Samsara Psychology & Wellbeing is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This policy explains how personal information is collected, used, stored, and disclosed within the practice.
Collection of Personal Information
Personal information is collected in order to provide psychological services. This may include:
- Name, date of birth, address and contact details
- Health information relevant to your treatment
- Medicare or referral information (such as a Mental Health Treatment Plan)
- Information provided by referring professionals or other healthcare providers
Information may be collected through referral letters, intake forms, email correspondence, or during consultations.
Use of Personal Information
Personal information is used for the purpose of:
- Providing psychological assessment and treatment
- Communicating with you regarding appointments and care
- Communicating with referring practitioners or other health professionals involved in your care
- Administrative and billing purposes
Your information will only be used for purposes related to your care unless you provide consent for another use.
Disclosure of Personal Information
Personal information may be disclosed to others involved in your care, such as:
- Your referring GP
- Other health professionals involved in your treatment
- Medicare or other funding bodies where required for claims
Information will not be shared with third parties without your consent except where required or authorised by law. This may include situations where there is a serious risk of harm to you or another person.
Storage and Security
Samsara Psychology & Wellbeing takes reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. Client records may be stored securely using electronic practice management systems and encrypted communication platforms.
Access to Your Information
You may request access to your personal information or clinical records at any time. Requests should be made in writing. Access may be subject to certain legal or clinical limitations under Australian law.
Retention of Records
Psychology records are retained in accordance with professional and legal requirements. In most cases, records must be kept for a minimum of seven years from the last contact, or until a client turns 25 years of age if they were under 18 at the time of service.
Contact
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact:
Samsara Psychology & Wellbeing
Email: [email protected]
Changes to This Policy
This privacy policy may be updated from time to time. The current version will always be available on the Samsara Psychology & Wellbeing website.