Last updated: August 2026
I take the privacy and confidentiality of personal information seriously. This policy explains how personal information is collected, used, stored and disclosed in the course of my professional practice.
As a private health service provider, I handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles, together with my professional and legal obligations as a psychologist.
Personal information I collect
The kinds of personal information I may collect and hold include:
- name and contact details
- demographic and administrative information
- referral and appointment information
- billing and payment information
- health information and other information relevant to the provision of psychological services
- correspondence and communications
- clinical records where you become a client.
I collect personal information that is reasonably necessary for my professional activities and the services I provide.
How I collect personal information
Most personal information is collected directly from you, including when you contact me, complete intake or consent documentation, or attend appointments.
Information may also be provided by another person or organisation where appropriate, such as a referring medical practitioner or another health professional involved in your care.
If you contact me through this website, I collect the information you choose to provide through the contact form. The form is intended for initial enquiries, and you are encouraged to keep your initial message brief.
Contact-form submissions are sent electronically to me. They are not stored as entries within this WordPress website, and remote entry backups through WPForms are not enabled.
Why I collect and use personal information
I collect, hold and use personal information where reasonably necessary to:
- respond to enquiries
- determine whether I may be able to provide an appropriate service
- arrange and administer appointments
- provide psychological and other professional services
- maintain appropriate professional and clinical records
- communicate with other health professionals where appropriate
- process payments and undertake practice administration
- meet professional, ethical and legal obligations.
Personal and health information is not used or disclosed for unrelated purposes except with your consent or where permitted or required by law.
Confidentiality and disclosure
Information provided in the course of psychological services is treated as confidential.
There are limited circumstances in which personal or health information may be disclosed without your consent, including where disclosure is required or authorised by law, or where necessary in circumstances involving a serious threat to life, health or safety.
Information may also be shared with your consent, such as with another health professional involved in your care.
More detailed information about confidentiality, its limits and the handling of clinical information is provided to clients as part of the consent process for psychological services.
Storage and security
I take reasonable steps to protect personal and health information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Clinical and administrative information is stored using systems appropriate to the sensitive nature of health information, with access restricted according to professional and administrative requirements.
Personal information is retained for as long as required for the purposes for which it was collected and in accordance with applicable professional and legal record-keeping requirements. When information is no longer required to be retained, it is securely destroyed or de-identified as appropriate.
Data breaches
If personal information is lost, accessed or disclosed without authorisation, I will take appropriate steps to contain and assess the breach, minimise potential harm, and notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner where required under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.
Accessing or correcting your information
You may request access to personal information I hold about you or ask for it to be corrected if you believe it is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading.
There are some circumstances in which access may lawfully be limited or refused. Where applicable, I will explain the reasons for this and the options available to you.
Requests for access or correction can be made by contacting me.
Privacy enquiries and complaints
If you have a question or concern about the way your personal information has been handled, please contact me in the first instance. I will consider your concern and respond within a reasonable period.
If you are not satisfied with the response, you may be able to make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
Overseas disclosure
I do not disclose personal information to recipients outside Australia in the ordinary course of my practice. Personal information may be disclosed overseas in exceptional circumstances where you have consented to the disclosure, or where the disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.
Changes to this policy
This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes to my professional practice, information-handling practices or applicable legal requirements.