PRIVACY POLICY

Mid North Coast Dental Centres (“we”, “our”, or “us”) operates the website https://midnorthcoastdental.com.au (the “Service”).

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and relevant AHPRA guidelines.

By using our website or our services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect

We collect personal information necessary to provide you with safe, appropriate, and high-quality dental care. This includes:

Full name, date of birth, and gender
Contact details (address, phone number, email)
Medical and dental history, including medications and allergies
Health fund and Medicare details
Emergency contact and next-of-kin details
Information collected through our website contact forms or online bookings

We collect this information directly from you, or from a parent/guardian if you are under 18 years of age.

Use of Your Information

Your information is used for:

Providing dental and oral health services
Maintaining accurate patient records
Communicating about appointments, treatment plans, and payment options
Processing health insurance and Medicare claims
Managing our administrative and clinical systems
Meeting regulatory or legal obligations

We will only use your information for the purpose it was collected, unless you consent to another use or disclosure, or it is required by law.

Collection of Children’s Information

As a family dental practice, we collect and store personal information for patients of all ages, including children, to provide appropriate healthcare.

For patients under 18, we collect information from a parent or legal guardian where possible. We manage children’s records with the same level of confidentiality and protection as all patient information.

Website and Online Data

When you visit our website, we may collect certain information automatically, such as your IP address, browser type, and pages visited. This data helps us improve our website and services.

We may also use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. You can choose to disable cookies in your browser settings, but some parts of our website may not function properly without them.

Third-Party Services

We may use trusted third-party providers to help us operate our practice and website, such as IT providers, online booking systems, and analytics services. These providers may have access to your personal information only to perform specific tasks on our behalf and are required to keep your data secure and confidential.

Security of Your Information

We take the security of your personal information seriously.

Patient records are stored securely in electronic systems with password protection and restricted access.
We use secure servers and encryption where appropriate.
Staff are trained to handle personal information responsibly and confidentially.

While we take every reasonable step to protect your information, no system can guarantee absolute security.

Disclosure of Information

We may disclose your personal information:

To other healthcare providers involved in your care (e.g., specialists, laboratories)
To Medicare, health funds, or other payment providers for billing purposes
When required by law, court order, or to comply with regulatory reporting obligations
To parents or guardians of minors, as required for informed consent and care coordination

We will never sell or share your personal information for marketing purposes.

Access and Correction

You have the right to access and correct your personal information.

If you believe any information we hold about you is inaccurate or out of date, please contact us and we will promptly update it in accordance with privacy legislation.

Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party sites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.

Changes To This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practice or legal obligations. Updates will be posted on this page, and the effective date will be revised accordingly.

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we manage your information, please contact here.