1. Introduction
DoctorBay (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you use our website at doctorbay.com.au.
2. Information We Collect
We collect information in the following ways:
- Patient reviews: When you submit a review, we collect your name (or pseudonym), email address, and your written review content. For verification purposes, we may also collect your appointment receipt or other verification documents.
- Doctor profiles: Publicly available professional information about registered specialists including name, specialty, qualifications, and practice address. Doctors who claim their profile may provide additional information including a biography and photo.
- Profile claims: When a doctor claims their profile, we collect their name, contact email, AHPRA number, and verification documents.
- Contact form submissions: If you contact us via our Contact page, we collect your name, email address, and message content.
- Usage data: We collect anonymised data about how users interact with our site, including pages viewed, search terms used, and device/browser information, to improve our service.
- Cookies: We use session cookies for authentication and preference storage. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies from third parties.
3. How We Use Your Information
- To operate and maintain the DoctorBay directory and review platform
- To verify the authenticity of patient reviews before publication
- To communicate with you regarding your review submission, profile claim, or enquiry
- To notify you of updates to reviews or responses from doctors (if applicable)
- To detect and prevent fraud, spam, or misuse of our platform
- To improve our website and user experience
- To comply with legal obligations
4. Disclosure of Information
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties without your consent, except in the following circumstances:
- To service providers who assist us in operating our website (e.g. hosting, email), bound by confidentiality obligations
- If required by law, regulation, or a court order
- To protect the rights, property, or safety of DoctorBay, our users, or the public
Please note that published reviews are displayed publicly on the platform, associated only with a first name and initial (or pseudonym) if you chose to submit anonymously.
5. Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access. Our website uses HTTPS encryption, and access to user data is restricted to authorised personnel only. However, no internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Your Rights
Under the Privacy Act 1988, you have the right to:
- Request access to the personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate or out-of-date information
- Request removal of a review you submitted (subject to platform integrity requirements)
- Complain about a privacy breach
To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@doctorbay.com.au.
7. Retention of Information
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer period is required by law. Reviews and verification records are retained for the duration of the doctor's listing on the platform. You may request deletion of your personal data by contacting us.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. Continued use of DoctorBay after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
9. Contact
For privacy enquiries or complaints, contact our Privacy Officer at:
info@doctorbay.com.au
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).