Privacy Policy
Health Sense Psychology & Wellness Pty Ltd (ABN 24 661 844 426) is committed to providing quality services to you and protecting your privacy in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). This policy outlines our ongoing obligations to you in respect of how we manage your Personal Information. This Privacy Policy applies to our website, www.healthsensespsychology.com.au (the “Site”) which is operated by us, and to the products and services provided by us.
We have adopted the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). The NPPs govern the way in which we collect, use, disclose, store, secure and dispose of your Personal Information in our practice.
A copy of the Australian Privacy Principles may be obtained from the website of The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.aoic.gov.au
What is Personal Information and why do we collect it?
Personal Information is information or an opinion that identifies an individual. Examples of Personal Information we collect include: names, addresses, email addresses, phone and facsimile numbers.
This Personal Information is obtained in several ways including intake information, managing inquiries, scheduling sessions, practitioner records, the information provided to our practitioners and administration, correspondence with other professionals, managing billing, accounts and claims, in person, by telephone, by facsimile, by email, via our website www.healthsensepsychology.com.au or social media. We do not guarantee website links or policy of authorised third parties. Other examples of where we may use, collect, hold and disclose personal information may be conducting quality assurance as part of our professional responsibilities, comply with legal and regulatory obligations, correspond with you if you have subscribed to organisational updates, manage and respond to any complaints or feedback.
We collect your Personal Information for the primary purpose of providing our services to you. We may also use your Personal Information for secondary purposes closely related to the primary purpose, in circumstances where you would reasonably expect such use or disclosure. You may unsubscribe from our mailing/marketing lists at any time by contacting us in writing.
When we collect Personal Information we will, where appropriate and where possible, explain to you why we are collecting the information and how we plan to use it.
Sensitive Information
Sensitive information is defined in the Privacy Act to include information or opinion about such things as an individual's racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of a political association, religious or philosophical beliefs, membership of a trade union or other professional body, criminal record or health information.
Sensitive information will be used by us only:
For the primary purpose for which it was obtained
For a secondary purpose that is directly related to the primary purpose
With your consent; or where required or authorised by law.
Third Parties
Where reasonable and practicable to do so, we will collect your Personal Information only from you. However, in some circumstances, we may be provided with information by third parties. In such a case we will take reasonable steps to ensure that you are made aware of the information provided to us by the third party. Some examples of Third Parties may be – your referring practitioner, other healthcare or support service providers, if you are a minor, your parent or guardian, other legal guardianship, your private health / third party arrangements or Medicare regarding claims and billing.
Disclosure of Personal Information
Your Personal Information may be disclosed in a number of circumstances including the following:
Third parties where you consent to the use or disclosure; and
Where required or authorised by law.
Other examples may include:
Ethical and legal scenarios or obligations such as where it is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety;
Where it is reasonably necessary to achieve the purpose for which we collected the information (or directly related purposes that you would reasonably expect);
Debt recovery.
We may from time to time use personal information for another purpose where it would be reasonably expected by you or if permitted by the Privacy Act, including to effectuate or enforce a transaction, procuring advice from legal and accounting firms, auditors and other consultants
Children's privacy rights
Privacy laws protect the personal information of all clients, regardless of their age. Children under the age of 18 may be entitled to make privacy decisions independent of their parents, guardians and other family members, if the child has sufficient understanding and maturity to understand these decisions on their own.
Where necessary, our practitioners may determine the decision-making capacity of a child in accordance with their professional judgement.
Security of Personal Information
Your Personal Information is securely stored in a manner that reasonably protects it from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
When your Personal Information is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was obtained, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify your Personal Information. However, most of the Personal Information is or will be stored in client files which will be kept by us for a minimum of 7 years.
Access to your Personal Information
You may access the Personal Information we hold about you and to update and/or correct it, subject to certain exceptions. If you wish to access your Personal Information, please contact us in writing.
Health Sense Psychology & Wellness Pty Ltd will not charge any fee for your access request, but may charge an administrative fee for providing a copy of your Personal Information. If this request is related to clinical information, you may discuss this with your practitioner.
Under Applicable Privacy Laws, there are certain circumstances where Applicable Privacy Laws may allow (or require us) to refuse your request. If this is the case, we will provide you with written correspondence around these reasons.
In order to protect your Personal Information we may require identification from you before releasing the requested information. If your request relates to someone other than yourself, we may need to confirm your legal authority to access or correct information on the behalf of this person.
Maintaining the Quality of your Personal Information
It is important to us that your Personal Information is up to date. We will take reasonable steps to make sure that your Personal Information is accurate, complete and up-to-date. If you find that the information we have is not up to date or is inaccurate, please advise us as soon as practicable so we can update our records and ensure we can continue to provide quality services to you.
Data Breach Notification Scheme
If we have reason to suspect a data breach has occurred, we will undertake an assessment in accordance with the Notifiable Data Breach Scheme. If we determine there has been an eligible data breach, we will notify you as soon as reasonably practicable.
If the breach relates to the My Health Records Act, we may disclose your personal information to the My Health Records System Operator under s 73A of that Act.
Identifiers
An identifier is a unique number assigned to an individual to identify them. Identifiers include Medicare Numbers and Tax File numbers. We will not adopt as our own any identifier of you or use or disclose an identifier of you which has been assigned by a government agency, unless permitted under the Act.
Policy Updates
This Policy may change from time to time and is available on our website.
Privacy Policy Complaints and Enquiries
If you have any queries or complaints about our Privacy Policy or how we have handled your personal information please contact us at:
Health Sense Psychology & Wellness Pty Ltd
Email: admin@healthsensepsychology.com.au
Phone : (08) 6383 7979
Post: Level 1 / 448 Fitzgerald St North Perth 6006
If you are not satisfied with our handling of your complaint, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and/or the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office of WA (HaDSCO)
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
Phone: 1300 363 992
Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au
Lodge a privacy complaint with us - Home (oaic.gov.au)
Health and Disability Services Complaints Office of WA (HaDSCO)
Complaints and enquiries line: (08) 6551 7600
Free call from landlines: 1800 813 583
Phone: (08) 6551 7620 (Administration)
Email: mail@hadsco.wa.gov.au
Website: www.hadsco.wa.gov.au
Postal address: GPO Box B61, Perth WA 6838
National Relay Service
If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service.
Website: www.relayservice.gov.au
Phone help desk: 1800 555 660
TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 08 9222 4222
Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 08 9222 4222
Internet relay users connect to the NRS then ask for 08 9222 4222.
Translating and Interpreting Service National (TIS National)
TIS National is an interpreting service provided by the Department of Home Affairs for people who do not speak English.
Phone: 131 450
Website: www.tisnational.gov.au
For information about patients' rights and responsibilities visit HealthyWA (external site).
Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO)
Last Updated: 8th November 2022