Privacy Policy

Occupational Consulting Group (ABN: 698 654 885) ("OCG", "we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal information collected in the course of providing occupational therapy, medicolegal, and consulting services. We handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic), and other applicable privacy laws. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect personal information obtained from clients and other individuals who engage with our services.

We collect personal information that is reasonably necessary to provide our medicolegal and occupational therapy services. The information we collect may include:

Where practicable, we collect personal information directly from the individual concerned. Information may be collected through: referral forms, assessment appointments, telephone calls, email correspondence, online enquiries, medical and allied health records, questionnaires and surveys, and reports and documentation provided by third parties.

In the medicolegal context, information may also be obtained from solicitors and law firms, insurers, courts and tribunals, employers, medical practitioners, allied health professionals, support coordinators, case managers and carers, and government agencies. Where information is collected from a third party, we will do so only where permitted by law or where reasonably necessary for the provision of services.

We collect, hold and use personal information for purposes including:

Personal information is treated as confidential and is only used or disclosed for the purpose for which it was collected, or as otherwise permitted by law. Depending on the nature of the engagement, we may disclose information to: referring solicitors and law firms, courts and tribunals, insurers and claims managers, medical practitioners and allied health professionals, NDIS representatives, government agencies, interpreters or communication support providers, IT service providers and secure cloud storage providers, and professional advisers, auditors or legal representatives.

Where appropriate, we will obtain consent before disclosing personal information. We may also disclose information where required or authorised by law; necessary to prevent a serious threat to life, health or safety; required by a court order, subpoena or regulatory authority; or otherwise permitted under applicable privacy legislation.

Where we are engaged to provide an independent medicolegal assessment or expert report, our primary duty is to provide an independent and objective opinion. Information obtained during a medicolegal assessment may be included in the resulting report and provided to the instructing solicitor, referring insurer or agency, courts, tribunals, and other parties involved in the legal matter, where required. By participating in a medicolegal assessment, individuals acknowledge and consent to this use and disclosure of information.

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. Information may be stored securely in electronic practice management systems, cloud-based platforms, document management systems, and, where necessary, hard-copy files. Security measures may include password protection, encryption, access controls, secure backups, and staff confidentiality obligations. We retain records for the period required by applicable laws, professional standards, and business requirements.

You may request access to the personal information we hold about you by contacting us in writing. Access will be provided where required by law, subject to any applicable exceptions. If you believe your personal information is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date, you may request that it be corrected. We will take reasonable steps to update the information where appropriate.

We generally store personal information within Australia. If information is disclosed to overseas service providers, such as secure cloud-based technology providers, we take reasonable steps to ensure they handle information in accordance with Australian privacy laws. Where required, we will obtain your consent before any overseas disclosure.

When you visit our website, we may collect limited information such as your IP address, browser and device information, pages visited, and website usage data. We may use cookies and analytics tools to improve website functionality and user experience. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

We may occasionally send information about our services, updates, or events. You can opt out of receiving these communications at any time by contacting us or using the unsubscribe option provided in the communication.

If you have any concerns about how your personal information has been collected, used, stored, or disclosed, please contact us in writing. We will investigate your complaint and respond as soon as reasonably practicable. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.