Privacy Policy

1. About this policy

Brookwater Medical Centre treats every patient’s personal and health information as confidential. This policy sets out how we collect, hold, use and disclose that information, and how you can access or correct it. We handle information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles.

 

2. Who we are

Brookwater Medical Centre is operated by The Trustee for BMC Doctors Trust (ABN 46 509 571 642), trading as Brookwater Medical Centre, at Unit 3, 22 Magnolia Drive, Brookwater QLD 4300. The practice changed ownership in 2026 – see Change of ownership below for what that means for records from before then.

3. Change of ownership

Brookwater Medical Centre reopened under new ownership and management on 10 August 2026. The current practice, The Trustee for BMC Doctors Trust, does not hold and has no access to clinical or administrative records created before that date. If your query relates to care provided before then, it relates to the previous operators of the practice, not the current practice. Please contact our reception team on the details below – while we cannot access records held by the previous operators, our staff can guide you on next steps.

4. The information we collect

To provide safe medical care, we collect:

• Your name, date of birth, address, contact details and emergency contact
• Medicare, Department of Veterans’ Affairs and private health insurance details
• Your medical history, symptoms, examination findings, test results, medications, allergies and treatment
• Information from other providers involved in your care, including specialists, hospitals, pathology and imaging services
• Billing and payment details

We collect only what our doctors and staff need to provide your care, and we collect it from you directly wherever possible.

 

5. How we collect it

We collect information when you register with the practice, book or attend an appointment, or contact us by phone, email or through our website. Bookings and appointment reminders are handled through HotDoc. We also receive information from other treating providers, from pathology and imaging services, and through Medicare, DVA and health fund claiming systems.

 

6. Why we collect, use and disclose your information

We use your information to provide and coordinate your medical care, to bill Medicare, DVA and health funds, and to meet our legal and professional reporting obligations. We share information with other healthcare providers directly involved in your treatment, such as specialists, allied health providers, pathology and imaging services, and hospitals. We do not sell your information, and we do not use it for marketing without your consent.

 

7. My Health Record

We participate in the My Health Record system. Where you have a My Health Record, we may upload clinical information to it in line with the My Health Records Act 2012 (Cth). You control what appears on your record and who can see it through your own My Health Record settings, or you can choose not to have a record.

 

8. Data quality and security

Your health record is stored in Best Practice, our clinical software, and access is limited to staff involved in your care or the practice’s operation. We take reasonable steps to keep records accurate and secure. If a data breach occurs that is likely to cause serious harm, we will notify affected patients and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, as required under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.

 

9. Access and correction

You can ask to see or correct the information we hold about you at any time. Requests should be made in writing to our Privacy Officer (details below). We may charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost of retrieving and copying records. If we cannot give you access, we will explain why.

 

10. How long we keep your information

We retain health records for the period required by law and professional guidelines, including the retention periods set by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Records for children are kept until they turn 25.

 

11. Sending information overseas

We do not send your personal information outside Australia.

 

12. Our website

Our website may use cookies and analytics tools to understand how visitors use it. This information does not form part of your medical record. If you contact us through our website, we use the details you provide only to respond to your enquiry.

 

13. Complaints

If you have a concern about how we’ve handled your information, contact our Privacy Officer first so we can look into it. If you’re not satisfied with our response, you can contact:

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
1300 363 992 · oaic.gov.au

Office of the Health Ombudsman (Queensland)
133 646 · oho.qld.gov.au

 

14. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The current version is always available on our website.

 

15. Contact us

Privacy Officer, Brookwater Medical Centre
Unit 3, 22 Magnolia Drive, Brookwater QLD 4300
Phone: 07 3110 1300
Email: reception@brookwatermedicalcentre.com.au