The North Eastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU) is a local public health unit that services North-Eastern metropolitan Melbourne, and is funded by the Department of Health to respond to communicable disease conditions within the catchment, to manage the public health response including containing the disease and preventing its spread. More information is available on the Department’s website: Local Public Health Units
In order to undertake these functions, NEPHU collects, uses, transfers, discloses and stores personal, sensitive and health information. NEPHU collects personal health information for case management, planning and monitoring and evaluating our services and functions.
NEPHU is authorised to request this information under Section 167 of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and you are protected when providing us with this information (including information about other people) and do not need to seek permission. You may refuse to provide this information under Section 167 of the Act.
The collection, use, transfer and storage of personal and sensitive health information is undertaken in accordance with the following legislation:
- Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014
- Health Records Act 2001
- Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006
- Freedom of Information Act 1982
- Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008
- Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019
- Pandemic or Emergency Declarations
How NEPHU may contact you
How case information is collected can depend on the urgency or circumstances but can include:
- Phone call
- Text message
- Online survey
- Hard copy mail
Please let us know if English is not your primary language at the time of contact and we can organise an interpreter.
Types of information collected
NEPHU may contact you to seek information to understand the diagnosis of a disease, and information about how it has been obtained, treated, and managed to prevent onward transmission. NEPHU may also provide you with instructions and advice on how to manage the condition and prevent spreading to others.
Information requested could include:
- Demographic details, such as name and contact details
- Details about your disease, health and any healthcare received
- Details of potential case contacts/household contacts
- Where you have travelled, what you have eaten, what activities you have undertaken, or who you have had intimate contact with, to help explain where you got the condition from or who it might have been spread to.
Who outside NEPHU may provide or receive information about you?
NEPHU works with other healthcare providers and settings to manage the public health response. In doing so, NEPHU may need to contact:
- Your GP
- Other care providers such as hospitals or specialists
- Aged care or other residential care services
- Local council services
- People you may have come into contact with while infectious, or who you may have caught the condition from (called ‘contacts’)
- Affected settings such as educational settings, workplaces, retail and recreational facilities where people may be exposed to communicable diseases
Information is de-identified where possible and only necessary information to inform the public health response is provided.
Information storage
NEPHU adheres to the Health Privacy Principles outlined in the Health Records Act 2001. If the collection of identifiable information or health information outside of a protected system is required, NEPHU will request that the external organisation de-identifies the information prior to sending or request that it is sent via a secure system. All personal, sensitive or health information is stored on secure protected systems.
When reporting data to internal or external stakeholders, NEPHU will de-identify the data and present data in aggregate form.
Accessing your health information
If you would like to access your personal health information that is held by NEPHU, this can be requested by emailing [email protected]
Further information
If you require further information or have any questions about how information is collected and shared at NEPHU, please contact [email protected]
