Privacy

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As part of providing a psychological service to you, the psychologist needs to collect and record personal information from you that is relevant to your situation, such as your name, contact information, medical history, and other relevant information as part of providing psychological services to you. This collection of personal information will be a necessary part of psychological assessment and treatment that is conducted. 

Your personal information is gathered as part of your assessment and treatment, is kept securely and, in the interests of your privacy, used only by your psychologist and authorised personnel of the practice (as necessary). Your personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions and enable the psychologist to provide a relevant and informed psychological service to you. 

If you do not wish for your personal information to be collected, the psychologist may not be in a position to provide the psychological service to you. You may request to be anonymous or to use a pseudonym, unless it is impracticable for the psychologist to do so or if the psychologist is required or authorised by law to deal with identified individuals. In most cases it will not be possible for you to be anonymous or to use a pseudonym.

At any stage you are entitled to access your personal information kept on file, subject to exceptions in the relevant legislation. The psychologist or other sole practitioners may discuss with you different possible forms of access.

All personal information gathered by the psychologist during the provision of the psychological service will remain confidential except when:

• It is subpoenaed by a court, or disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law (e.g., mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse); or
• Failure to disclose the information would in the reasonable belief of the psychologist place you or another person at serious risk to life, health or safety; or
• Your prior approval has been obtained to:
  • provide a written report to another agency or professional, e.g., a GP or a lawyer; or 
  • discuss the material with another person, e.g., a parent, employer, health provider, or third-party funder; or disclose the information in another way; or 
  • 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.

Your personal information is not disclosed to overseas recipients unless you consent, or such disclosure is otherwise required by law. Your 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. 

The Charter for clients of APS psychologists is displayed at the private practice premises and a hard copy can be obtained on request. This charter explains your rights as a client of a psychologist.

Unless specified in a court order, children receiving services will require parents to provide evidence that all parents/caregivers responsible for the care of their child consent for their children to participate in assessment or therapy. 

If a child is at risk of harm, then the appropriate service in the community needs to be contacted, and referral to community supports enacted. In Queensland, contact Child Safety Services Enquiries unit on 1800 811 810.