Our commitment to your privacy
SS Audiology Eighty One Pty Ltd (ABN 86 702 554 014) (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of the personal information entrusted to us. As a provider of audiology and hearing care services in Melbourne VIC, we recognise that information about your hearing health is among the most sensitive personal information we hold, and we handle it with the care and respect it deserves.
This Privacy Policy applies to all personal information we collect, hold, use and disclose, including information collected through this website (ssaudiologyeightyone.online), through our enquiry and quote forms, and during the course of providing audiology and hearing care services. It should be read together with our Terms of Use.
The Australian Privacy Principles
We are bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act) and the 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in that Act. This policy describes how we apply those principles in practice.
Where this policy refers to “personal information”, it includes “health information”, which the Privacy Act treats as sensitive information and affords a higher level of protection.
What personal information we collect
The kinds of personal information we may collect include:
- your identity and contact details, such as your name, date of birth, postal address and email address;
- health information relevant to your hearing care, including hearing assessment results, audiograms, medical history you choose to share with us and referral letters;
- details of your enquiry, quote request or booking, and our communications with you;
- payment and billing information necessary to process transactions for our services;
- information about how you use our website, collected through cookies and analytics tools.
We only collect personal information that is reasonably necessary for our functions and activities, and we do not collect information by unlawful or unfair means.
Health and sensitive information
Health information is classified as sensitive information under the Privacy Act. We will only collect sensitive information where you have given your consent, where the collection is required or authorised by law, or where another exception under the APPs applies. Hearing assessments and the clinical records we create are used solely for the purpose of providing you with appropriate, safe and effective hearing care.
How we collect your information
We usually collect personal information in the following ways:
- Directly from you — when you complete a form on this website (such as our quote request or contact forms), write to us by email, or speak with us during a consultation or hearing assessment;
- From referrers — from health practitioners who refer you to us, such as your general practitioner or ear, nose and throat specialist, where you have consented to that referral;
- Automatically — through cookies and similar technologies when you browse our website (see Cookies and website analytics below).
How we use your information
We use personal information for purposes including:
- providing audiology and hearing care services to you, including hearing assessments and hearing aid fitting;
- responding to your enquiries and preparing quotes and service proposals;
- managing appointments, client records and our ongoing relationship with you;
- communicating with your referrer or other providers involved in your care, where clinically appropriate;
- processing payments and administering our business;
- improving our services and website;
- complying with legal, regulatory and professional obligations, including health records requirements.
When we disclose your information
We do not sell personal information, and we do not use it for unrelated purposes without your consent. We may disclose personal information to:
- other audiologists or practitioners within our practice who are involved in your care;
- your referrer, such as your GP or ENT specialist, where clinically appropriate;
- hearing device manufacturers and laboratories, for the purpose of supplying, fitting or programming hearing aids and related equipment;
- service providers who host our systems, store our records or process payments on our behalf, under contractual confidentiality obligations;
- government bodies, professional bodies or courts, where disclosure is required or authorised by law.
Overseas disclosure
Some of our service providers, including cloud hosting and email providers, may store or process information outside Australia. Where personal information is disclosed to an overseas recipient, we take reasonable steps to ensure that the recipient handles the information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles, including through contractual arrangements.
Direct marketing and opting out
Where permitted by law, we may use your contact details to send you information about our hearing care services or general hearing health information that we believe may be of interest to you. Every marketing communication we send includes a simple way to opt out. You may also ask us at any time to stop sending you marketing communications by emailing ceo@ssaudiologyeightyone.online. We will action your request promptly and free of charge.
Cookies and website analytics
Cookies are small files placed on your device when you visit a website. We use cookies to remember your preferences and to understand, in aggregate, how visitors use our website, so that we can improve it. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being used; however, some parts of our website may not function fully without them. Analytics data we collect is not used to identify you personally.
Security and retention of your information
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information we hold from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. This includes storing records in secure electronic systems with appropriate access controls, restricting access to staff and service providers who need it, and using secure methods to transmit information.
We retain personal information only for as long as it is reasonably necessary for the purposes set out in this policy or as required by law. Health records are retained in accordance with the minimum retention periods that apply under Victorian law. When information is no longer required, we take reasonable steps to destroy it or ensure it is de-identified.
Anonymity and pseudonymity
Where it is lawful and practicable, you may deal with us anonymously or using a pseudonym, for example when making a general enquiry about our services. In most cases, however, we will need your identity details to provide audiology services safely, to prepare an accurate quote, or to comply with our professional and legal obligations.
Access and correction
You may request access to the personal information we hold about you, and you may ask us to correct information that you believe is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading. We will respond to your request within a reasonable period. In limited circumstances, we may decline a request where permitted under the APPs; if we do, we will explain why and, where relevant, note your requested correction on the record. A reasonable charge may apply to provide access. To make a request, email ceo@ssaudiologyeightyone.online.
Data breaches
The Privacy Act includes the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme. If we determine that an eligible data breach has occurred and is likely to result in serious harm to you or other affected individuals, we will notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and the affected individuals as required by law, and we will take prompt steps to contain and remediate the breach.
Privacy complaints
If you have a concern about how we have handled your personal information, please contact our privacy contact using the details below. We take complaints seriously and will acknowledge and respond to your complaint within a reasonable timeframe. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner via www.oaic.gov.au.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology or legal obligations. The current version will always be published on this page, together with the date of the most recent update. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Contact our privacy contact
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal information, please contact us:
- Entity: SS Audiology Eighty One Pty Ltd
- ABN: 86 702 554 014
- Location: Melbourne VIC
- Email: ceo@ssaudiologyeightyone.online
- Online: via our contact page or our quote request page
For more information about who we are and what we do, see our About, Services and Areas We Serve pages.