Effective: 1st October 2026
Last reviewed: 1st October 2026
At Living Naturopathy, your privacy is an important part of providing safe, respectful and professional healthcare.
During your care, you may share personal and sensitive health information with us. This policy explains what information Living Naturopathy collects, why it may be needed, how it is used and protected, when it may be shared, and the choices and rights you have regarding your information.
Living Naturopathy handles personal information in accordance with applicable Australian privacy requirements, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), together with applicable health-record requirements.
Information we may hold about you
The information collected will depend on how you interact with Living Naturopathy. It may include:
your name, date of birth and contact details;
appointment and billing information;
emergency contact details;
details of your GP and other healthcare practitioners;
correspondence between you and Living Naturopathy;
information provided through our website, forms or practice-management system.
When you become a client, we may also collect sensitive health information relevant to providing your care. This may include your medical history, current health concerns, diagnosed conditions, medications and supplements, allergies, family history, dietary and lifestyle information, pathology or investigation results, treatment plans, prescriptions, clinical notes and other information you choose to share during your care.
We aim to collect information that is reasonably necessary for providing and managing your care.
How we collect your information
Most information is collected directly from you.
This may occur when you book an appointment, complete a form, attend a consultation, communicate with us, provide a health report or pathology result, or use our website or client portal.
With your consent, we may also receive relevant information from another healthcare professional, pathology or testing provider, parent or guardian, or another person involved in your care.
There may also be circumstances where information can be collected without your direct consent where permitted or required by law.
Why we need your information
Your information may be used to:
provide and personalise your naturopathic care;
understand your health history and current concerns;
develop and review treatment recommendations;
monitor your progress;
maintain appropriate clinical records;
manage appointments, reminders and accounts;
communicate with you about your care;
facilitate referrals, prescriptions or investigations where appropriate;
communicate with other healthcare professionals with your consent;
operate and improve Living Naturopathy; and
meet professional, insurance and legal obligations.
We will not ordinarily use your health information for an unrelated purpose without your consent unless permitted or required by law.
Your clinical records
Living Naturopathy maintains clinical records to support continuity, quality and safety of care.
Your clinical record may contain information provided before and during consultations, practitioner notes, treatment plans, correspondence, relevant test results and other information associated with your care.
Clinical records are treated as confidential and access is restricted to people who require access for an authorised purpose.
The systems we use
Living Naturopathy uses third-party technology and service providers to help operate the practice.
Our practice-management system is Zanda, which may be used to manage bookings, forms, client details, clinical notes, treatment information, invoices and practice communications.
We may also use appropriately selected third-party providers for services such as payment processing, practitioner dispensing, email, website hosting, pathology or functional testing, accounting and other practice administration.
Where information is shared with a service provider, we aim to limit this to information reasonably required for that service and take reasonable steps to select providers with appropriate privacy and security practices.
Sharing information about your care
Your health information is confidential.
There may be times when collaboration with another healthcare professional would support your care. With your consent, relevant information may be shared with your GP, specialist, allied health practitioner or another healthcare provider.
Information may also be disclosed where authorised or required by law, including where there is a serious threat to health or safety and applicable privacy law permits disclosure.
Living Naturopathy does not sell client personal or health information.
Payments
Payments may be processed through secure third-party payment providers.
Payment card details are handled through the relevant payment-processing system rather than being recorded as complete card details within your ordinary clinical notes.
Where you choose to securely store a payment method, its use will be subject to the payment authorisation and booking terms provided to you.
Keeping your information secure
We take reasonable steps to protect the information we hold against loss, misuse, interference, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Depending on the information involved, safeguards may include secure practice-management software, password-protected systems, access controls, device security and appropriate practice procedures.
While reasonable safeguards are used, no electronic system or method of transmitting information over the internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Where your information is stored
Living Naturopathy uses cloud-based services to operate aspects of the practice.
Some service providers may store or process information outside Australia. Where this occurs, we will manage personal information in accordance with applicable Australian privacy requirements.
Accessing or correcting your information
You may request access to personal information Living Naturopathy holds about you and ask for information that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date to be corrected.
We may ask you to verify your identity before providing access.
There are limited circumstances in which access may be refused or restricted under applicable law. If this occurs, we will explain the reason where required.
Requests can be made using the contact details at the end of this policy.
Children and young people
Living Naturopathy may provide care to children and young people where appropriate.
Paris McMahon holds a WWVP & WWCC
The collection, use and disclosure of a young person's health information will be managed with consideration of their age, capacity, individual circumstances and applicable consent and privacy requirements.
Where appropriate, a parent or guardian may provide information or participate in care.
Website visitors
When you use the Living Naturopathy website, limited information may be collected through website technologies such as cookies and analytics.
This information may help us understand how the website is used and improve its functionality.
You can control certain cookies through your browser settings, although disabling them may affect some website features.
Emails and marketing
If you choose to subscribe to Living Naturopathy emails or marketing communications, your contact information may be used for that purpose.
You can unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time.
Clinical and administrative communications relating to your appointments or care are separate from marketing communications and may still be sent where necessary.
How long we keep information
Personal and clinical information is retained for the periods required by applicable health-record, privacy, professional and legal requirements.
When information is no longer required and can lawfully be disposed of, reasonable steps will be taken to securely destroy or de-identify it.
If something goes wrong
If Living Naturopathy becomes aware of a suspected loss, unauthorised access or disclosure of personal information, we will assess and respond to the incident in accordance with applicable privacy and data-breach requirements.
Where notification is legally required, affected individuals and the relevant authority will be notified.
Privacy questions or complaints
If you have a question about this policy, would like to access or correct your information, or have concerns about how your information has been handled, please contact:
Living Naturopathy
Paris McMahon
Email: paris@livingnaturopathy.com.au
We will take privacy concerns seriously and aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may have the right to make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner or another relevant privacy or health-record authority.
Updates to this policy
As Living Naturopathy grows, our services and systems may change. This policy may therefore be updated periodically.
The current version will be available on our website and will show the date it was most recently reviewed.