Armidale Medical Centre Privacy Policy
Current as of: 13 February 2026
Introduction
This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our patient, on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may share it with third parties.
Why and when your consent is necessary
When you register as a patient of our practice, you provide consent for our GPs and practice staff to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible healthcare. Only staff who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If we need to use your information for anything else, we will seek additional consent from you to do this.
Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?
Our practice will need to collect your personal information to provide healthcare services to you. Our main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your health. We also use it for directly related business activities, such as financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and business processes (e.g. staff training).
What personal information do we collect?
The information we will collect about you includes:
- names, date of birth, addresses, contact details
- medical information including medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, immunisations, social history, family history and risk factors
- nationality/ethnicity
- Medicare number (where available) for identification and claiming purposes
- healthcare identifiers
- Health fund details.
Dealing with us anonymously
You have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym unless it is impracticable for us to do so or unless we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals. It is impractical for Barney Street Medical Practice to deal with you anonymously and provide a high standard of medical care.
How do we collect your personal information?
Our practice will collect your personal information:
- When you make your first appointment our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration.
- During the course of providing medical services, we may collect further personal information.
Information may be collected through Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions (eTP), MyHealth Record/PCEHR system, e.g. via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary. We may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, send us an email or SMS, telephone us, make an online appointment or communicate with us using social media.
- In some circumstances personal information may also be collected from other sources. Often this is because it is not practical or reasonable to collect it from you directly. This may include information from:
- your guardian or responsible person,
- other involved healthcare providers, such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services and pathology and diagnostic imaging services,
- Your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (as necessary).
Who do we share your personal information with?
We sometimes share your personal information:
- with third parties who work with our practice for business purposes, such as accreditation agencies or information technology providers – these third parties are required to comply with APPs and this policy
- with other healthcare providers
- when it is required or authorised by law (e.g. court subpoenas)
- when it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent
- to assist in locating a missing person
- to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim
- for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process
- when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (e.g. some diseases require mandatory notification)
- During the course of providing medical services, through Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions (eTP), MyHealth Record/PCEHR system (e.g. via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary).
Only people that need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing medical services or as otherwise described in this policy, our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.
We will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.
Our practice will not use your personal information for marketing any of our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt-out of direct marketing at any time by notifying our practice in writing.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal information may be stored at our practice in various forms. These can include paper records, electronic records, visual (X-rays, CT scans, videos and photos), and audio recordings.
Our practice stores all personal information securely. Staff members only have access to systems and information required by their role. Access to all computers and our clinical software (Best Practice) is password controlled. Computer screens are set to display a screen saver after 10 minutes of inactivity and staff are encouraged to manually lock computers when away for long periods of time.
Hard copy patient files are stored in a secure area separate to the patient area.
How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?
You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information. Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records.
We require you to put this request in writing or by completing a form available from reception and our practice will respond within a reasonable time. We will attempt to respond within 15 business days.
Armidale Medical Centre does not charge patients for access to their medical record if it is due to a change of practice or for personal reasons. There is a charge for providing records to a third party e.g. Insurance companies or solicitors.
A Flat fee of $67.39 is charged for a secure confidentially electronical supplied file.
Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up-to-date.
From time-to-time, we will ask you to verify your personal information held by our practice is correct and up-to-date. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing to reception@armidalemedical.com.au or by discussing your requirements with our reception staff.
Lodging a privacy related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice
We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure. Complaints and concerns should be address to the practice manger and can be emailed to: manager@armidalemedical.com.au .
Letters may be mailed to:
The Practice Manager
Armidale Medical Centre
P O Box 627
Armidale NSW 2350
We will respond to your concerns with 10 working days.
If you wish to take any concerns/complaints further you may contact:
Health Care Complaints Commission
Locked Bag 18
Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
Ph. 1800 043 159
You may also contact the OAIC. Generally the OAIC will require you to give them time to respond, before they will investigate. For further information visit www.oaic.gov.au or phone the OAIC on 1300 336 002.
Privacy, our website and online bookings
Armidale Medical Centre uses AutoMed to allow online bookings for our patients. AutoMed will not collect any personal information about you through the use of their website, except where such information is provided. More information regarding AutoMed’s privacy policy can be found by visiting https://automedsystems.com.au/privacy/ .
Policy review statement
This privacy policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it is in accordance with any changes that may occur. If any changes are made a new policy will be displayed in the waiting room.