All material published on the Internet by the Optometrists Registration Board of Tasmania ("the Board") is protected by the provisions of Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth).

Other than in accordance with the provisions of that Act, or as otherwise expressly provided, a person must not reproduce, store in a retrieval system, or transmit (in any form or by any means) any such material without first obtaining the written permission of the Board to do so.

All enquires regarding the use of material published by the Board on the Internet should be directed to the contact address present on the web page on which that information appears. All enquiries in relation to the copyright notice should be directed to email: optometrist@regboardstas.com.

Disclaimer:

This site has been created and is managed by the Optometrists Registration Board of Tasmania for reference only.

While the Board makes every attempt to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information, persons are advised not to rely on the contents without making their own enquiries.

The Board will not be responsible for any loss, however arising, from the use of, or reliance on this information.

Users should also note that the Board does not endorse, nor attest to the accuracy or the content of any links on its web pages to external internet sites not published or maintained by it.

Privacy Policy:

Information Collected
The Optometrists Registration Board of Tasmania (the Board) is committed to the protection of private information.

The functions of the Board are to administer the scheme of registration of optometrists, to monitor the standard of services that optometrists provide, to investigate complaints and, as necessary, undertake disciplinary action against optometrists as required by the Optometrists Registration Act 1994.

In carrying out these functions the Board is the custodian of personal information and the collection, use and disclosure of that information is governed by the Personal Information Protection Act 2004.

Reasonable steps are taken to ensure that the personal information held is accurate, complete and up to date and securely stored. Where practicable, the accuracy of personal information is checked before it is used.

The Board will only use or disclose information in ways that are consistent with the Act. Otherwise, personal information will only be disclosed with the owner’s consent or if it is required by or authorised by law.


Register of Optometrists
The Register of Optometrists is a public document and is available for inspection at the Board offices. A copy of the Register may be obtained on payment of the prescribed fee. The publicly available information from the Register is restricted to the name, registration number and mailing address of a registered optometrist, date of first registration, relevant qualifications and conditions (if any) imposed on registration and any information relating to Section 30(3) of the Optometrists Registration Act.

Optometrists can have access to the information held about them and can request that the information be amended.

Under circumstances where there is a complaint about an optometrist from a member of the public and the Board obtains private information relating to the complainant, the Board will not release that information to anyone unless there is a written authorisation to do so from the complainant or its release is required by law enforcement agencies, courts or other authorised organisations, such as the Health Complaints Commission.

Sensitive Information
Private and sensitive information may be obtained from the records of a registered optometrist in the course of an investigation pursuant to Part 4 of the Optometrists Registration Act. The Board will use its best endeavours to protect the identity of any person whose personal information is collected in this way.

Access to and Correction of Information Collected
Requests to access or correct any personal information other than information held on the Register will be processed under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1991. 

Depending upon the nature of the request a fee may be charged for this service. If a person is not satisfied with the handling or outcome of a request for access to or correction of personal information, a complaint can be lodged with the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman's Office can be contacted on 1300 766 725 or ombudsman@justice.tas.gov.au.

Use and Disclosure of Personal Information
Our staff are only provided with or have access to the information that is necessary for them to carry out their functions within the Optometrists Registration Board of Tasmania.

Personal information will be used in order for the Board to carry out its functions as described in the Information Collected section above. Your personal information will only be disclosed with your consent, or if it is required by or authorised by law. There may be a need or requirement to disclose some or all information we collect to law enforcement agencies, courts, or other public sector bodies, or other authorised organisations under the Optometrists Registration Act 1994 and Regulations made under that Act.

The Personal Information Protection Act 2004 permits the use or disclosure of "basic personal information" (that is, name, address, date of birth and gender) to other public sector bodies where it is reasonably necessary for the efficient storage and use of that information

Some de-identified personal information we have collected may be used in research, or statistical analysis that is in the public interest, state or national reporting, awareness programs, public statements or training, but not in a way to compromise the protection of personal information.

Personal information in written submissions on policy matters or matters of public consultation may be disclosed in reports that are made public, unless the submission was submitted and/or accepted on a confidential basis.

Security of Personal Information
We use a number of procedural, physical, and technical safeguards, including access controls, secure methods of communication and back-up and recovery systems to protect information from misuse and loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

Generally, there is an intention that information is destroyed or permanently de-identified when it is no longer required, but this can only be done in accordance with processes approved by the State Archivist under the Archives Act 1983.

Unique Identifiers:
No unique identifiers used by other custodians of personal information (e.g. Tax File Numbers, Medicare numbers, Unit Record Numbers) will be adopted in the storage of your personal information unless those identifiers are necessary for the Board to carry out its functions.

Disclosure outside Tasmania:
Disclosure of your personal information to another person or body outside Tasmania will only occur in accordance with the provisions of the Optometrists Registration Act 1994 and where necessary for the Board to fulfill its functions under that Act.

In all other circumstances, your personal information will not be disclosed outside Tasmania unless the Board reasonably believes that the recipient of the information is bound by similar principles in the fair handling of that information that are substantially similar to the Personal Information Act 2004 or the Board has taken reasonable steps to ensure that the information will not be held, used or disclosed by the recipient inconsistently with the principles contained within the Personal Information Act 2004.