Perma Smooth is committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website or use our services.
1. Who We Are
Throughout this policy, “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to Perma Smooth (ABN: [insert ABN]), a specialist electrolysis hair removal clinic operated by a qualified aesthetician. You can contact us at:
- Email: [insert email address]
- Phone: [insert phone number]
- Postal Address: [insert clinic address]
2. What Personal Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of personal information:
- Identity & Contact Details: Name, email address, phone number, and postal address when you fill out a contact form, book an appointment, or communicate with us.
- Health & Treatment Information: Details about your skin type, hair growth patterns, medical history, medications, and any relevant health conditions — collected during consultation and treatment sessions with your explicit consent. This is sensitive information and is handled with extra care.
- Booking & Transaction Data: Appointment dates, service preferences, and limited payment information. (Note: We do not store full credit card details; payments are processed securely through [insert payment processor, e.g., Stripe, Square, or direct bank transfer].)
- Website Usage Data: Non-personally identifiable information such as IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on our site, collected via cookies and analytics tools (see Section 7). This data helps us improve our website experience.
We collect this information directly from you — through our website forms, over the phone, or in person during your visits — unless it is impractical to do so.
3. How We Use Your Information
Your personal information is only used for the purpose it was provided, including:
- Responding to your enquiries and booking requests.
- Providing safe, personalised electrolysis treatments based on your health profile.
- Sending appointment reminders and essential treatment-related communications.
- Processing payments and maintaining client records.
- Improving our website functionality and user experience (aggregated, non-identifiable data).
- Complying with legal obligations, such as health record-keeping requirements.
We will not use your information for marketing purposes without your explicit opt-in consent. You can unsubscribe from any non-essential communications at any time.
4. Disclosure of Your Information
We respect your confidentiality. Your personal and health information will never be sold, rented, or traded. We may only disclose your information in the following circumstances:
- With your consent: For example, if you request we share treatment notes with another healthcare provider.
- Service providers: Third-party platforms we use to run our business (e.g., our online booking system, website hosting, email provider) may process data on our behalf. We only select providers who uphold strong privacy standards, and we limit their access to what is strictly necessary.
- Legal requirements: If required by law, court order, or to protect the safety of our clients and staff.
5. Data Security
We take all reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, and unauthorised access. This includes:
- Secure, password-protected electronic systems.
- SSL encryption (HTTPS) on our website for all data transmission.
- Physical security of any paper records in our private clinic.
- Regular reviews of our data handling practices.
While we strive to protect your information, no online data transmission can be guaranteed 100% secure. You provide information at your own risk, and we encourage you to use secure networks when submitting sensitive data.
6. Retention of Your Records
We keep your personal and treatment records for as long as needed to provide you with services and to comply with Australian health record-keeping laws (generally a minimum of 7 years for adults). After that period, information is securely destroyed or de-identified.
7. Cookies and Website Analytics
Our website uses cookies — small text files placed on your device — to improve your browsing experience and gather anonymous traffic data through services like Google Analytics. Cookies help us understand which pages are visited, how users find our site, and whether the site is performing well.
You can disable cookies in your browser settings at any time. However, this may affect some features of the site. By continuing to use our website without changing your settings, you consent to our use of cookies as described here.
8. Links to Third-Party Sites
Our website may include links to external platforms (e.g., our online booking system, social media pages). Once you leave our site, we are not responsible for the privacy practices of those platforms. We encourage you to read their privacy policies separately.
9. Access to and Correction of Your Information
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, and to ask for corrections if it is inaccurate or outdated. To do so, please contact us using the details in Section 1. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe, and no fee is usually charged. In some limited circumstances, we may decline access (e.g., if it would compromise another person’s privacy), but we will explain our reasons fully.
10. Complaints
If you believe we have breached your privacy rights, please contact us immediately. We take such concerns seriously and will investigate your complaint promptly and fairly. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may refer the matter to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.
11. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. We encourage you to review it periodically.