Privacy Policy

Last Updated: November 2025

1. Introduction

Hearing Care ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use our audiometry services or interact with our website.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and hold the following types of personal information:

• Identity Information: Name, date of birth, gender
• Contact Information: Address, email address, phone numbers
• Health Information: Medical history relevant to hearing health, audiometry test results, hearing aid prescriptions, referral letters from medical practitioners
• Medicare/Health Fund Details: Medicare number, health insurance information for billing purposes
• Employment Information: Employer details for workplace hearing assessments
• Communication Records: Correspondence, appointment notes, enquiries

3. How We Collect Information

We collect personal information through:

• Direct interactions when you book appointments, attend consultations, or contact us
• Website forms and enquiry submissions
• Phone calls and email correspondence
• Referrals from medical practitioners, ENT specialists, or other healthcare providers
• Workplace hearing screening programs through employer arrangements

4. Purpose of Collection

We collect and use your personal information to:

• Provide audiometry and hearing care services
• Assess your hearing health and recommend appropriate solutions
• Fit, adjust, and maintain hearing aids
• Process Medicare claims and health fund rebates
• Communicate with you about appointments and services
• Provide reports to referring practitioners (with your consent)
• Comply with workplace health and safety requirements for employer-arranged assessments
• Improve our services and respond to enquiries
• Meet our legal and regulatory obligations

5. Disclosure of Information

We may disclose your personal information to:

• Healthcare Providers: Referring doctors, ENT specialists, or GPs (with your consent)
• Hearing Aid Manufacturers: For warranty, repair, and product-related services
• Medicare and Health Funds: For billing and claim processing
• Employers: Workplace audiometry results as required for WHS compliance (with appropriate consent)
• Professional Bodies: When required for accreditation or regulatory purposes
• Legal Authorities: When required by law or court order

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

6. Sensitive Health Information

Health information is considered sensitive information under the Privacy Act. We only collect health information that is reasonably necessary to provide our hearing care services. Your health information is handled with the highest level of care and confidentiality. We will only use or disclose your health information for the purpose for which it was collected, unless you consent to other uses or disclosure is required by law.

7. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from:

• Unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure
• Misuse, interference, and loss

Security measures include secure storage of physical records, password-protected electronic systems, staff training on privacy obligations, and secure disposal of information no longer required.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal requirements. Health records are retained for a minimum of 7 years from the date of last service (or until a patient reaches 25 years of age if they were a child at the time of service), in accordance with Australian health record retention requirements.

9. Your Rights

Under the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to:

• Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete information
• Anonymity: Deal with us anonymously or using a pseudonym where practicable (though this may limit our ability to provide services)
• Complaint: Lodge a complaint about our handling of your personal information

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe, usually within 30 days.

10. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and analytics tools to improve user experience and understand how visitors interact with our site. This information is collected anonymously and does not identify individual users. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies, though this may affect website functionality.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated policy will be posted on our website with the revised date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

13. Complaints

If you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles or have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us first. We will investigate your complaint and respond within 30 days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):

• Website: www.oaic.gov.au
• Phone: 1300 363 992
• Post: GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001

14. Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to make a privacy-related request, please contact us: