Our Website Privacy Policy
All staff at Balanced Psychology uphold an ethical and confidential privacy policy. Our commitment to protecting your privacy extends to this website, where we aim for all users to have a safe and secure experience.
Collection of personal information on this website
Balanced Psychology is bound by and adheres to the National Privacy Principles (NPPs) in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) in relation to the collection, use, disclosure and storage of personal information supplied by online visitors.
Most areas of this web site can be viewed without providing personal information.
To utilise the ‘Make an Enquiry’ feature you are required to submit personal information. This includes but is not limited to your name, email address and phone number.
Use of personal information provided on this website
The personal information you provide to Balanced Psychology via this website will be used only to communicate with you personally in response to an enquiry you make.
Sharing of personal information provided on this website
Balanced Psychology will not share any personal information you provide to us via this website with any other organisation unless required to by law.
Use of aggregate data
Balanced Psychology may collect certain non-personal information about you based upon your behaviour on this website. This information may include your internet browser type and version, the type of operating system you use, the domain name of your internet service provider, pages viewed, page access times and the address of any website that referred you. We use this anonymous information to understand visitor interests and behaviour to improve and optimise the content of the website. This information is compiled and analysed on an aggregated basis.
Do we use Cookies?
Yes. Balanced Psychology uses cookies to analyse traffic to this website to help us provide a better website user experience. A cookie is a small file placed in your web browser by a web server that collects information about your web browsing behaviour. The message is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server. Cookies do not access information stored on your computer or any personal information (e.g. name, address, email address or telephone number). Most web browsers automatically accept cookies but you can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser settings. Since each browser is a little different, look at your browser’s Help Menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookies.
If you turn cookies off, some of the features that make your website experience more efficient may not function properly.
Accessing personal information provided to this website
You have a right to access your personal information provided to this website. If you make an access request, Balanced Psychology will ask you to verify your identity and specify what information you require. You may be required to put your request in writing for security reasons.
Third Parties
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personal information unless required by law.
Website Links
This website may contain links to other websites. These links are meant for your convenience only. Links to third party websites do not constitute sponsorship or endorsement or approval of these websites. Balanced Psychology is not responsible for the content or practices of websites operated by third parties that are linked to this website. Third party websites should contain their own privacy statements and those third parties are responsible for informing you about their own privacy practices. We encourage our users to be aware, when they leave our website, to read the privacy statements of each website that collects personal information.
Management of Personal Information
Client information
Client files are held in a secure filing cabinet and a password protected hard drive in a locked filing cabinet, which is only accessible to Leanne Cater. The information on each file includes personal information such as name, address, contact phone numbers, medical history, and other personal information collected as part of providing the psychological service.
How clients’ personal information is collected
A client’s personal information is collected in a number of ways during psychological consultation. These include times when the client provides information directly using hardcopy forms, correspondence via email, when the client interacts directly with employees such as the receptionist, and when other health practitioners provide personal information via referrals, correspondence and medical reports.
Consequence of not providing personal information
If a client does not wish for their personal information to be collected in a way anticipated by this Privacy Policy, Leanne Cater may not be in a position to provide the psychological service to the client.
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. 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
All personal information gathered during the provision of services will remain confidential except when:
- it is subpoenaed by a court, or disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law; or
- failure to disclose the information would in the reasonable belief of (practitioner name) place a client or another person at serious risk to life, health or safety; or
- the client’s, or consent of a parent or guardian who is legally authorised to act on their behalf, prior approval has been obtained to:
- a) provide a written report to another agency or professional, e.g., a GP or a lawyer; or
- b) discuss the material with another person, e.g. a parent, employer, health provider, or third-party funder; or c) clinical consultation with another professional is required to provide better clinical services (identifying details will remain confidential); or
- d) disclose the information in another way; or
- e) disclose to another professional or agency (e.g., your GP) and disclosure of your personal information to that third party is for a purpose which is directly related to the primary purpose for which your personal information was collected.
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.
In the event that unauthorised access, disclosure, or loss of a client’s personal information occurs the psychologist will activate a data breach plan and use all reasonable endeavours to minimise any risk of consequential serious harm.
Requests for access and correction to client information
At any stage a client may request to see and correct the personal information about them kept on file. The psychologist may discuss the contents with them and/or give them a copy, subject to the exceptions in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). If satisfied that personal information is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete, reasonable steps will be taken in the circumstances to ensure that this information is corrected. All requests by clients for access to or correction of personal information held about them should be lodged with Leanne Cater. These requests will be responded to in writing within 21 days, and an appointment will be made if necessary for clarification purposes.
Concerns
If clients have a concern about the management of their personal information, they may inform the psychologist. Upon request they can obtain a copy of the Australian Privacy Principles, which describe their rights and how their personal information should be handled. Ultimately, if clients wish to lodge a formal complaint about the use of, disclosure of, or access to, their personal information, they may do so with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by phone on 1300 363 992, online at http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/making-a-privacy-complaint or by post to:
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, GPO Box 5218, Sydney, NSW 2001.