Your Rights and Privacy
All clients of GLCH have the right to considerate and respectful care at all times and under all circumstances from our staff. Your cultural needs will also be respected.
You have the right to:
- Access the care you need
- Safe and high quality care
- Be treated with dignity and consideration
- Have your cultural needs respected
- Be included in decisions about your care
- Access information in a language you can understand
- Expect that anything you tell us is kept private
- Have someone speak on your behalf
- Access information in a language you can understand
- A second opinion
- Refuse our help at any stage
- Access your client record
How you can help us:
- Treat our staff and other clients with respect
- Tell us if you do not understand what you have been told about your treatment or care
- Tell us if there is a change to your health or your circumstances. This includes your address and telephone number
- Keep your appointments or let us know if you can’t
- Keep your home safe for us to visit you. This includes tying up your pets
- Give us feedback about our services and facilities to help us improve
Information we collect about you
We ask you for your information to help us treat and care for you. We will not use or tell anybody your information without your consent unless it is needed for legal reasons.
For more information please contact the Privacy Officer on 5155 8300, or see our privacy statement below.
HEY! Good or bad, we would love to hear about your GLCH experience. Click HERE to leave us your feedback.
Complaints Process
Complaints with regard to the handling of client or employee information should be made in writing and directed to the Chief Executive Officer. We will respond to complaints within 30 days.
Unresolved complaints relating to health records may be referred to:
Health Complaints Commissioner
Telephone: 1300 582 113
Online at: https://hcc.vic.gov.au/make-complaint
or write to:
Health Complaints Commissioner – Level 26, 570 Bourke Street Melbourne 3000 Victoria
Unresolved complaints relating to other records may be referred to:
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner – GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001
Downloads
Privacy Statement
General
Gippsland Lakes Complete Health (GLCH) is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information. Personal information is information or an opinion, whether true or not, regarding a person where the identity of the person is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained from the information or opinion. Personal information collected by GLCH may include sensitive information. Sensitive information consists of information or an opinion about a person’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of a professional or trade association, membership of a trade union, sexual preferences or practices, criminal record or health.
Personal Information Handling Practices
Collection and storage
We collect personal information only for purposes which are directly related to our functions or activities. The kinds of information we usually collect includes:
- Health information
- Medical, legal and cultural information for child care service provision
- Concession card details where applicable
- Contact details of our members and volunteers
- Details collected from feedback and those enquiring about our services
It is our usual practice to collect information directly from you or your authorised representative. You do not have to provide all personal information requested, but if you do not provide some or all of the information requested, we may not be able to provide you with a service or the quality of service you receive may be affected. Personal information is kept in paper based files in secure storage or in secure, password protected electronic systems, with access restricted to authorised staff with a legitimate purpose.
Using a pseudonym or engaging with us anonymously
Where possible you will be given the opportunity to engage with us using a pseudonym or anonymously.
Use and disclosure
GLCH uses personal information only for the purpose for which it is collected or a closely related secondary purpose. In broad terms, we collect the information we need to:
- Provide health or child care services to our clients
- Keep our clients and members informed about our services
- Meet our legislative obligations
- Resolve complaints and facilitate continuous quality improvement
No information is disclosed without your consent unless authorised or required under legislation or by a government funding provider. For more information about our use and disclosure of health information, please refer to our brochure Your Information – It’s Private.
Overseas disclosures
GLCH does not disclose personal information to overseas recipients unless you request us to do so.
How long do we keep your information?
Records
GLCH maintains health service records in accordance with the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic). In most cases this means we keep your information for seven years from the date you last access our services. After this time, your information is securely destroyed.
Children's services records
GLCH maintains records relating to provision of child care services in accordance with the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011. In most cases this means we keep this information for three years from the date you last access our services. After this time your information is securely destroyed.
Other records
GLCH maintains other records in accordance with relevant legislation or Australian Standards. Personal information that is no longer required by GLCH is destroyed after any applicable minimum retention periods have expired.
Request for access and correction
You, or your authorised representative, have the right to request access to the information we hold about you and to seek correction of this information if required. Requests must be made in writing. For access to health records under the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic), a Request for Access to Health Records Form is available on our website and at all our sites; a letter may also be used for health and all other records. You will need to provide proof of identity and, if necessary, proof of being an authorised representative. You will also need to specify what information is being requested and in what form you would like to receive it.
Links to further information about your rights
- UNICEF - Children's Rights Simplified
- Victims' Charter
- Human Rights - Keeping Kids Safe and Well
- Australian Charter of Health Care Rights
- Aboriginal Cultural Rights
- Child Safe Standards
- Charter of Aged Care Rights
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
- The Australian Human Rights Commission (Disability Rights)
- The UN Refugee Agency (Persons with disabilities)