Privacy Policy for Management of Personal Information
The psychological services provided by All Senses Health Care Pty Ltd are bound by the legal requirements of the Australian Privacy Principles set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
Client information
Client files are held in a secure filing cabinet or electronic document management systems that are accessible only to authorised employees.
How clients’ personal information is collected
A client’s personal information is collected in a number of ways by All Senses Health Care, including when the client provides information directly to All Senses Health Care orally or in hardcopy forms, correspondence via email, when the client interacts directly with All Senses Health Care employees such as the receptionist, and when other health practitioners provide personal information to All Senses Health Care via referrals, correspondence and medical reports.
Purpose of holding personal information
A client’s personal information is gathered and used for the purpose of providing psychological services, which includes assessing, diagnosing and treating a client’s presenting issue(s). The personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions, and enables the psychologist to provide a relevant and informed psychological service.
Disclosure of personal information
Clients’ personal information will not be disclosed except when:
- It is subpoenaed by a court; or
- Failure to disclose the information would in the reasonable belief of the treating psychologist place a client or another person at serious risk to life, health or safety; or
- The client’s prior approval has been obtained to:
a) provide a written report to another professional or agency, e.g., a general or specialist medical practitioner, or an allied health care provider; or
b) discuss the material with another person, e.g. a partner, parent, employer, or health care provider; or
c) disclose the information in another way; or - Disclosure is otherwise required by law.
A client’s personal information is not disclosed to overseas recipients, unless the client consents or such disclosure is otherwise required by law. Clients’ personal information will not be used, sold, rented or disclosed for any other purpose.
NOTE: With consultations via the internet-based telecommunications application software Skype, clients need to be aware that the audio-video content may be recorded and stored by the company that owns Skype. Therefore, All Senses Health Care Pty Ltd has no control over how this information is stored or used. Moreover, clients need to be aware that Australian privacy laws do not apply to any recordings of consultations made by Skype because it is owned and operated by the American company, Microsoft Corporation.