Privacy Policy

Dr Steven Brown (Acupuncturist) | Naturopath | Registered Nurse Last updated: 28 August 2026

Your privacy

Dr Steven Brown respects your privacy and recognises that health information is sensitive.

Personal and health information is handled in accordance with applicable Australian privacy and health-record laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) where applicable.

This Privacy Policy explains how your personal and health information may be collected, used, stored and disclosed.

Information I may collect

Depending on your interaction with the practice, information collected may include:

• name, date of birth and contact details

• emergency contact details

• medical and health history

• current health concerns and diagnoses

• medications

• supplements and herbal medicines

• allergies and adverse reactions

• pathology and investigation results

• dietary and lifestyle information

• sleep, exercise and wellbeing information

• relevant family medical history

• consultation and clinical notes

• treatment and management plans

• referrals and healthcare correspondence

• appointment and booking information

• payment and invoicing information

• information submitted through forms, email or website enquiries.

Only information reasonably necessary for providing or administering services will be collected.

How information is collected

Information may be collected directly from you:

• during consultations

• through online intake and consent forms

• through booking and practice-management systems

• through telehealth

• by email or telephone

• through the website

• through documents or pathology results you provide.

Information may also be received from another healthcare practitioner or authorised person where you have consented or where permitted by law.

Why your information is used

Your information may be used to:

• provide naturopathy and related health services

• understand your health concerns and goals

• develop and review recommendations and management plans

• identify relevant medication, supplement or herbal considerations

• manage appointments and telehealth consultations

• maintain appropriate clinical records

• communicate with you regarding your care

• process payments and invoices

• coordinate with other healthcare practitioners where appropriate

• arrange pathology, supplement or other services where requested

• meet professional, insurance, regulatory and legal obligations

• respond to enquiries and complaints.

Your information will generally only be used for the purpose for which it was collected or for another directly related purpose that you would reasonably expect, unless you consent otherwise or disclosure is permitted or required by law.

Sharing your information

Where reasonably necessary, information may be shared with:

• healthcare practitioners involved in your care

• pathology or testing providers

• supplement or dispensing services

• practice-management and telehealth providers

• secure technology and cloud-service providers

• payment processors

• insurers, professional advisers or regulatory bodies where appropriate

• government authorities where required or permitted by law.

Health information will not be sold to third parties.

Where appropriate, your consent will be obtained before information is shared with another healthcare practitioner.

Online systems and service providers

The practice may use third-party providers for:

• online bookings

• telehealth

• clinical records

• intake forms

• email

• website hosting

• payments

• pathology or supplement services.

Reasonable care is taken when choosing systems used to manage personal and health information.

Some providers may store or process information outside Australia. Where overseas disclosure applies, reasonable steps will be taken in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.

This policy will be updated when the practice's final technology providers and overseas data-storage arrangements are confirmed.

Marketing emails

Becoming a patient does not automatically subscribe you to marketing emails.

If you separately choose to receive newsletters, educational information, course announcements or promotional material, your contact details may be used for that purpose.

You can unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time.

Appointment reminders and communications relating to your care are separate from marketing communications.

Website enquiries

General website contact forms should only be used for general enquiries.

Please avoid submitting detailed or urgent medical information through a website contact form or ordinary email.

The website may use cookies or basic analytics to understand website usage and improve functionality.

Protecting your information

Reasonable steps are taken to protect personal and health information from:

• misuse

• loss

• unauthorised access

• unauthorised modification

• unauthorised disclosure.

This may include secure practice-management systems, passwords, access controls, secure devices and appropriate electronic security measures.

No electronic system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Health records

Clinical records are retained in accordance with applicable legal and professional requirements.

For Victorian private health service providers, adult health records are generally required to be retained for at least 7 years after the last health service provided.

Where the person was under 18 when last treated, records are generally retained until they reach 25 years of age.

Accessing or correcting your information

You may request access to personal or health information held about you.

You may also request correction if you believe information is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.

Proof of identity may be required before information is released.

Some legal exceptions to access may apply.

Privacy concerns and complaints

If you have a concern about how your personal or health information has been handled, please contact the practice first so the matter can be reviewed.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you may also contact:

Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC) Phone: 1300 582 113 Website: www.hcc.vic.gov.au

or, where applicable:

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) Website: www.oaic.gov.au

Contact

For privacy enquiries, requests to access or correct your records, or privacy complaints:

Dr Steven Brown (Acupuncturist) Naturopath | Registered Nurse

Please do not use email or the website contact form for emergencies.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.

Updates to this policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes to the practice, services, technology providers or legal requirements.

The most recent version will be published on this website.