Booking a teleconsultation is quick, but it’s fair to wonder what happens to your information once you click “join”. Here’s a plain-English look at how secure video consultations work in Australia and what to look for.
What makes a video consultation secure?
A secure telehealth platform encrypts the video and audio between you and your practitioner, so the call can’t be read by anyone in between. Good platforms run in your web browser through a private link that’s unique to your appointment, so there’s usually nothing to download.
The rules Australian providers follow
Telehealth providers are bound by the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. These cover how health information is collected, stored, used and shared. Practitioners are also AHPRA-registered and follow the same record-keeping standards as in-person care.
Questions worth asking
- Is the video call encrypted?
- Where are my records stored, and for how long?
- Will anything be shared with my regular GP? (It should only happen with your consent.)
- Who can see my intake answers?
A trustworthy provider will answer these without fuss.
Simple steps you can take
- Join from a private, quiet room.
- Use your home Wi-Fi or mobile data, not public Wi-Fi.
- Use headphones if others are nearby.
- Close other apps that use your camera or microphone.
How it works at CannElevate
You book online, complete a short intake, then join a private video call with an AHPRA-registered practitioner at your chosen time. The initial 20-minute consult is $29 and follow-ups are $19. The practice is run from WA. Your practitioner may be based interstate.
New to telehealth? Read what to expect from your first telehealth consultation, see how it works, or check our FAQs.
