Quick links

  1. Introduction
  2. Information we collect
  3. Health-related website information
  4. Tracking technologies
  5. Categories of technologies we use
  6. Your privacy choices
  7. Managing cookies through your browser
  8. Third-party service providers
  9. Data security
  10. Data minimisation and compliance
  11. Changes to this Policy
  12. Contact details

1. Introduction

Vision Hospital Group (“VHG”, “we”, “our” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling personal information in a transparent and responsible manner.

This Website Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and disclose information when you visit or interact with our websites and digital services.

This Website Privacy Policy should be read together with the Vision Hospital Group Privacy Policy, which outlines how we manage personal and health information more broadly across our day hospitals and healthcare services.

2. Information we collect

Information you provide

We may collect personal information when you:

  • submit an enquiry;
  • request information about our services;
  • contact one of our day hospitals;
  • complete an online form;
  • provide feedback; or
  • otherwise interact with VHG through our websites and digital services.

Depending on your interaction with us, information collected may include:

  • name;
  • email address;
  • telephone number;
  • date of birth;
  • postcode;
  • practice or organisation name;
  • professional role or title;
  • communication preferences;
  • information contained within your enquiry; and
  • any health-related information you choose to provide.

Information collected automatically

When you visit our website, our service providers and technology partners may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

  • IP address;
  • browser type and version;
  • operating system;
  • device type;
  • pages visited;
  • date and time of access;
  • referring website;
  • website interactions;
  • diagnostic information; and
  • website performance information.

This information helps us:

  • operate and secure our website;
  • understand how visitors use the website;
  • improve website functionality and user experience;
  • identify technical issues;
  • improve website performance;
  • measure the effectiveness of our communications and advertising; and
  • support business planning and service improvement activities.

3. Health-related website information

As a healthcare provider, some interactions with our website may relate to health conditions, treatments, procedures or healthcare needs.

Information associated with interactions involving health-related content may constitute sensitive information under Australian privacy law.

Where required by law, VHG will obtain appropriate consent before collecting, using or disclosing sensitive information through non-essential website technologies.

VHG seeks to ensure that any collection, use or disclosure of information through website tracking technologies complies with applicable privacy obligations and consent requirements.

4. Tracking technologies

Our website uses tracking technologies to:

  • operate and secure the website;
  • improve website functionality and user experience;
  • understand how visitors use the website;
  • measure website performance;
  • evaluate the effectiveness of communications and advertising; and
  • support service delivery and business operations.

These technologies may include:

  • cookies (small text files stored on your device to remember information about you);
  • pixels (tiny images that track your interactions);
  • beacons (small scripts that send data back to a server);
  • device fingerprinting (collects information to be used as a unique identifier)
  • local storage (data stored locally in your browser);
  • session storage (similar to local but cleared at the end of your session);
  • similar technologies used to deliver, measure and improve digital services.

5. Categories of technologies we use

Strictly Necessary technologies

These technologies are required for the website to function properly and support:

  • website security;
  • page navigation;
  • accessibility features;
  • form submissions;
  • enquiry functionality; and
  • essential system administration functions.

These technologies cannot be disabled through our website preference tools because they are required for the operation and security of the website. They are not designed to collect visitor information beyond what is necessary to provide the requested functionality.

Analytics technologies

Analytics technologies help us understand:

  • how visitors use our website;
  • which pages are viewed most frequently;
  • how users navigate our website;
  • website performance; and
  • how visitors engage with our content and resources.

Analytics technologies are only activated after consent has been provided through our privacy preference and consent mechanism.

Marketing technologies

Marketing technologies help us:

  • measure campaign effectiveness;
  • understand engagement with communications;
  • assess website content performance;
  • improve the relevance of our communications; and
  • understand how users interact with our digital activities.

Marketing technologies are only activated after consent has been provided through our privacy preference and consent mechanism.

6. Your privacy choices

When you first visit our website, you will be presented with a privacy and consent banner.

With the exception of strictly necessary technologies, optional analytics and marketing technologies will only be activated if you choose to allow them.

You may:

  • accept optional technologies;
  • reject optional technologies;
  • select individual preference categories;
  • withdraw previously provided consent; or
  • change your preferences at any time through the Cookie Preferences tool available on our website.

Withdrawal of consent will not affect information that was collected and processed before consent was withdrawn but will prevent future collection through the relevant optional technologies where technically possible.

7. Managing cookies through your browser

Most internet browsers allow you to:

  • delete cookies;
  • block cookies;
  • restrict cookies; or
  • receive notifications before cookies are placed on your device.

You may also be able to block certain tracking technologies using browser privacy features or extensions.

Please note that browser controls may not prevent all forms of tracking technology from operating. We therefore recommend using the Privacy Preferences tool available on our website to manage your choices about optional technologies.

8. Third-party service providers

VHG may engage third-party service providers to assist with:

  • website hosting;
  • website analytics;
  • website performance monitoring;
  • communications;
  • customer service;
  • digital marketing;
  • IT support; and
  • related digital services.

Where personal information is disclosed to third-party providers, VHG takes reasonable steps to ensure it is handled appropriately and in accordance with applicable privacy obligations.

A current list of major third-party website and tracking providers used by VHG is available on request or may be published separately and updated from time to time. This approach allows the list to remain current as technologies change.

9. Data security

VHG maintains physical, technical and administrative safeguards designed to protect information collected through our website.

These safeguards may include:

  • access controls;
  • authentication measures;
  • encryption technologies;
  • security monitoring;
  • system protections; and
  • network security controls.

While VHG takes reasonable steps to protect information transmitted electronically, no internet transmission or online system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

10. Data minimisation and compliance

VHG adopts a data minimisation approach and only uses website technologies that are reasonably necessary to support:

  • website functionality;
  • security;
  • service delivery;
  • communications;
  • analytics;
  • service improvement; and
  • approved business activities.

We regularly review the technologies used on our websites and seek to ensure they remain appropriate and aligned with applicable privacy obligations.

11. Changes to this Policy

VHG may update this Website Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

  • website functionality;
  • service providers;
  • technology platforms;
  • legal requirements; or
  • privacy practices.

Where new categories of optional technologies are introduced, visitors may be asked to review and update their privacy preferences.

The most current version of this policy will always be published on our website.

12. Contact details

If you have questions about this Website Privacy Policy or our website privacy practices, please contact:

Privacy Officer
Vision Hospital Group
Level 13, 412 St Kilda Road
Melbourne VIC 3004

Phone: (03) 8844 4000
Email: [email protected]

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Additional information is available from their website: https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints

We may modify this document at any time at our sole discretion.