PART 1 - ABOUT THIS POLICY The Speech Nest is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information that we collect and hold about individuals. The Speech Nest complies with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), other privacy laws that govern how private sector health service providers like The Speech Nest handle your personal information (including your health information) and the Speech Pathology Australia Code of Ethics. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information. The Speech Nest is a private speech pathology practice under the ownership of Peta Stewart. We are a paediatric speech pathology service that understands that your personal information is important. PART 2 - HOW THE SPEECH NEST HANDLES YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION 2.1 Our Legal Obligations In order to provide you and your child with the speech pathology services that you have requested or been offered, The Speech Nest will need to collect and use your personal information. If you provide incomplete or inaccurate information to us, or withhold personal and health information from us, we may not be able to provide the services you are seeking. 2.2 What Information does The Speech Nest collect? We will only collect the information that we need for the particular function or activity we are carrying out. We collect information from you that is necessary to provide you and your child speech pathology services and to manage our relationship with you. The information we collect may include: •You and your Child’s Personal Details: Name, contact details (address, phone number, email address), date of birth and family history. •Health Information: Health history, other service providers or professionals involved, speech and language assessment results, therapy/intervention plans, progress notes, and any other relevant information needed to deliver speech pathology services. •Payment Information: Credit card details, health fund details, NDIS information. We require this information to assist the speech pathologist to support your family and to diagnose and treat your child. 2.3 How does The Speech Nest collect Health Information? We will usually collect you and your child’s health information directly from you (for example, intake/case history forms, verbal communication, email). Sometimes we may also need to collect information about your child from a third party (such as a relative, the adult bringing the child to the appointment or another service provider). 2.4 How does The Speech Nest use your Information? The Speech Nest uses your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected. We will use your information to: •provide quality paediatric speech pathology services to you and your child. •to manage our relationship with you. •to contact you in relation to matters concerning your child’s care. •comply with Australian regulations/legislation. •improve the quality of the services we provide. We may also use your information for other purposes permitted under the Privacy Act 1988. Who might we disclose information to? We may disclose your information to: (a)other medical, health or educational professionals involved in your child’s care Your or your child’s personal information will generally only be used by the speech pathologist involved in your care, however on occasion your care may be provided by a number of medical, health or educational professionals (for example, speech pathologist, occupational therapist) working together. We may disclose your child’s information to these professionals as a part of the process of providing care and to other health, medical and educational professionals involved in your child’s care. (b)the referrer The Speech Nest will usually share assessment results and recommendations with your referrer (e.g. your medical practitioner, your child’s teacher) and share information/reports at other times, as required for your child’s care. If you do not wish us to provide a copy of your assessment report to the referrer you must let us know and alternative communications can be discussed. Also, if the referrer’s details have changed please let us know. If your GP has initiated speech pathology services under a Medicare program (such as the Chronic Disease Management Plan), The Speech Nest is required to share assessment results, recommendations and reports at the conclusion of therapy with your GP. (c)relatives, guardian, close friends or legal representatives. We may provide information about your child’s condition to a parent, other relatives or guardians, close personal friends, or to a responsible person attending appointments with your child, unless you tell us that you do not wish us to disclose your or your child’s health information to any such person. Other Uses and Disclosures In order to provide the best possible environment in which to treat your child, we may also use or disclose you or your child’s personal and health information where necessary for: •activities such as quality assurance processes, accreditation, audits, risk and claims management, client satisfaction surveys and staff education and training; •invoicing, billing and account management; •to liaise with your health fund, Medicare or the NDIA/NDIS/Plan Managers or other representatives and where required provide information to your health fund, Medicare or NDIA/NDIS Plan Managers to verify treatment provided to your child; •the purpose of sending you standard reminders, for example for appointments and follow-up care, by text message or email to the number or address which you have provided us. •if required by law, such as to comply with regulatory requirements or legal obligations. Other Uses with your Consent With your consent, we may also use your information for other purposes such as including you on a marketing mail list or research. Please note, however, that unless you provide us with your express consent for this purpose, we will not use your information in this way. We will not disclose your personal information to any individual who is outside Australia. 