Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and the specific health records legislation for NSW (Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002) and Victoria (Health Records Act 2001).

1. Introduction

This policy outlines how Intrepid Mind Psychology collects, uses, holds, and discloses your personal and health information. We are committed to protecting your privacy and managing your data in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles and relevant state health records legislation.

2. Collection of Information

We collect information that is necessary to provide psychological services and to manage our practice. This includes:

Personal Information: Name, date of birth, address, contact details, and emergency contact info.
Health Information: Clinical notes, medical history, referral details, and psychological test results.
Financial Information: Medicare details, DVA numbers, and billing/payment information.

How we collect it: Usually directly from you (via intake forms or during sessions). We may also collect information from third parties, such as your GP or other health providers, with your consent.

3. Use and Disclosure

Your information is primarily used to provide psychological assessment and treatment. It may also be used in the following circumstances:

Clinical Supervision: To ensure the highest quality of care, your psychologist may discuss aspects of your case with other qualified psychologists in one-on-one or group supervision settings. During these sessions, your identity is protected (de-identified) where possible, and the focus remains on improving the support provided to you. All supervisors are bound by the same strict confidentiality standards. Regular supervision is a mandatory component of psychologists' registrations.
Administrative purposes: Billing, processing Medicare/health fund claims, and scheduling.

Disclosure to third parties: We will not disclose your information without your consent unless:

Mandatory Reporting: We have a legal obligation to report to relevant authorities if we believe a person under the age of 18 is at risk of harm (e.g., physical or sexual abuse, or neglect).
Safety: Failure to disclose poses a serious threat to your life, health, or safety, or that of another person.
Legal Requirements: It is required by a court of law (e.g., a subpoena).
Referral Management: You would reasonably expect us to provide a progress report or summary to your referring GP or psychiatrist.

4. Data Security and Retention

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from misuse, loss, or unauthorized access.

Storage: We use Halaxy as the practice management software, which complies with secure storage requirement in Australia. There are no hard copies of documents kept. Any physical document provided or produced is scanned into your file and the hard copy is shredded.
Retention: In accordance with NSW and Victorian law, health records are kept for a minimum of 7 years from the date of the last service. If the client was a child at the time of the last service, records are kept until they turn 25 years of age.

5. Access and Correction

You have the right to request access to your personal and health information.

Requests: These should be made in writing to kim@intrepidmindpsychology.com.au.
Fees: A fee may be charged for the time taken to collate records or provide a summary, as permitted under the Health Records Regulations.
Refusal: In rare cases, access may be denied if we believe providing the information would pose a serious threat to your life or health, or the privacy of others.
Correction of Information: If you believe that the personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading, you may request a correction. We will take reasonable steps to correct the information to ensure it is accurate for the purposes for which it is held.
Disputed Information: If we disagree with your view that the information is inaccurate and decline to amend it, you have the right to ask us to associate a statement with your record noting your claim that the information is inaccurate.

6. Complaints

If you have concerns about how your privacy has been handled, please contact us directly so we can resolve the matter. If you are unsatisfied with our response, you may contact:

Intrepid Mind Psychology