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1. Policy statement

St Vincent’s Clinic (SVC) is committed to protecting the privacy of the personal information and sensitive information which it collects and holds. SVC includes Open Support and the St Vincent’s Clinic Research Foundation.

SVC must comply with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and other privacy laws [including the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW)] which govern the way in which organisations (such as SVC) hold, use and disclose personal information (including your sensitive information).

The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to explain:

1. the kinds of information that SVC may collect about you and how that information is held;
2. how SVC collects and holds personal information;
3. the purposes for which SVC collects, holds, uses and discloses personal information;
4. how you can access the personal information SVC holds about you and seek to correct such information; and
5. the way in which you can complain about a breach of your privacy and how SVC will handle that complaint.

2. Definitions

In this Privacy Policy the following terms have the following meanings:

health information is:

1. personal information or an opinion about:
   1. an individual’s physical or mental health or disability (at any time);
   2. an individual’s express wishes about the future provision of health services for themselves; or
   3. a health service provided, or to be provided, to an individual;
2. other personal information collected to provide, or in providing, a health service;
3. other personal information about an individual collected in connection with the donation, or intended donation, by the individual of his or her body parts, organs or body substances; or

4. genetic information about an individual in a form that is, or could be, predictive of the health of the individual or a genetic relative of the individual.

personal information means information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable:

5. whether the information or opinion is true or not; and
6. whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not;

sensitive information means:

1. personal information or opinion about an individual’s:
   1. racial or ethnic origins;
   2. political opinions or political associations;
   3. philosophical beliefs or religious beliefs or affiliations;
   4. sexual preferences or practices; or
   5. criminal record; or
2. health information about an individual; or
3. genetic information about an individual that is not otherwise health information.

3. Collection and use of personal information

3.1. Types of personal information collected by SVC

SVC will only collect information which is necessary to facilitate the provision to you of services by SVC or to appropriately manage, conduct and oversee SVC’s business. This may include (as applicable):

1. Patients/clients/research participants

SVC collects information from you to facilitate the provision of health care services to you by or to enable you to participate in research studies. This includes collecting personal information such as your name, address, your health history, family history, past and current treatments lifestyle factors, and any other information which is necessary to assist the health care team in providing appropriate care, or our research team in conducting its research.

The individual doctors at SVC collect and hold their patients’ information. In some cases patients will provide information to SVC to facilitate their health care.

2. Accredited medical officers, students contractors and volunteers

SVC collects information from you which is necessary to properly conduct, manage and oversee SVC’s business. This includes collecting personal information such as your name, address, professional experience, qualifications and past employers, and any other information which may be necessary to appropriately conduct, manage and oversee SVC’s business.

3. Job applicants

SVC collects information from you which is necessary to assess and engage job applicants. This includes collecting personal information such as your name, address, professional experience, qualifications, references and past employers, and any other information which is necessary to process your job application.

4. Donors

Where you have consented, SVC collects information from you for the purposes of fundraising for SVC including agreeing the terms of and managing any donations you agree to make. This includes collecting personal information such as your name and address.

3.2. How we collect personal information

We will usually collect your personal information directly from you, however sometimes we may need to collect information about you from third parties, such as:

1. another health service provider;
2. past employers and referees; or
3. related entities (being those listed in the annexure). We will only collect information from third parties where:
4. you have consented to such collection;
5. such collection is necessary to enable us to facilitate the provision of appropriate care services by SVC
6. such collection is reasonably necessary to enable us to appropriately manage, conduct and oversee SVC; or
7. it is legally permissible for us to do.

3.3. How SVC uses your personal information

SVC only uses your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected by SVC (primary purpose), unless:

1. there is another purpose (secondary purpose) and that secondary purpose is directly related to the primary purpose, and you would reasonably expect, or SVC has informed you, that your information will be used for that secondary purpose;
2. you have given your consent for your personal information to be used for a secondary purpose; or
3. SVC is required or authorised by law to use your personal information for a secondary purpose (including for research and quality improvements within SVC).

For example, SVC may use your personal information to:

4. facilitate the provision of health care services to you by a doctor based at SVC;
5. appropriately manage, conduct and oversee the SVHA Group’s business, such as assessing insurance requirements, conducting audits, and undertaking accreditation processes;
6. assist SVC to manage, conduct and oversee SVC’s business, including quality assurance programs, billing, improving its services, implementing appropriate security measures, conducting research and training personnel;
7. where required, effectively communicate with third parties; and
8. carry out fundraising activities (where you have consented).

3.4. Complete and accurate details

Where possible and practicable, you will have the option to deal with SVC on an anonymous basis or by using a pseudonym.  However, if the personal information you provide us is incomplete or inaccurate, or you withhold personal information, we may not be able to provide the assistance or support you are seeking, or deal with you effectively.