Privacy Policy
PauseForward is the telehealth practice of Dr Cecilia Akinloye, a registered General Practitioner with a special interest in perimenopause and menopause care, consulting Australia-wide by secure video. This policy explains what personal and health information I collect, why I collect it, how I keep it safe, and the rights you have over it.
I handle your information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and, where they apply, the health records laws of your state or territory.
On this page
01Who I am
PauseForward is operated by Dr Cecilia Akinloye. I am the person responsible for the personal and health information handled through this website and through my telehealth consultations. Where I mention "I", "me" or "the practice" in this policy, I mean the PauseForward practice.
My clinical consultations are delivered by telehealth in association with Arami Women's Health in East Melbourne. Bookings and clinical records are managed through my practice management and booking systems, which are described further below.
02Information I collect
The information I collect depends on how you interact with me. It can include:
- Identity and contact details such as your name, date of birth, email address, phone number, postal address and, where relevant, your Medicare number and details of any concession or private health cover.
- Health information, which under the Privacy Act is treated as sensitive information. This can include your symptoms, medical and family history, medications, allergies, test results, the reasons for your consultation, and the notes and summaries I create in the course of caring for you.
- Consultation information such as appointment times, the fact that a telehealth consultation took place, and any correspondence between us.
- Payment information needed to process fees and any Medicare or rebate claims. Card details are handled by my payment provider and are not stored by me.
- Website information such as messages you send through a contact or enquiry form, and limited technical and usage data described in section 6.
03How I collect it
Wherever it is reasonable and practical, I collect information directly from you: when you book, complete an intake form, speak with me during a consultation, or contact me. Sometimes, with your consent or where the law permits, I may receive information from others involved in your care, such as your usual GP, a specialist, a pathology or imaging provider, a pharmacy, or a family member or carer.
I may also collect limited technical information automatically when you use this website, as set out in section 6.
04Why I collect and use it
I collect and use your information so that I can:
- provide you with safe, appropriate medical care and advice;
- confirm your identity and manage your appointments;
- keep an accurate clinical record, as I am professionally and legally required to do;
- communicate with you about your care, including reminders, results and follow-up;
- process payments and any Medicare or health-fund claims;
- meet my obligations under Australian law and the standards of my profession; and
- maintain, secure and improve this website.
I only use your health information for the purpose for which it was collected, for a directly related purpose you would reasonably expect, or otherwise as permitted or required by law and with your consent where consent is needed.
05When I share it
I do not sell your information, and I never use your health information to target advertising. I may share your information only where it is necessary for your care or required by law, including with:
- other treating practitioners you have asked me to involve, or where a referral or shared-care arrangement is in your interest;
- pathology, imaging, pharmacy and allied-health providers involved in your treatment;
- Medicare, the Department of Health, or a health fund, for claiming and rebates;
- my carefully selected service providers who help me run the practice (for example, my booking and practice-management systems, secure video platform, email, and payment provider), who are bound to protect your information and use it only to provide their service to me;
- a person or body where I am permitted or required to disclose by law, for example to prevent a serious threat to someone's life, health or safety, or in response to a lawful order.
Where I share information with a provider on my behalf, I take reasonable steps to ensure they handle it consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles.
06Website, cookies and advertising
This website is an information and booking front door for my practice. You can read it and learn about my care without creating an account.
When you first arrive, nothing that tracks you loads until you make a choice. My cookie banner defaults every advertising and analytics category to denied. Measurement and advertising cookies are only set if you select Accept, and you can decline or change your mind at any time.
If you consent, I use measurement tools to understand how people find this site and whether my advertising is working, and advertising services such as Google and Meta to show relevant information about my practice to people who may be looking for menopause care. Any data used for advertising relates to your interaction with my website and public content. I never use your clinical or consultation information for advertising, and I never upload your health information to any advertising platform.
If you send a message through a form on this site, I use your details only to respond to your enquiry.
07Overseas storage and providers
Some of the trusted services I use to run my practice and website are provided by companies that may store or process data outside Australia. Where that happens, I take reasonable steps to ensure your information is handled in line with the Australian Privacy Principles and is kept secure. If a provider requires your information to be sent overseas in a way that needs your specific consent, I will tell you and seek that consent first.
08How I keep it secure
I take the security of your information seriously. I use secure, access-controlled systems for booking, records and video, encrypted connections, strong authentication, and I limit access to your information to what is needed to care for you and run the practice. I keep a data-breach response plan and, if a breach ever occurred that was likely to cause you serious harm, I would notify you and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner as required by the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.
No system can be guaranteed to be perfectly secure, but I work to protect your information from loss, misuse and unauthorised access.
09How long I keep it
I keep clinical records for as long as required by the health records and professional-retention laws that apply to me. In general, adult medical records are kept for at least seven years from your last consultation, and for a child, until they turn 25. When information is no longer needed and I am no longer required to keep it, I destroy or de-identify it securely.
10Accessing and correcting your information
You have the right to ask for a copy of the personal and health information I hold about you, and to ask me to correct it if it is wrong or out of date. To make a request, contact me using the details below. I will respond within a reasonable time. In rare cases I may need to decline access where the law allows, for example where giving access would pose a serious threat to someone's life or health, and if so I will explain why and how you can respond.
11Concerns and complaints
If you are concerned about how I have handled your information, please contact me first so I can try to put it right. If you are not satisfied with my response, you can raise the matter with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au, or with your state or territory health-privacy regulator.
12Changes to this policy
I may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in my practice or in the law. The current version is always the one published on this page, with the date it took effect shown at the top.
13How to contact me
For any privacy question or request, please email contact@pauseforward.com.au. I will do my best to help.