GPScout ("we", "us", "our") operates the website gpscout.com.au. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you use our GP directory.
Information We Collect
Directory searches: When you search for GP practices, all searches are performed in your web browser. We do not collect, store, or transmit your search queries to our servers. Your search activity stays on your device.
Analytics data: We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand how visitors use our website. This collects anonymised data including pages visited, time on site, device type, browser, approximate geographic location (country/city level), and referral source. This data is aggregated and cannot identify you personally.
Form submissions: If you submit a form (such as submitting a practice or contacting us), we collect the information you voluntarily provide, which may include your name, email address, phone number, and practice details.
Directory data: Our GP directory contains information sourced from the National Health Services Directory via Geoscience Australia, published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. This is publicly available data that we aggregate and present in a searchable format.
Cookies and Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
- Google Analytics (_ga, _ga_*): These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website. They collect anonymised usage data. You can opt out by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
- Google AdSense: We may display advertisements through Google AdSense, which may use cookies to serve ads based on your browsing history. Google's use of advertising cookies is governed by Google's Privacy Policy. You can manage ad personalisation settings at Google Ads Settings.
- Essential cookies: We may use cookies to remember your cookie consent preferences. These do not track you across websites.
Our own analytics
As well as Google Analytics, this site uses a small analytics script that we run ourselves. Each time you load a page or interact with it, the script sends a short record to our hosting provider, Netlify, where it is stored. A record contains: the time; the page address without anything after a "?"; the page's type and, where the address names one, the listing, article or tool it shows; the website that sent you here (its address up to the domain, nothing more); your device type (mobile, tablet or desktop) and browser family; and, if the link you followed had them, its utm_source, utm_medium and utm_campaign campaign tags, which are kept for the rest of your visit. It also records when you click a phone, email or external link (for external links, the destination website's domain; never the phone number or email address), when you submit a form (the form's name or ID, never what you typed), labelled results that a tool on the page reports, whether you scrolled past 50% and 90% of a page, and whether the page was visible for 30 seconds.
Netlify tells us which country your connection comes from; we do not store your IP address. Your browser's user-agent is used to work out its browser family and to flag automated traffic such as search-engine crawlers; the user-agent itself is not stored. To group page views into visits, the script keeps a random visitor ID in this site's local storage that is replaced each day (UTC), and a random session ID in session storage that is replaced after 30 minutes of inactivity or when you close the tab. If your browser blocks storage, a temporary ID is used for that page only. The script sets no cookies, is not used for advertising and does not link your visits to other websites. The data is processed and stored by Netlify on our behalf and is not sold. We delete these records 14 months after they are made; after that we keep only daily totals, such as how many times a page was viewed, which cannot be linked to a visit or a visitor ID. You can remove the stored IDs at any time by clearing this site's data in your browser.
How We Use Your Information
We use collected information to:
- Improve our directory, content, and user experience based on aggregated analytics
- Respond to your enquiries and form submissions
- Display relevant advertisements through Google AdSense
- Maintain and secure our website
- Comply with legal obligations
Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services that may collect data:
- Google Analytics 4: Website analytics. Privacy Policy
- Google AdSense: Display advertising. Privacy Policy
- Netlify: Website hosting. Privacy Policy
- Google Fonts: Web fonts. Privacy Policy
Data Sharing
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. We may share anonymised, aggregated data with advertising partners. We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights.
Data Retention
Google Analytics is set to keep event-level data, such as individual page views, for 2 months, and user-level data linked to its cookie for 14 months after your most recent visit; Google deletes expired data in a monthly process. These settings do not apply to the aggregated reports in Google Analytics, which show totals rather than individual visitors. Form submission data (emails) is retained for as long as necessary to respond to your enquiry and manage directory listings. You can request deletion of your data at any time by contacting us.
Your Rights
Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988, you have the right to:
- Access personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request deletion of your personal information
- Opt out of Google Analytics tracking and ad personalisation
- Complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) if you believe your privacy has been breached
Children's Privacy
Our website is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes take effect when posted on this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Contact
Questions about this Privacy Policy? Contact us at hello@decisionlab.com.au or visit our contact page.