1. About this policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Safe Independence ("we", "us", "our") handles personal and health information when you use our website, request resources or book a consult.

Safe Independence is operated by Peter Haynes, a physiotherapist providing private telehealth consultations to families and older adults in Australia.

2. What information we collect

We may collect:

• Contact details – such as your name and email address.
• Information about the older person – for example age range, living situation, history of falls or near falls, relevant medical conditions, mobility, home environment and supports, as provided by you in forms or during a consult.
• Consultation information – notes taken during or after consultations, and written summaries provided to you.
• Booking and payment information – details related to your appointment bookings and payments. Payment card details are handled by Halaxy's secure payment system and are not stored on this website.
• Website usage information – such as pages visited and form submissions, collected via standard web logs or analytics tools.

We usually collect information directly from you, or from the person booking on behalf of an older adult. If you provide information about someone else, you should do so with their knowledge and, where appropriate, their consent.

3. How we use your information

We use personal and health information to:

• Provide, manage and document consultations and related services.
• Review information you provide before a session so more of the consult can focus on advice and planning.
• Prepare and send written summaries and resources.
• Arrange bookings, send confirmations and reminders, and manage payments.
• Communicate with you about your consults or any changes to services.
• Send occasional emails with practical information about falls and home safety if you have requested a resource (such as the checklist) or opted in to receive updates. You can unsubscribe at any time.
• Maintain business and clinical records and comply with legal and professional obligations.

We do not sell your personal or health information.

4. Where your information is stored and who it is shared with

Clinical, booking, telehealth and payment information is stored and processed primarily in Halaxy, our practice management and telehealth platform. Halaxy uses secure infrastructure, encryption and access controls. For more detail, you can refer to Halaxy's own privacy and security information.

We may also use:

• An email service provider to send confirmations, summaries and resources.
• Standard web hosting and analytics services to operate and improve this website.

We may disclose information to:

• Other health professionals (such as your GP, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or other providers) where you ask us to share information, or where it is reasonably necessary for coordinating care and you have consented.
• Our professional advisers (for example, insurers or legal advisers) where necessary and subject to confidentiality.
• Regulators, government agencies or others where required or authorised by law.

Where service providers handle your information on our behalf, we take reasonable steps to ensure they protect it appropriately.

5. Security and retention

We take reasonable steps to protect personal and health information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. This includes using secure practice systems (such as Halaxy), strong passwords and limited access.

Health records are retained for at least the minimum periods required under relevant Australian privacy and health record laws, and may be kept longer where clinically or legally appropriate. After that, records may be securely destroyed or de-identified.

6. Access and correction

You can request access to the personal or health information we hold about you, or ask for corrections if you believe it is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.

To do this, please contact us using the details below. We may need to verify your identity. In some cases we may not be able to provide access to certain information (for example, where this would unreasonably impact the privacy of others or is legally restricted), but we will explain why if this happens.

7. Cookies and website analytics

Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to improve your experience and to understand how the site is used. You can usually control cookies through your browser settings, but some features of the site may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

If we use basic analytics tools, we do so to understand general website usage and improve content. Analytics data is typically aggregated and does not identify individuals.

8. Contact and complaints

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, or if you would like to request access or correction, please contact:

Safe Independence
Email: admin@safeindependence.com.au

If you have a concern or complaint about how your personal or health information has been handled, please contact us in the first instance. We will aim to respond promptly and work with you to resolve the issue.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may be able to contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for further information or to make a privacy complaint: www.oaic.gov.au

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised "last updated" date. We encourage you to review it periodically.