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Terms and Conditions
Please ensure you read the following terms and conditions before continuing:
The Outbreak Management System aims to support outbreak preparedness and facilitate timely notification and reporting of communicable disease outbreak information to North Eastern Public Health Unit.
The North Eastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU) is a department of Austin Health which is funded by the Victorian Government to deliver public health services in Melbourne’s north eastern region including the management of a defined set of outbreaks of communicable disease.
Austin Health will endeavour to ensure that information and resources on the Outbreak Management System are as updated as possible. However, it remains the responsibility of the user to be familiar with current guidelines and recommendations regarding the management of communicable disease outbreaks, to act in accordance with their institutional and/or local protocols, where applicable, and to be compliant with any legislative requirements for responding to and reporting outbreaks.
In performing NEPHU’s public health role, Austin Health collects, uses and stores personal and health information of individuals. Austin Health is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information which we collect and handle. You can read our full privacy statement here:
North Eastern Public Health Unit
Outbreak Management System Privacy Notice
The North Eastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU) is a department of Austin Health which is funded by the Victorian Government to deliver public health services in Melbourne’s north eastern region including the management of a defined set of outbreaks of communicable disease.
In performing NEPHU’s public health role, Austin Health collects, uses and stores personal and health information of individuals. Personal information is information that directly or indirectly identifies a person. Health information is personal information about the physical, mental or psychological health or a disability of an individual, or the health services provided to them.
In fulfilling NEPHU’s public health role, Austin Health collects and stores personal and health information from our service partners including primary and community health, public hospitals, mental health treatment providers, disability care providers, ambulance services, alcohol and drug treatment services and aged care providers. We share the stored information with the Department of Health, the Victorian public health unit network, and service providers who provide clinical support and care to individuals impacted by communicable diseases.
We also collect some personal and health information for planning, funding, monitoring and evaluating our services and functions, but where practicable we remove identifying details from information used for these purposes.
Austin Health endorses fair information handling practices and uses of information in compliance with its obligations under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic). Austin Health is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information which we collect and handle.
Austin Health is bound by Victorian laws, as well as other laws that impose specific obligations in regard to handling information. In Victoria, the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) are the primary legislation that regulates the information handling of personal and health information. Austin Health will manage your information in accordance with the Information Privacy Principles and Health Privacy Principles that provide standards for information collection, storage, access, transmission, disclosure, use and disposal as prescribed within these Acts.
We acknowledge that due to the nature of the services performed by us, some of the information we manage is particularly delicate and/or sensitive.
If, in fulfilling NEPHU’s public health role, Austin Health transfers personal information about an individual to a party who is outside Victoria, Austin Health shall ensure that Austin Health has taken reasonable steps to ensure that the information which it has transferred will not be held, used or disclosed by the recipient inconsistently with the Information Privacy Principles or that the recipient of the information is subject to a law, binding scheme or contract which effectively upholds principles for fair handling of the information that are substantially similar to the Information Privacy Principles.
Austin Health and the Department of Health also must act in accordance with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (the Act). The Act exists to monitor and control the occurrence of infectious diseases and other specified conditions, and helps to prevent further illness.
Under section 57 of the Act, the Department of Health is authorised to share information with others, such as officers of local government (local council), to assist with investigations in protecting public health and preventing disease spread and further illness in the community. Identifying information is never released to anyone not directly involved in the investigation of the source of illness.
Privacy concerns and incidents
If you wish to report a specific privacy incident or if you believe Austin Health has breached your privacy through the collection, use or storage of your personal or health information, please contact us by email: feedback@austin.org.au or phone 03 9496 3566.
We may seek further information from you in relation to the privacy incident you report in order for us to investigate your concerns. If you do not provide us with information about the matter, this may limit our ability to assist you.
Access and correction
You can request access to, or correction of personal and health information held by Austin Health. For information on making an FOI application, please visit our Freedom of Information page or contact the Freedom of Information Officer:
- Freedom of Information Officer, Austin Health
- Phone: 03 9496 3103
- Email: foi@austin.org.au
If you have any questions or would like further information about outbreak management or the Outbreak Management System please email NEPHU at outbreaks.nephu@austin.org.au
By clicking ‘I Agree’ and continuing you are indicating that you have read, understood and agree to these terms and conditions.
Welcome to the North Eastern Public Health Unit's Outbreak Management System
The OMS is an online reporting tool that facilitates outbreak management practices in residential care facilities and other sensitive settings within the NEPHU catchment.
Please use the OMS to notify us of outbreaks, submit ongoing updates and request clearance at the end of an outbreak.
The information collected is used to ensure sites have adequate support as well as facilitate preparedness for future outbreaks.