2.5 Access to and Correction of your Health Information You have a right to request access to the personal information we hold about you or your child. You can also request an amendment to your or your child’s personal and health information should you believe any of the information is inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated. If we do not agree to change your or your child’s medical record/personal information in accordance with your request, we will permit you to make a statement of the requested changes and we will enclose this with your or your child’s record. Should you wish to obtain access to or request changes to your child’s health record you can ask for our Privacy Officer (see details below) who can give you more detailed information about The Speech Nest’s access and correction procedure. Please note that The Speech Nest may recover reasonable costs associated with supplying this information to you. 2.6 Data Quality The Speech Nest will take reasonable steps to ensure that your and your child’s personal information which we may collect, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up-to-date. 2.7 How We Protect Your Information (Data Security) The Speech Nest will take reasonable steps to protect your and your child’s personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. We use technologies and processes such as access control procedures, network firewalls, encryption and physical security to protect your privacy. 2.8 Data Retention The Speech Nest will retain your and your child’s personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected and as required by law. The Speech Nest will destroy or permanently de-identify any of your and your child’s information which is in its possession or control and which is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was collected provided The Speech Nest is not required under an Australian law or court/tribunal or otherwise to retain the information. 2.9 What to do if you have a Complaint about Privacy Issues If: (a)you have questions or comments about this Privacy Policy; (b)The Speech Nest does not agree to provide you access to your personal information; or (c)you have a complaint about our information handling practices, You can lodge a complaint with or contact our Privacy Officer on the details below. We will promptly review your complaint and provide a response to you. 2.10 Contact Us If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, how we handle your or your child’s personal information or to lodge a complaint, please contact us: •By email: thespeechnest@gmail.com •By phone: 0468 850 874 PART 3 – HOW THE SPEECH NEST HANDLES YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WHEN YOU VISIT OUR WEBSITE This section of our Privacy Policy explains how handle your personal information which is collected from our website: www.thespeechnest.com.au. This Privacy Policy applies to your use of the website and the use of any facilities, applications or integrations on our website. 3.1 Collection When you use our website, we do not attempt to identify you as an individual user and we will not collect personal information about you unless you specifically provide this to us. Sometimes, we may collect your and your child’s personal information if you choose to provide this to use via an online form, calendar or by email, for example, if you: •submit a general enquiry or make a booking; •register to receive eNewsletters; or •send a written complaint or enquiry to our Privacy Officer. When you use our website, our Internet Service Provider (ISP) may record and log for statistical purposes the following information about your visit: •your computer address; •your top level name (for example, .com.,.gov) •the date and time of your visit; •the pages and documents you access during your visit; and •the browser you are using. Our website management agent may use statistical data collected by our ISP to evaluate the effective of our website. 3.2 Cookies A “cookie” is a device that allows our server to identify and interact more effectively with your computer. Cookies do not identify individual users, but they do identify your ISP and your browser type. This website uses temporary cookies. This means that upon closing your browser, the temporary cookie assigned to you will be destroyed and no personal information is maintained which will identify you at a later date. Personal information such as your email address is not collected unless you provide it to us. We do not disclose domain names or aggregate information to third parties other than agents who assist us with this website ad who are under obligations of confidentiality. You may be able to configure your browser to accept or reject cookies and to notify you when a cookie is used. We suggest that you refer to your browser instructions or help screens to learn more about these functions. However, please note that if you configure your browser so as not to receive any cookies, a certain level of functionality of The Speech Nest website and other websites may be lost. 3.3 Links to Third Party Websites We may create links to third party websites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices employed by websites that are linked from our website. 3.4 Use and Disclosure We will use any personal information collected via our website in accordance with our privacy policy. Changes to This Privacy Policy We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any updates will be posted on our website, and the revised version will apply from the date of publication. Effective Date: 10th March 2025