Privacy Policy

Introduction

Sydney Specialist Oral Surgery ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services.

Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and postal address
• Enquiry Information: Details you provide in contact forms or email communications
• Medical Information: Health information relevant to your oral surgery treatment (collected during consultations, not via the website)
• Technical Information: IP address, browser type, device information, and website usage data

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Responding to your enquiries and communications
• Scheduling and managing appointments
• Providing oral surgery services and patient care
• Communicating with referring doctors and dentists
• Improving our website and services
• Complying with legal and regulatory obligations

Contact Form and Data Transmission

Our website contact form uses a "mailto" link, which means when you submit the form, it opens your default email client (such as Outlook, Gmail, or Apple Mail) with your information pre-filled. The data is transmitted via your personal email service, not stored on our website servers.

This approach means:

• Your enquiry is sent directly from your email to contact@sydneysos.com.au
• The security and privacy of transmission depends on your email provider's policies
• We do not store form submissions on our website
• You have full control over whether to send the email

Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience and analyze website traffic.

Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled.

Analytics: We may use analytics services to understand how visitors use our website. This helps us improve our content and user experience. These services may collect information such as pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation patterns.

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of our website.

Third-Party Services

Our website uses the following third-party services:

• Google Maps: We embed Google Maps on our contact page to help you find our clinic. Google's privacy policy applies to this service.
• Email Services: When you use our contact form, your email client and email service provider handle the transmission of your message.

These third-party services have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them.

Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure. This includes:

• Secure hosting and transmission protocols (HTTPS)
• Access controls and authentication measures
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training on privacy and data protection

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Medical records are retained in accordance with Australian healthcare regulations and professional guidelines.

Your Rights

Under the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to:

• Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Complaints: Make a complaint about how we handle your personal information

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details provided below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

Disclosure of Information

We may disclose your personal information to:

• Your referring dentist or doctor (with your consent)
• Healthcare professionals involved in your care
• Hospital facilities where procedures are performed
• Service providers who assist us in operating our practice
• Government agencies and regulators as required by law

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will post any changes on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:

Privacy Complaints

If you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles, you can make a complaint to us using the contact details above. We will investigate your complaint and respond within a reasonable timeframe.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):

• Website: www.oaic.gov.au
• Phone: 1300 363 992
• Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au