Early Start Australia places great importance on protecting the privacy of its clients, families, carers and other stake holders. This ensures our clients have the same level of privacy, dignity and confidentiality as is expected in the rest of the community.
Early Start Australia has a privacy and confidentiality process which is designed to ensure that all client, family, carer and stakeholder information is held in accordance with our obligations under the Privacy Act (1988), Australian Privacy Principles, and Freedom of Information Act (1982). Early Start Australia’s Privacy, Dignity and Confidentiality system is designed to meet National Standards for Disability Services, in particular Standard 1: Rights.
This policy sets out Early Start Australia’s responsibility to:
This policy applies to all Early Start Australia employees, volunteers and contracted staff (permanent, temporary and casual) employed in Early Start Australia’s divisions and business units and relates to the management of privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
Early Start Australia will:
Early Start Australia will:
The complete list of these special situations is contained in the Law
Early Start Australia will:
Early Start Australia is committed to effectively managing risks through compliance with legislation, alignment with best practice and through a practical approach that carefully plans for and prioritises risks and balances the costs and benefits of action.
This policy will be:
Client
A person who is receiving, or has received, a service from Early Start Australia.
Client Record
A legal record of the events and decisions which help a practitioner manage client care. Can be paper or electronic.
Client Record Management System
Management of client records, including systematic control of the creation, maintenance and destruction of records.
Confidentiality
The protection of personal information to protect the dignity and privacy of clients.
Customer
An agency or organisation to which Early Start Australia provides a service, e.g. government department, insurers, employers, etc.
Privacy
An individual’s right to have their personal information withheld and protected from loss, misuse or unauthorised disclosure.
Stakeholder
A person or organisation with a vested interest in Early Start Australia and / or its operations. Stakeholders can include client’s families, representatives and advocates.
Early Start Australia will ensure that:
All queries or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy, requests for access to, or in correction of personal information, should be directed to the individual Practice Manager where the client receives services.
All staff are responsible for the implementation of privacy, dignity and confidentiality procedures. This includes encouraging and supporting people accessing Early Start Australia services to raise any concerns or complaints they have regarding privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
The Clinic Director is responsible for ensuring the policy is followed within the clinic, staff maintain Privacy, Dignity and Confidentiality performance standards, and any complaints are recorded and actioned.
The Clinic Director will report all serious incidents regarding privacy, dignity and confidentiality to the Clinical Services Manager and Chief Executive Officer.
Early Start Australia will communicate with people with disability about quality evaluations and encourage their participation in evaluating services, policies and procedures.
At least once a year the Clinical Services Manager and Clinic Director will analyse staff performance regarding privacy, dignity and confidentiality to determine service gaps, issues or trends in practice, procedures or policies that need to be amended to better safeguard people accessing services and improve services.