Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 2026

1. Commitment to Your Privacy

Ānshén Acupuncture ("we", "us", or "our") is dedicated to protecting the privacy of your personal information and sensitive health details. As a healthcare practice registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (CMBA), we are bound by the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and applicable health records legislation in Queensland.

2. Types of Information We Collect

In the course of providing clinical acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine consultations, we collect information that is reasonably necessary for your healthcare, including:

• Contact information: Your full name, date of birth, phone number, email address, and residential address.
• Emergency contact details: Next of kin or nominated emergency support contacts.
• Health & medical records: Comprehensive health history, current symptoms, sleep patterns, stress levels, medical diagnoses, medications, supplements, pulse and tongue observations, and treatment notes.
• Billing & transaction data: Invoicing records, private health fund claiming details, and payment confirmations.
• Website enquiries: Information submitted voluntarily via our contact form or email communications.

3. How We Collect Your Information

We collect personal information directly from you wherever possible, including:

• During initial and follow-up clinical consultations.
• Via new patient intake forms and informed consent documentation.
• When you book an appointment online, by phone, or via email.
• Through messages sent via our website contact form.

4. Use and Disclosure of Information

Your health and personal information is strictly confidential. We only use or disclose your information for:

• Providing tailored Chinese medicine and acupuncture treatments.
• Clinic administration, appointment reminders, and account management.
• Private health insurance rebates or processing claims at your request.
• Communicating with other healthcare practitioners involved in your care, strictly with your prior consent.
• Situations required or authorised by law, such as a court subpoena or mandatory reporting obligations.

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

5. Storage and Data Security

We take active, rigorous measures to protect your health records from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure:

• Electronic clinical notes and booking systems are stored in secure, encrypted practice management software adhering to Australian health privacy standards.
• Access to patient records is restricted solely to authorised clinical personnel.
• Physical documents, if any, are kept in locked, secure clinic facilities.
• Under Australian health records retention laws, clinical files are securely retained for a minimum of 7 years following your last consultation (or until age 25 for paediatric patients).

6. Accessing and Correcting Your Records

You have the right to request access to the personal and health records we hold about you, or to request corrections if you believe the information is inaccurate, out of date, or incomplete. To make an access or correction request, please contact us in writing at jaz@anshenacupuncture.com.au.

7. Contact and Enquiries

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal health information is handled, please contact our privacy officer:

Ānshén Acupuncture
Attention: Privacy Officer
Address: 4/2546 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Email: jaz@anshenacupuncture.com.au
Phone: 0408 290 001

If you believe your privacy has been breached and are unsatisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or by calling 1300 363 992.