Privacy Policy

 Current as of: 26.08.2026

The objective of this document is to provide you, our patient, with clear information on how your personal information is collected and used within the practice. Occasionally we also need to share your personal information to involve others in your healthcare and this policy outlines when, how, and why we share your information. 

1.  Who can I contact about this policy? 

For enquiries concerning this policy, you can contact Aimee Guimaraes on 0422 570 265 or email aimee@lyrebirdnaturopathy.com.au

2.  When and why is your consent necessary? 

When you register as a patient of Lyrebird Naturopathy, you provide consent for naturopath Aimee Guimaraes (and any applicable practice staff) to access and use your personal information to facilitate the delivery of healthcare. Access to your personal information is restricted to Aimee Guimaraes and where applicable, practice team members who require it for your care. If we ever use your personal information for purposes other than outlined in this document, we will obtain additional consent from you. 

It is important to us that as our patient, you understand why we collect and use your personal information. 

By acknowledging this Privacy Policy you consent to us collecting, holding, using, retaining and disclosing your personal information in the manners described below.

3.  Why do we collect, use, store, and share your personal information? 

The practice collects, uses, stores, and shares your personal information primarily to manage your health safely and effectively. This includes providing healthcare services, managing medical records, and ensuring accurate billing and payments. Additionally, we may utilise your information for internal quality and safety improvement processes such as practice audits, and staff training to maintain high-quality service standards. 

4.  What personal information is collected? 

The information we will collect about you includes your: 

·         full name, date of birth, addresses, contact details 

·         medical information including medical history, medications, allergies, and adverse reactions, immunisations, social history, family history, risk factors and pathology results.

·         healthcare identifier numbers 

·         health fund details. 

5.  Can you deal with us anonymously? 

You can deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym, unless it is impracticable for us to do so, or we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals. 

6.  How is personal information collected? 

The practice may collect your personal information in several different ways.

When you book your first consultation, Aimee Guimaraes or the practice team will collect your personal information via your online, physical or emailed New Client and Consent Forms, or verbally, if booking a consultation via phone.

We may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, send us an email or SMS, telephone us, make an online appointment, or communicate with us using social media. 

When you attend a consultation, your personal and medical information will be collected and updated in our records to ensure that ongoing appropriate and safe health care advice and natural medicine prescribing, is provided by Lyrebird Naturopathy.

In some circumstances, personal information may also be collected from other sources, including: 

·         Your guardian or responsible person. 

·         Your partner, spouse or family member (if verbal or written permission has been granted to Lyrebird Naturopathy to discuss your health care with these parties)

·         Other involved healthcare providers, such as GPs, specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services, and pathology and diagnostic imaging services. 

·         Your private health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (if relevant). 

·         While providing health care services, further personal information may be collected via: 

o    electronic prescribing platforms (i.e. Vital.ly, Natural Chemist/ Natural Script and Ariya Health)

o    My Health Record 

o    online appointments via Zoom, Acuity scheduling and www.lyrebirdnaturopathy.com.au

Various types of images may be collected and used, including: 

·         CCTV footage: Collected from our premises for security and safety purpose. 

·         Photos and medical images: These can be taken using personal devices for health care purposes, following the guidelines outlined in our guide on using personal devices for documenting medical images.    

We will always comply with privacy obligations when collecting personal information from third-party sources. This includes ensuring transparency with patients, obtaining necessary consents, maintaining data accuracy, securing the information, and using it only for specified purposes.

7.  When, why and with whom do we share your personal information?  

We sometimes share your personal information: 

·         with third parties for business purposes, such as accreditation agencies or information technology providers – these third parties are required to comply with APPs and this policy 

·         with other healthcare providers (e.g. In referral letters, or health care outlines to specialists) 

·         when it is required or authorised by law (e.g. court subpoenas) 

·         when it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety, or public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent 

·         to assist in locating a missing person 

·         to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim 

·         for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process 

·         when it is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (e.g. some diseases require mandatory notification) 

·         when it is provision of health care services, through electronic prescribing (e.g. Vital.ly, Ariya Health, Natural Script/ Natural Chemist). 

Only people who need to access your personal information will be able to do so. Other than providing medical services or as otherwise described in this policy, the practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent. 

We do not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent. 

8.  Will your information be used for marketing purposes? 

The practice will not use your personal information for marketing any goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying the practice in writing. 

9.  How is your information used to improve services?  

The practice may use your personal information to improve the quality of the services offered to patients through research, analysis of patient data for quality improvement and for training activities with the practice team. 

