Privacy Policy

Please find a copy of our Eva Tilley privacy policy list below.

Regulatory Obligations

As an aged care service this organisation is bound to collect a range of personal information according to the Aged Care Act 1997. The organisation is also bound by the Australian Privacy Principles within the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012 which amends the Privacy Act 1988 and the Victorian Health Records Act 2001.  Both these acts set out the requirements for ensuring systems and processes are in place to appropriately manage personal information.

What personal information do we collect?

Personal details such as;

• name, gender, date of birth, next of kin details, pension status and number
• photograph for identification on records including the medication chart
• Medicare number, health fund details if relevant, ambulance membership number, pharmaceutical entitlement, state trustee number if relevant
• financial and banking details relevant for payments as required by the Aged Care Act

Health information including;

• previous and current physical and mental health conditions and or disabilities
• advance care wishes
• health assessments about physical, mental and lifestyle needs and preferences, an individualised plan of care, ongoing health charting, health professional reports and notes and test results that form the health record.

Sensitive information such as;

• Ethnicity or cultural background
• Religious beliefs and practices
• Sexual preferences.

Please note you have a right not to provide sensitive information if you do not wish to.

How we collect and hold information?

Information is collected using a combination of paper based forms and computer programs and is stored either as a paper record files or electronic records in our computer system.  A unique number referred to as a Unit Record (UR) number is assigned to your health records to enable your information to be appropriately filed and stored and is not used for any other purpose.

Processes are in place to ensure your personal and health information is safeguarded against loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. For example; record storage areas are secured at all times with limited access and computer records are password secured with levels of access according to staff role and responsibility.

The building has security cameras located at the main entry and the common areas such as; corridors and lounge areas for safety and security.  These cameras record images that are kept for review should an incident occur.  Staff also monitor the images throughout each shift to identify potential or actual incidents related to resident safety and or security.  The cameras and images are not used for any other purpose.

Purposes for which we collect, hold, use and disclose personal/health information?

Your personal and health information is used by nursing and care staff and visiting health professionals involved in your care such as; medical practitioner/s, physiotherapist, pharmacist, podiatrist to enable them to provide you with care and services appropriate to your needs and preferences. In emergency information is provided to health professionals for example ambulance officers and locum doctors.

Personal information is also provided on a need to know basis to service departments such as; catering, cleaning, laundry and maintenance and specialist suppliers like continence aid supplier.

As required by the Aged Care Act the police and the Department of Social Services are informed where a resident is unexplainably missing or if physical elder abuse has occurred.  And as required by the Department of Health there is a requirement to report certain illnesses such as; gastroenteritis or influenza outbreak.

As an aged care service we are required by law to communicate some personal information to the Department of Social Services (DSS) to enable the organisation to receive the correct level of funding for the care required and the appropriate running of the service. This information includes personal details about your identity e.g. name, date of birth and health information such as; medical conditions, the level of assistance required for activities of daily living and specialised care needs.

The organisation is also bound by law to provide access to your personal and health information to the Aged Care Quality Assessors. The DSS and quality assessors are also bound by the Australian Privacy Principles.

Information is also used to monitor and assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of care through a range of continuous improvement activities including documentation audits, surveys, reviews, staff training and data analysis activities.  Such activities are undertaken by managers and staff and in some cases contracted consultants who are all bound by the privacy legislation to maintain confidentiality of your information.

We do not use your personal details to direct market. And it is unlikely that your information will be disclosed to an overseas recipient unless required by law or if requested or consented by yourself for a particularly purpose.

How can you access and or correct your information?

The Director of Care has been delegated as the Privacy Officer for the organisation to assist you with your right to access or correct your personal information held by the organisation. If you have any questions or would like to access or correct information that you believe is incorrect please write or speak to the Privacy Officer.  The Privacy Officer will inform you of any documentation requirements associated with your request and promptly deal with your request as soon as practicable and within 30 days.

Eva Tilley Memorial Home:
Street Address: 1100 Burke Road Balwyn North 3104
Postal Address: “As Above”
Phone: (03) 9859 9541 | Fax: (03) 9859 2463
Email: info@evatilley.com.au

How to make a complaint?

If you wish to make a complaint about a situation where you believe your personal information has been inappropriately handled or there has been a breach of privacy please write or speak to the Privacy Officer (Director of Care)

The Privacy Officer/(Director of Care) will follow the organisation’s Complaints Procedure which involves a response as soon as practicable and action taken based on a risk assessment and within 30 days.  A copy of the procedure is available upon request.

If you are dissatisfied with the response and or the handling of your complaint you may contact the following:

Health Complaints Commissioner (Vic) Call: 1300 582 113 Address: 26th Floor, 570 Bourke Street Melbourne. Vic 3000 Website

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) Call: 1300 363 992 Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au Address: GPO Box 5218  Sydney NSW 2001 Website