Privacy policy

Last updated: 2 May 2026

This privacy policy explains how the practice of Dr Jacques Pretorius ("the practice," "we," "us") collects, uses, stores, and discloses personal and health information. The practice is committed to handling your information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and the My Health Records Act 2012 (Cth), where applicable.

The information we collect

To provide medical care, the practice collects personal and health information that may include:

• Name, date of birth, address, and contact details
• Medicare number, private health fund details, and Department of Veterans' Affairs information where applicable
• Clinical history, symptoms, examinations, investigations, diagnoses, and treatment
• Pregnancy and obstetric history, including ultrasound and pathology results
• Family and social history relevant to your care
• Referral information from your GP or other treating practitioners
• Records of correspondence, telephone calls, and email communications with the practice

How we collect your information

Information is generally collected directly from you at the time of your appointment, or through your referring practitioner. With your consent, we may also collect information from other treating health professionals, hospitals, pathology and imaging providers, and Medicare or your private health fund.

How we use your information

Your personal and health information is used for the primary purpose of providing you with medical care. This includes:

• Diagnosis, treatment planning, and ongoing clinical management
• Communicating with your GP, other specialists, and hospital staff involved in your care
• Claiming Medicare and private health fund rebates on your behalf
• Practice administration, billing, and accounting
• Quality improvement, clinical audit, and accreditation activities
• Compliance with legal and regulatory obligations

Disclosure of your information

The practice may disclose your information to:

• Your referring GP and other treating health professionals involved in your care
• St John of God Murdoch Hospital and other hospitals where you are admitted under Dr Pretorius' care
• Pathology, imaging, and diagnostic providers
• Medicare, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and your private health fund for billing purposes
• Practice staff, locums, or contractors bound by confidentiality obligations
• Regulatory bodies, courts, or law enforcement where required by law

We do not disclose your information to third parties for marketing purposes. Your information will not be sent overseas unless required for your direct care and with your consent.

Storage and security

Your records are stored in secure electronic and physical systems with controlled access. Electronic records are protected by password access, encryption, and regular backups. Paper records are stored in locked facilities. Records are retained for the period required by Western Australian law — generally a minimum of seven years from the last entry for adult patients, or until age 25 for patients who were minors at the time of treatment.

Accessing and correcting your information

You have the right to request access to the personal and health information we hold about you, and to request correction of any information that is inaccurate, out of date, or incomplete. Requests can be made in writing to the practice address below. We may charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost of locating and copying records, in line with relevant guidelines.

Cookies and website analytics

This website does not use tracking cookies, advertising cookies, or third-party analytics services to identify individual visitors. The site embeds a Google Maps frame to display the practice location; using this feature may result in standard Google service cookies being set in your browser. The site also loads typography from Google Fonts. Refer to Google's privacy policy for details on how Google handles requests to its services.

Email and electronic communications

Email is not a fully secure channel. Patients are asked to avoid sending detailed clinical information by email. Where clinical communication by email is necessary, we will use secure messaging services where available. Forms submitted to the practice via email are stored as part of your medical record.

Complaints and concerns

If you have a concern about how your personal or health information has been handled, please contact the practice in the first instance using the details below. We will respond to written complaints within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may refer the matter to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au, or in Western Australia to the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO) at hadsco.wa.gov.au.

Updates to this policy

This policy may be updated from time to time. The current version will always be available on this website, with the "last updated" date shown at the top.