We may provide de-identified data to other organisations to improve population health outcomes. If we provide this information to other organisations patients cannot be identified from the information we share, the information is secure and is stored within Australia. You can let reception staff know if you do not want your de-identified information included. 

At times, Naturopathic and Allied Health practices are approached by research teams to recruit eligible patients into specific studies which require access to identifiable information. You may be approached by Aimee Guimaraes or Lyrebird Naturopathy to participate in research. Researchers will not approach you directly without your express consent having been provided to the practice. If you provide consent, you will then receive specific information on the research project and how your personal health information will be used, at which point you can decide to participate or not participate in the research project.

10.   How are document automation technologies used? 

Document automation is where systems use existing data to generate electronic documents relating to medical conditions and healthcare, which may be sent to other healthcare providers. These documents contain only relevant medical information. 

Lyrebird Naturopathy does not currently use document automation technologies to create documents such as referrals or patient health care summaries. In the event that document automation technologies are implemented by Lyrebird Naturopathy, this Privacy Policy will be updated accordingly with details of which secure medical software is to be used and consent will be requested from existing patients.

The practice complies with the Australian privacy legislation and APPs to protect your information. 

11.   How are Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scribes used? 

The practice uses an AI scribe tool to support healthcare practitioners take notes during their telehealth consultations with you. The AI scribe uses an audio recording of your consultation to generate an electronic clinical note for your health record. The practice AI scribe service is built in to Zoom Workplace, the host of online telehealth consultations for Lyrebird Naturopathy.

The practice will only use data from our digital scribe service to provide healthcare to you and documentation of this. 

Should you wish at any time to opt out of using an AI scribe during telehealth consultations with Lyrebird Naturopathy, please inform Aimee Guimaraes in writing via aimee@lyrebirdnaturopathy.com.au

12.   How is your personal information stored and protected? 

Your personal information may be stored in various forms:

·         Paper records (which may be scanned and uploaded electronically)

·         Electronic records

·         Visual records (such as photos, ultrasounds, X-rays, or CT scans where medically relevant)

·         CCTV images (from security cameras located at the front of the practice, Avenue Health, and within the reception and hallway area only, excluding consulting and treatments rooms). Please note that no CCTV/ security cameras are fitted or operate within consulting and treatments rooms.

The practice stores all personal information securely. Paper and physical records are stored in secure, locked filing cabinets within the practice, only accessible by Aimee Guimaraes. Electronic records are stored securely in password protected folders, with cloud back up, only accessible by Aimee Guimaraes. CCTV images are stored securely, and only accessible by Lauren Edwards, owner of Avenue Health.

13.   How can you access and correct your personal information at the practice? 

You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information. 

The practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. 

Should you wish to request access to or correction of your own personal information, you may do this in writing, by emailing Aimee Guimaraes at aimee@lyrebirdnaturopathy.com.au

Please note that any requests to access or correct personal information and medical records will incur a $15 AUD flat fee. This is to offset the time required to review and correct any documentation, such that we may comply with the request.

The practice will respond to any requests to access or correct your personal information within 7 business days.

The practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. Sometimes, we will ask you to verify that your personal information held by the practice is correct and current. You may request we correct or update your information. To do this please contact Aimee Guimaraes in writing via aimee@lyrebirdnaturopathy.com.au

14.   How is your personal information handled when it is no longer required for health care purposes?

Should your personal information and consultation notes no longer be required for the purposes of providing health care, your files will be securely stored and archived for a period of at least 7 years after the cessation of treatment. This is required by law. After this legally mandated period, all physical personal information and files will be shredded, de-identified and disposed of securely, and all electronic personal information and files will be deleted.

15.   How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at Lyrebird Naturopathy? 

We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with the resolution procedure. 

Please contact:

        Aimee Guimaraes via email at aimee@lyrebirdnaturopathy.com.au or by phone on 0422 570 265, or by mail at:

        Lyrebird Naturopathy

        40 Muir Avenue, Kerang VIC 3579

We aim to respond within 7 business days.

If you do not feel we have resolved your issue you may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner will require you to give them time to respond before they investigate.  For further information visit www.oaic.gov.au or call the OAIC (Office of the Australian Information Commissioner) on 1300 363 992.  

16.   How is privacy on the website maintained?  

At Lyrebird Naturopathy, any personal information you share with us through website, email, and social media, is handled securely and confidentially. This practice uses analytics and cookies. 

17.   Policy review statement 

Our privacy policy is regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with current obligations.  

If any changes are made: 

·         They will be reflected on the website. 

·         Significant changes may be communicated directly to patients via email or other means. 

Please check the policy periodically for updates. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.