Privacy Policy

1. Introduction and Scope

Pallara Dental is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, store and secure your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

This policy applies to personal information collected through:

Our website (including online forms and bookings);
In-person interactions;
Telephone or email communications; and
Other interactions with patients and visitors.

By accessing our website or providing your personal information to us, you consent to the handling of that information in accordance with this Policy.

2. What Personal Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

2.1 Identification & Contact Details

Full name
Date of birth
Postal address
Email address
Telephone number

2.2 Health and Clinical Information

Dental and medical history
Treatment needs and preferences
Health fund and concession details
X-rays, clinical notes, photos

2.3 Website & Technical Data

IP address
Device type and browser details
Pages visited and usage data (via cookies or analytics)

2.4 Appointment & Billing Information

Appointment dates and times
Fees, billing records and payment details
Health insurance claims data

We will only collect sensitive information (e.g. health information) where it is necessary for providing dental services, and only with consent.

3. How We Collect Your Information

Your personal information may be collected:

When you register as a patient or book an appointment
Through online forms on our website
During consultations, treatment, or follow-ups
From your authorised representative
From third parties with your consent (e.g. health insurers, specialists)

We will not collect personal information without your knowledge or consent, unless permitted by law.

4. Purpose of Collection and Use

We use your personal information to:

Provide dental care and treatment safely and appropriately
Communicate appointment reminders and follow-ups
Manage accounts, billing, claims and payments
Comply with legal and professional obligations
Improve our services and systems
Facilitate emergency contact if required

We may also use aggregated, de-identified data for analytics and quality improvement.

5. Disclosure of Personal Information

Your personal information may be shared with:

Other health professionals involved in your care
Health insurers and Medicare (if applicable)
Dental laboratories and specialists
Third-party service providers (e.g., IT, practice management systems)
Regulatory bodies when required by law

We do not sell or rent personal information to commercial third parties.

6. Overseas Disclosure

In some cases, personal information may be stored or processed by third-party service providers located overseas (e.g., cloud servers, software platforms). Where this occurs, we ensure such providers have appropriate security and privacy protections in place, and that transfers comply with Australian law.

7. Security Measures

We implement reasonable safeguards to protect your personal information, including:

Secure networks, firewalls and encryption
Access controls and password protection
Staff training and confidentiality obligations
Secure disposal of unnecessary information

However, no internet-based system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection.

8. Cookies and Website Tracking

Our website may use cookies and analytics to understand usage patterns and improve performance. These may collect non-identifying information such as:

you visit
Time spent on pages
Interaction patterns

You may choose to disable cookies via your browser settings, but certain website functions may be limited.

9. Your Rights regarding Personal Information

You have the right to:

9.1 Access

Request access to the personal information we hold about you.

9.2 Correction

Ask us to correct or update information that is inaccurate or outdated.

9.3 Restrict or Withdraw Consent

Limit or withdraw your consent for us to use or disclose certain information.

9.4 Complaint

Lodge a privacy complaint with us if you believe we have breached this Policy or the APPs.

Requests must be made in writing to the contact details below.

10. How to Access or Correct Your Personal Information

To request access, correction, or to lodge a concern, contact:
Email: reception@pallaradental.com.au

Phone: (07) 3544 0104
Address: Shop T1.1, Pallara Shopping Village, 201 Gooderham Road, Pallara QLD 4110

We aim to respond to requests within 30 days. If a request is denied, we will provide reasons.

11. Complaints and Dispute Resolution

If you believe your privacy has been breached:

Contact us in writing with details of your concern.
We will investigate and respond within a reasonable timeframe.
If unresolved, you may escalate to:

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)

Contact details for the OAIC are available at www.oaic.gov.au.

12. Updates to This Privacy Policy

This Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will publish the updated policy on our website with a revised Effective Date.

13. Consent

By using our website and providing personal information, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with it.