How we handle your information.

The information we collect

To care for you properly, we collect a range of information. This usually includes:

Personal details. Your name, date of birth, address, phone number, email, and an emergency contact. For children, we also collect the details of a parent or guardian.

Health and dental information. Your dental and medical history, current concerns, clinical notes, treatment records, X-rays and other imaging, medications, and allergies. Health information is treated as sensitive information under the Privacy Act, which means it carries a higher level of protection.

Cover and payment details. Your health fund, Medicare, Child Dental Benefits Schedule, DVA, or pension information where relevant, along with the details needed to process payment and claims.

Website information. Details you enter into our online forms or booking system, and technical information collected automatically when you browse, such as your device type and the pages you visit.

How we collect your information

We collect information in three main ways. Most often we collect it directly from you, when you complete a form, make a booking, call us, or visit the practice. We also collect some technical information automatically through cookies and similar tools on our website. From time to time we receive information from others involved in your care, such as a referring practitioner, your previous dentist with your consent, your health fund, or a parent or guardian acting for you.

Why we collect and use your information

We only use your information for good reason. That includes:

• Providing, planning, and managing your dental care
• Keeping accurate and up-to-date clinical records
• Sending appointment reminders and recalls so you do not miss important care
• Processing payments and lodging health fund, Medicare, or DVA claims
• Meeting our legal, professional, and regulatory obligations
• Sending you helpful updates and oral-health information, but only where you have agreed to receive them

When we share your information

We never sell your information. We share it only where it supports your care or where the law requires it, including with:

• Other practitioners, specialists, or dental laboratories involved in your treatment
• Your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans' Affairs, where relevant to a claim or your care
• Trusted service providers who help us run the practice, such as our IT, online booking, communications, and payment providers, all of whom are bound to keep your information confidential
• Regulators or authorities, where we are required by law to disclose

Where your information is held

If any of our providers store information outside Australia, we take reasonable steps to ensure your information remains protected and handled consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles.

How we store and protect your information

We take reasonable steps to keep your information safe from misuse, loss, and unauthorised access. This includes secure storage, restricted access, and confidentiality obligations that apply to every member of our team. We keep your records for as long as the law and our professional obligations require, generally a minimum of seven years from your last visit, and for patients under 18, until they reach 25 years of age. When information is no longer needed, we securely destroy or de-identify it.

Your health records

Your dental records are among the most sensitive information we hold, and we treat them accordingly. We collect health information only where it is necessary to provide your care, we store it securely, and we give you the right to access and correct it as set out below. We also comply with the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW) in addition to the Privacy Act 1988.

Cookies and our website

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to help it work properly, understand how visitors use it, and improve your experience. This may include website analytics and advertising tools provided by third parties such as Google and Meta. You can find full details, and learn how to manage your preferences, in our Cookie Policy.

Marketing and communications

Where you have agreed, we may send you practice news, reminders, and oral-health information. Every marketing message includes a simple way to unsubscribe, and you can opt out at any time by contacting us. Choosing not to receive marketing will never affect essential communications about your care, such as appointment reminders or recalls.

Accessing and correcting your information

You have the right to ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, and to ask us to correct anything that is inaccurate or out of date. To make a request, contact us using the details at the bottom of this page. We may need to confirm your identity first, and in some cases a reasonable cost may apply to providing access. We will respond to your request within a reasonable time.

Making a privacy complaint

If you have a concern about how we have handled your information, please contact us first so we can put things right. If you are not satisfied with our response, you are entitled to raise the matter with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.

Links to other websites

Our website may link to other sites we think you will find useful. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites, and we encourage you to read their policies before sharing your information.

Children's privacy

When we care for children, we collect and manage their information with the involvement of a parent or legal guardian, and in line with this policy and applicable law.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in the law or in how we operate. The current version will always appear on this page, with the effective date shown at the top.

Contact us about your privacy

Questions about your privacy?

If you would like to access or correct your information, raise a concern, or simply ask a question about this policy, our team is here to help. You can reach us in confidence at any time.