Your Privacy

Overview

The confidentiality and security of the information managed by our systems is treated with the utmost priority by WAGER.

The Ark information will only be used to facilitate medical research purposes. Particular research projects wishing to use The Ark will require approval and monitoring by at least one Western Australian ethics committee.

The Ark and Your Information

The Ark abides by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and its National Privacy Principles.

Any temporary links made between the study datasets as part of an approved research study will use study identifiers rather than names. As such, names of participants are never revealed to researchers.

All The Ark staff sign Confidentiality Agreements before they work with any confidential information.

Disclosure

Personal information that identifies an individual is not disclosed to any third party unless:

• It is part of the data flow requirements of a research project's protocol (informed consent from the individual will be sought at the outset)
• It is required by law
• We have the individual's permission
• It is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to someone's life, health or safety.

Withdrawing my information

The Ark itself is not a research study, however if you are participating in any of the Current Studies  and you wish to withdraw from that study, please contact the particular study researcher.

Participants in all medical research studies can withdraw from the study at any time and, if their study uses The Ark, have their data withdrawn from The Ark systems also.

Western Australian Health Department Data 

Whenever you receive care from a Western Australian health service provider, such as hospital or a midwife, some information about you and your health care is sent to the Department of Health.  Appropriately qualified researches may apply for access to this data for approved research purposes.  For more information please read the health Department brochure 'Information about your Health Data' brochure (PDF 246KB) or detailed booklet (PDF 272KB)  which contains more information about:

• Statewide Health Data Collections
• Use of Health Data
• Access to Health Data, and
• Privacy and Security