
How do we collect personal information?
We collect information that you directly give us when you interact with us, including in-person, by phone, email, and online when you make an enquiry with us.
Sometimes, we collect information about you or your child from other organisations/individuals/professionals (e.g. health provider or family member) who have referred your details to us.
We will gain consent from you before collecting any sensitive information about you or in other circumstances where we are required to obtain such consent under applicable privacy laws.
You do not need to provide personal information when interacting with us, or you may provide a pseudonym or de-identified information, however we may not be able to provide you with the services you need if you do not provide the required personal information.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
How do we store and protect your personal information?
We hold your personal information in a secure cloud-based storage, and we take appropriate steps to ensure that your personal information is protected from misuse, unauthorised access, modification, disclosure or interference.
We use technologies and processes such as access control procedures, network firewalls, encryption and physical security to protect your privacy. Smidgen Group will destroy or permanently de-identify any of your information which is in its possession or control and which is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was collected provided Smidgen Group is not required under an Australian law or court/tribunal or otherwise to retain the information.
How do we use personal information?
How do we use personal information?
The main purpose of why we collect, hold and use your personal information is to carry out our support service including to provide you with our speech services, to allow you to participate in associated activities, to manage our relationship with you and to contact you in relation to matters concerning your care. We may also use your information for other purposes permitted under the Privacy Act 1988.
Who do we disclose personal information to?
Who do we disclose personal information to?
We may disclose your personal information to other third parties, such as:
Other health professionals or educators involved in your child’s care/ treatment Your personal information will chiefly be used by the speech therapist involved in your care, however on occasion your child’s care may be provided by a number of health professionals (e.g. occupational therapist and/or psychologist) working or consulting together. For school aged children, we may also consult and work with your child’s teacher. We may disclose your relevant information to these professionals as part of the process of providing your care and to other health professionals involved in your care.
Individuals or third party organisations, where you have requested us to arrange a referral to such individual or organisation
We may also use or disclose your personal and health information where necessary for:
Activities such as quality assurance processes, accreditation, audits, risk and claims management, patient satisfaction surveys and staff education and training
Invoicing, billing and account management
To liaise with your health fund, Medicare or NDIS and where required provide information to your health fund, Medicare or NDIS to verify treatment provided to you
The purpose of sending you standard reminders, for example for appointments and follow-up care, by text message or email to the number or address which you have provided to us.
Government agencies or authorities, if you request us to, if required or authorised by an Australian law or a court or tribunal order, or if we otherwise believe necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to the life, health or safety of any individual or to public health or safety; or if we suspect that any unlawful activities or serious misconduct has been engaged in, in relation to our functions and activities.
DCJ for the purposes of reporting (information sent is not identifiable)
We will not sell, distribute, rent, licence, disclose, share or pass your personal information onto any third party. Should a third party approach us with a demand to access your personal information, we will take reasonable steps to redirect the third party to request the information directly from you, wherever it is lawful and reasonable for us to do so. If we are compelled to disclose your personal information, to a third party we will take reasonable steps to notify you of this in advance, wherever it is lawful and reasonable for us to do so.
How can you access and amend your personal information?
How can you access and amend your personal information?
You have a right to request access to the personal information that we have about you and to request correction of your personal information. If you have any requests, you can contact Hello@SmidgenGroup.com.au or PO Box 58, Drummoyne 1470 or call 0481 984 008. We aim to respond to your request within a timeframe (usually 30 days).
We will deal with all requests for access to personal information as quickly as possible. Requests for large amounts of information, or information not currently in use, may require additional response time.
We may charge you a reasonable fee for access if a cost is incurred by us in order to retrieve your information, but we will not charge you a fee for your application for access.
Whenever a fee will be applied, you will be notified of how that fee will be calculated, or where possible, the total amount that will be charged. You will then have the option to decide whether to proceed with your access request.
In rare cases, we may refuse to give you access to personal information we hold about you. This includes, but is not limited to, circumstances where denying access is required or authorised by or under an Australian law or a court/tribunal order or where giving you access would be unlawful; have an unreasonable impact on other people’s privacy; prejudice an investigation of unlawful activity; reveal our intentions in relation to negotiations with you so as to prejudice those negotiations; prejudice enforcement related activities conducted by, or on behalf of, an enforcement body; reveal evaluative information generated within our business in connection with a commercially sensitive decision-making process.
We will also refuse access where the personal information relates to existing or anticipated legal proceedings, and the information would not be accessible by the process of discovery in those proceedings. Further, we will refuse access where your request is frivolous or vexatious, and where we reasonably believe that: giving access could pose a serious threat to the life, health or safety of any individual, or to public health or public safety; unlawful activity, or misconduct of a serious nature, is being or may be engaged in against Smidgen Group and giving access would be likely to prejudice the taking of appropriate action in relation to that matter.
If we refuse to give you access we will provide you with reasons for our refusal, unless doing so would be unreasonable in the circumstances. We will also take reasonable steps to give you access in a way that meets your needs without giving rise to the reasons of our refusal. Further, we will provide details of how you may make a complaint about our decision.
These methods for accessing your personal information operate alongside, and do not replace, other informal or legal procedures by which you may be provided with access to your personal information.
How do we use information on our website?
How do we use information on our website?
We will only collect personal information through our website if you voluntarily provide it. We may collect non-identifying information in relation to your use of our website, including the type of browser you use, the files you request, and the domain name and country from which you request information, to monitor and improve our web site and services. Our website may use cookies to assist in making your browsing experience better and to allow us to improve our website. We may record your email address if you transmit it to us electronically in an email or through a web page form. Our website may contain links to other websites. Our privacy policy has no application to any other website and Smidgen Group is not responsible for the practices or the content of any other website.
How can you make a complaint?
How can you make a complaint?
If you have any complaints about a breach of your privacy, you can contact us on Hello@SmidgenGroup.com.au or PO Box 58, Drummoyne 1470 or call 0481 984 008. You should make your complaint in writing, and we will respond to you within a timeframe (usually 30 days).
If your complaint is not resolved after you have contacted us, you can complain directly to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) (https://www.oaic.gov.au/) or mail the complaint to the OAIC at GPO Box 5288, Sydney NSW 2001.
This Privacy Policy was last updated 26/08/2024.
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