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Our agencies make every effort to
comply with the Privacy Act 1988 ( the Act). As a health service
provider funded by the Commonwealth Government, we are required by law
to comply with the Information Privacy Principles and the National
Privacy Principles enshrined in the Act.
We are publicly committed to complying
with the provisions of the Privacy Act, and willingly make available to
anyone who asks, our Privacy Policy document and information on our
personal records management processes. It is our intent that all clients
be aware of their rights under the Privacy Act.
Collection
Collecting personal information about
each client - before and during each consultation - is an essential
prerequisite to providing a quality natural family planning (NFP)
service. We are aware that the information is collected to provide an
NFP service is often sensitive information (as defined by the Privacy
Act 1988). Therefore we will secure the client's consent to record their
personal details and record only those details directly or indirectly
related to the provision of the NFP service requested. He/she may of
course choose to interact anonymously (unless there are reasons to prohibit this). In consideration of the intimate and
sensitive nature of the information being recorded, due care will be
exercised by our staff to ensure information is sought in a sensitive
and non-intrusive manner.
Use and disclosure
Our clients will be made aware what
information is required for clinical purposes and who (under normal
circumstances) it would be disclosed to, such as their spouse or
partner. We will restrict the use or collection of client information to
the provision of the NFP service requested. Unless authorised or
required by law, our agencies will prohibit the disclosure of the
client's personal information to other personnel or organisations, or
for any other purpose including transfer overseas, without the client's
consent. If the information is to be collected for the purpose of
Commonwealth Government statistics, it will be de-identified.
Access and Correction
Our agencies will provide the client with
access to their own records and if a client desires to have access to
their health information they will be informed how access may be
obtained. Should a personal record require correction, deletion or
addition, this will be facilitated.
Data Quality
Our NFP centre will take all reasonable
care to ensure that all personal information collected used or
disclosed, is accurate, complete and up-to-date; and is protected from
misuse, loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
All information will be destroyed or de-identified following the legally
prescribed period and/or when the client data has no purpose. Only
de-identified information is to be used in the compilation of
statistical data, and any identifier generated by a NFP Program agency
is restricted to use solely within the NFP Program |
