ROOM TO GROW | BRISBANE

Privacy Policy for our Website and the handling of personal information

This website is owned and operated by Room to Grow Psychology and will be referred to as “we”, “our” and “us” in this Privacy Policy. By using this site, you agree to the Internet Privacy Policy of this web site (“the web site”), which is set out on this web site page.

Our Internet Privacy Policy relates to the collection and use of personal information you may supply to us through your conduct on the web site. We reserve the right, at our discretion, to modify or remove portions of this Internet Privacy Policy at any time. This Internet Privacy Policy is in addition to any other terms and conditions applicable to the web site. We do not make any representations about third party web sites that may be linked to the web site.

We recognise the importance of protecting the privacy of information collected about visitors to our web site, in particular information that is capable of identifying an individual (“personal information”). Our Internet Privacy Policy governs the manner in which your personal information, obtained through the web site, will be dealt with. Our Internet Privacy Policy should be reviewed periodically so that you are updated on any changes.

Our Management of Personal Information policy also outlines the privacy policy of Room to Grow Psychology for the management of your personal information. The psychological service provided is bound by the legal requirements of the Australian Privacy Principles set out in the Privacy Act 1988. See https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles for further details.

Personal Information

This pertains to both our website and the rest of our practice. Personal information about visitors to our website is collected only when knowingly and voluntarily submitted. For example, we may need to collect such information to provide you with further services or to answer or forward any requests or enquiries. It is our intention that this policy will protect your personal information from being dealt with in any way that is inconsistent with applicable privacy laws in Australia.

Your information is stored securely and accessed only by your psychologist in accordance with the practice’s policies and procedures.  Your information is stored using secure electronic systems that adhere to Australian Privacy laws, and in locked offices. The information collected includes your personal details such as name, address and contact phone numbers.

As part of providing a psychological service, such as a psychological assessment or treatment, we will also need to collect and record other personal information that is relevant to your current situation. This includes keeping a record of what happens during sessions, any psychological tests you complete, and any information received from others, such as your GP, lawyer or insurance company.

How your personal information is collected

There are a number of ways your personal information is collected, including when:

You provide information directly to your psychologist in your session and in writing such as letters, email or text messages.
Other health practitioners, such as your GP, provide personal information to Room to Grow Psychology through referrals, correspondence and medical reports.
We receive personal information from other sources, such as lawyers, employers or insurance companies through correspondence or reports.

If you have concerns that the information recorded is not correct, please discuss your concerns with your psychologist.

Purpose of Holding Personal Information

Personal information that visitors submit to our site is used only for the purpose for which it is submitted or for such other secondary purposes that are related to the primary purpose, unless we disclose other uses in this Internet Privacy Policy or at the time of collection. Copies of correspondence sent from the web site, that may contain personal information, are stored as archives for record-keeping and back-up purposes only.

Your personal information is gathered and used for the purpose of providing a psychological service to you. Your personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions and enables your psychologist to provide a relevant and informed psychological service to you.

This information and record keeping is a necessary part of the services provided and guides treatment.

Consequences of not providing personal information

Psychologists are required to keep clear and accurate client records as part of their professional obligations.

If you do not wish for your personal information to be collected, we may not be able to provide the psychological service to you. Please discuss any concerns you have with your psychologist.

Accessing your personal information

At any stage, you can request to access your personal information kept on file. There may be some exceptions that impact your ability to access the information, which are outlined in the relevant legislation.  If you would like to access your information, please discuss it with us or you can request in writing. All written requests for access to information will be responded to in writing within 14 days and an appointment will be made if necessary for clarification purposes.

Confidentiality of information

Personal information gathered by your psychologist will remain confidential except for certain circumstances. In most cases, any sharing of information will only occur with your consent.

Our practice asks for your consent to share information when:

Sharing information with a family member, guardian or carer.
Discussing with others, such as your GP, employer, or any agencies which may be paying for your attendance.
Providing a written report regarding your assessment or treatment to another professional or agency, such as your GP, lawyer or insurance company.
For disclosing the information in any other way not referenced in this document.

Psychologists are required to consult and receive supervision from colleagues from time to time. If your information is shared in this context, all care is taken to deidentify your information in such a way that you remain anonymous.

Exceptions to confidentiality

There are times when your psychologist may release your information without obtaining your consent such as:

When a court requires information by issuing a subpoena, or providing information is otherwise required or authorised by law.
When it is required because the psychologist must make a mandatory report on a concern.
When the psychologist discloses information because they believe you or someone else is at risk of serious harm.

Security

We strive to ensure the security, integrity and privacy of personal information submitted to our sites, and we review and update our security measures in light of current technologies. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be totally secure.

However, we will endeavour to take all reasonable steps to protect the personal information you may transmit to us or from our online products and services. Once we do receive your transmission, we will also make our best efforts to ensure its security on our systems.

In addition, our employees and the contractors who provide services related to our information systems are obliged to respect the confidentiality of any personal information held by us. However, we will not be held responsible for events arising from unauthorised access to your personal information.

Data Breach Policy

In the event that any unauthorised access, disclosure or loss of your personal information occurs, Room to Grow Psychology will activate its 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 you may request to see and correct the personal information about you kept on file. Your psychologist may discuss the contents with you and/or give you a copy, subject to the exceptions in the Privacy Act 1988.

If your psychologist is satisfied that your 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 you for access to or correction of personal information held about you should be lodged with your psychologist.

All written requests for access to information will be responded to in writing within 14 days and an appointment will be made if necessary for clarification purposes.

Access to Information

We will endeavour to take all reasonable steps to keep secure any information which we hold about you, and to keep this information accurate and up to date. If, at any time, you discover that information held about you is incorrect, you may contact us to have the information corrected.

In addition, our employees and the contractors who provide services related to our information systems are obliged to respect the confidentiality of any personal information held by us.

Links to other sites

We provide links to Web sites outside of our web sites, as well as to third party Web sites. These linked sites are not under our control, and we cannot accept responsibility for the conduct of companies linked to our website. Before disclosing your personal information on any other website, we advise you to examine the terms and conditions of using that Web site and its privacy statement.

Concerns

If you have a concern about the management of your personal information, you may inform your psychologist. Upon request you can obtain a copy of the Australian Privacy Principles, which describe your rights and how your personal information should be handled.

Ultimately, if you wish to lodge a formal complaint about the use of, disclosure of, or access to, your personal information, you may do so with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: