PRIVACY POLICY
HealthConnectSHEN
Effective Date: June 2026
Our Commitment to Privacy
HealthConnectSHEN is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal and health information entrusted to us.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose and protect personal information in accordance with:
- Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
- Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)
- Applicable health records legislation
- Chinese Medicine Board of Australia requirements
- AHPRA professional obligations
By engaging with our services, booking appointments, completing forms, or providing personal information, you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of information as outlined in this Privacy Policy.
Who We Are
HealthConnectSHEN is a Chinese Medicine clinic and herbal dispensary located in Tasmania providing services including:
- Acupuncture
- Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Herbal dispensary services
- Moxibustion
- Cupping
- Gua Sha
- Electro-acupuncture
- Sound-based wellness therapies
- Online consultations
- Health education services
Patient care is provided by authorised practitioners of HealthConnectSHEN.
What Information We Collect
We may collect personal information including:
Identification Information
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Residential address
- Postal address
- Email address
- Telephone numbers
- Emergency contact details
Health Information
As a healthcare provider, we collect sensitive health information including:
- Presenting complaints
- Medical history
- Family medical history
- Current symptoms
- Medications
- Supplements
- Allergies
- Pathology and imaging results
- Referral letters
- Treatment records
- Clinical notes
- Lifestyle information relevant to treatment
- Pregnancy and reproductive health information where relevant
Financial Information
- Payment records
- Invoices
- Private health fund information
- Medicare or DVA information where applicable
Website Information
Our website may automatically collect:
- IP address
- Browser type
- Device information
- Website usage data
- Cookies and analytics information
How We Collect Information
Information may be collected through:
- New patient forms
- Online booking systems
- Cliniko practice management software
- Consultations
- Telephone conversations
- Email correspondence
- Website contact forms
- Online consultation forms
- Referrals from healthcare providers
- Communications with family members where authorised by the patient
Where practical, information is collected directly from the patient.
Why We Collect Information
We collect information for purposes including:
Healthcare Services
- Assessing health needs
- Providing treatment
- Developing treatment plans
- Dispensing herbal medicines
- Monitoring treatment outcomes
- Maintaining accurate clinical records
Administrative Purposes
- Appointment scheduling
- Appointment reminders
- Patient communication
- Billing and payment processing
- Practice administration
Legal and Professional Requirements
- Meeting professional obligations
- Record keeping requirements
- Responding to legal requests
- Insurance requirements
- Regulatory compliance
Use of Cliniko and Third-Party Service Providers
HealthConnectSHEN uses secure third-party service providers to support clinical and administrative operations.
These may include:
- Cliniko (practice management and clinical records)
- Website hosting providers
- Email service providers
- Payment processing providers
- Accounting software providers
These providers may store information on secure servers located in Australia or overseas.
HealthConnectSHEN takes reasonable steps to ensure service providers maintain appropriate privacy and security standards.
Disclosure of Information
We respect patient confidentiality and will not sell, rent or trade personal information.
Information may be disclosed:
With Patient Consent
To:
- General Practitioners
- Specialists
- Allied health practitioners
- Hospitals
- Pathology providers
- Imaging providers
- Family members or carers authorised by the patient
Where Required by Law
Information may be disclosed where required or authorised by law, including:
- Court orders
- Subpoenas
- Mandatory reporting obligations
- Serious threats to life, health or safety
- Regulatory investigations
Storage and Security of Information
HealthConnectSHEN takes reasonable steps to protect personal information from:
- Loss
- Misuse
- Unauthorised access
- Modification
- Disclosure
Security measures include:
- Password-protected electronic systems
- Secure cloud-based practice management software
- Restricted staff access
- Secure storage of records
- Secure disposal procedures
Only authorised practitioners and personnel may access information necessary for patient care and practice administration.
Email and Electronic Communications
Email communication is not always secure.
Patients who choose to communicate via email acknowledge the inherent risks associated with electronic communication.
Where appropriate, appointment reminders and administrative communications may be sent by:
- SMS
- Telephone
Patients may opt out of non-essential communications at any time.
Online Consultations
Where online consultations are provided, reasonable steps are taken to protect patient privacy and confidentiality.
Patients acknowledge that internet-based communications may involve risks outside the control of HealthConnectSHEN.
Access to Your Information
Patients may request access to their personal information or clinical records.
Requests should be made in writing.
Access may be subject to legal or professional restrictions permitted by applicable legislation.
Reasonable administrative fees may apply where extensive record retrieval or copying is required.
Correction of Information
Patients may request correction of inaccurate, incomplete or outdated information.
HealthConnectSHEN will take reasonable steps to update records where appropriate.
Retention of Health Records
Health records are retained in accordance with applicable Australian legal and professional record-keeping requirements.
When records are no longer required, they will be securely destroyed or permanently de-identified.
Website Cookies and Analytics
Our website may use cookies and analytics tools to:
- Improve website functionality
- Monitor website performance
- Understand visitor behaviour
Users may disable cookies through their browser settings, although some website functions may be affected.
Privacy Complaints
If you have concerns regarding the handling of your personal information, please contact us in writing.
We will investigate complaints and endeavour to respond within a reasonable timeframe.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact:
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
Website: www.oaic.gov.au
Contact Us
HealthConnectSHEN
Email: connect@healthconnectshen.com.au
Phone: 0493 260 261
Website: Launceston, Tasmania
Changes to this Policy
HealthConnectSHEN reserves the right to amend this Privacy Policy from time to time.
The most current version will always be available through our website and upon request.
Last Updated: June 2026