Privacy Policy | The Conscious Psych

THE CONSCIOUS PSYCH

The Conscious Psych is committed to protecting the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of all clients. We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), relevant Queensland health record legislation, and the ethical standards of the Psychology Board of Australia and AHPRA.

What Personal Information We Collect

We collect personal and health information necessary to provide psychological services, including:

Name, date of birth, address, email and phone number
Emergency contact details
Medicare, NDIS, private health fund or referral information (where applicable)
Clinical notes, assessments, reports and correspondence
Appointment and billing information
Information provided via intake forms, email, SMS, telehealth platforms or website enquiry forms

How Personal Information Is Collected

Personal information may be collected:

During intake and assessment (online or hard copy)
During therapy sessions (in person or via telehealth)
Via email, SMS, website contact forms or phone
From referrers such as GPs, psychiatrists, schools or other health professionals (with your consent or where authorised by law)
Through administrative interactions relating to appointments or billing

Consequences of Not Providing Personal Information

If you choose not to provide information required for service delivery, The Conscious Psych may be unable to provide psychological services.

You may request to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym where lawful and practicable. However, in most circumstances this will not be feasible where formal psychological services, documentation, Medicare or third-party funding applies.

Purpose of Collecting and Holding Information

Your personal information is collected and used to:

Assess, diagnose and treat psychological concerns
Develop and implement therapeutic interventions
Communicate with relevant health professionals involved in your care (with consent)
Meet legal and professional obligations
Manage administrative and billing processes

Clinical records are maintained to ensure safe, informed and ethical care.

Storage, Security and Retention

Client records are stored securely in:

Encrypted electronic practice management systems used for clinical documentation, appointment scheduling and administrative management; and/or
Secure physical storage where applicable.

Access is restricted to authorised personnel only.

Records are retained in accordance with legal requirements, including:

A minimum of 7 years after the last client contact; and
For clients under 18 years of age, until the client reaches 25 years of age.

Reasonable steps are taken to protect information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

Personal information will not be disclosed without your consent except where:

Required or authorised by law (e.g., subpoena or court order)
There are mandatory reporting obligations
Disclosure is necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to life, health or safety
It is required for professional consultation or supervision (see below)
Disclosure is required for insurance, legal advice, or professional indemnity obligations

Personal information may also be disclosed to secure third-party service providers involved in practice administration, such as electronic practice management systems, secure payment processors, or telehealth platforms where necessary for service delivery.

Personal information is not sold, rented or used for marketing purposes and is not routinely disclosed to overseas recipients.

Professional Supervision and Consultation

As required by the Psychology Board of Australia, psychologists participate in professional supervision and peer consultation to maintain safe and effective practice.

Before discussing any aspect of your care in supervision, The Conscious Psych will:

Explain the purpose of supervision
Explain what type of information may be discussed
Clarify whether identifying details will be removed
Seek your informed consent where identifiable information may be discussed

You may decline or withdraw consent at any time. Declining consent will not affect your access to care; however, it may limit aspects of service provision where supervision is professionally required.

Identifiable information will not be disclosed without explicit consent unless required or authorised by law.

Electronic Communication and Online Forms

Personal information may be collected through online enquiry forms, electronic intake forms, email, SMS or telehealth platforms.

While reasonable steps are taken to protect electronic communications, transmission of information electronically carries inherent security risks. Please advise if you prefer alternative communication methods.

This website may use basic cookies or analytics tools to understand website usage and improve service delivery. No personally identifiable health information is collected through website analytics.

Access to and Correction of Information

You may request access to or correction of your personal information by submitting a written request to:

Danielle Redding
The Conscious Psych
Email: theconsciouspsych@gmail.com

Email communication should be used for administrative purposes such as appointment scheduling only. Sensitive clinical information should not be sent via email.

Requests will be responded to within 30 days, subject to exceptions under the Privacy Act. Reasonable administrative fees may apply where additional time is required.

*Please note that email and website enquiries are not monitored continuously and should not be used for urgent or crisis situations. If you require immediate support, please contact your GP, present to the nearest emergency department, or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Concerns or Complaints

If you have concerns about how your information is managed, please contact The Conscious Psych directly.

You may also lodge a complaint with:

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
www.oaic.gov.au

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
www.ahpra.gov.au

Updates to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. The most current version will always be available on this website.