At HDST, Confidentiality and a right to privacy is paramount when providing speech pathology and occupational therapy intervention to each client and their family.

This policy ensures participants’ personal information is collected, maintained and administered in accordance with NDIS and relevant privacy legislation in order to provide a safe working environment and high quality services. Confidentiality and a right to privacy is paramount when providing speech pathology and occupational therapy intervention to a participant/client and family.

Our policies and procedures relating to privacy and confidentiality, including providing any information written or verbal to other supporting bodies regarding the participant/client are at the forefront of our service and consistently upheld with all of our staff.

Privacy and Confidentiality

  • Hills District Speech Therapy is totally committed to comply with the Privacy requirements of the Privacy Act, the Australian Privacy Principles and for Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) as required by organisations providing disability services
  • Hills District Speech Therapy is fully committed to comply with the consent requirements of the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework
  • All individuals will have access to information about the privacy of their personal information
  • Individuals have the right to request access to their personal records by requesting this with their contact person
  • Where we are required to report to government funding bodies, the information provided is non-identifiable and related to services and supports hours provided, age, disability, language and nationality
  • Personal information will only be used by staff members for the care of the client and will not be shared with other parties without individuals’ permission unless required by law (e.g. reporting assault, abuse, neglect, or where a court order is issued)

Security of information

  • At the clinic, we ensure at all times employees and participants’ personal information is protected from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure
  • Participants can have access to their personal information and it only be disclosed with the staff involved in their therapy plans
  • Security for personal information at the clinic includes, password protection for IT systems, locked filling cabinets and physical access restrictions with only authorised personnel permitted access
  • Personal information no longer required is securely destroyed or de-identified.

Data breaches

  • At the clinic, our commitment is to take all reasonable steps to prevent a data breach, including storing personal information securely and accessible only by the relevant staff members
  • If personal information is suspected to be disclosed to unauthorised parties, at the clinic we will take the necessary steps to reduce the chance of harm, advising the person affected, and if necessary the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

Breach of privacy and confidentiality

  • A breach of this policy is considered an incident that requires management to follow the clinic’s incident process to resolve
  • A breach of privacy and confidentiality may require an investigation
  • An intentional breach of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment