Privacy
Kindred Counselling is committed to providing quality services to you and this policy outlines my/our ongoing obligations to you in respect to how I/we manage your Personal Information.
I have adopted the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act). The NPPs govern the way in which I/we collect, use, disclose, store, secure and dispose of your Personal Information.
A copy of the Australian Privacy Principles may be obtained from the website of The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at Home - Home (oaic.gov.au)
What is Personal Information and why do I/we collect it?
Personal Information is information that identifies an individual. Examples of Personal Information I/we collect include: your name, your email and your phone number.
This Personal Information is obtained in many ways including assessments, correspondence, telephone, email, via my/our website, Google forms, podcast interviews, from your website, from media and publications, from other publicly available sources, from cookies and from third parties. I don’t guarantee website links or policy of authorised third parties.
I collect your Personal Information for the primary purpose of providing my therapy and/or other services to you, providing information to our clients and marketing. I may also use your Personal Information for secondary purposes which are closely related to the primary purpose.
When I collect Personal Information I will, where appropriate and where possible, explain to you why I am collecting the information and how I plan to use your information.
Sensitive Information
Sensitive information is defined in the Privacy Act to include information 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 me/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, I will collect your Personal Information only from you. However, in some circumstances I may be provided with information by third parties such as EAP counselling organisations or insurance companies if you choose to use either of these parties. In such a case I will take reasonable steps to ensure that you are made aware of the information provided to me/us by the third party.
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
Security of Personal Information
Your Personal Information is stored in a manner that reasonably protects it from misuse, loss and from unauthorized access, changes or disclosure.
When your Personal Information is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was obtained, I 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 me for at least 7 years.
Access to your Personal Information
You may access the Personal Information I hold about you and to update and/or correct it, subject to certain exceptions. If you wish to access your Personal Information, please contact me in writing.
Kindred Counselling will not charge any fee for your access request, but may/will charge an administrative fee for providing a copy of your Personal Information.
In order to protect your Personal Information I may require identification from you before releasing the requested information.
Maintaining the quality of your Personal Information
It is important to us that your Personal Information is up to date. I will take reasonable steps to make sure that your Personal Information is accurate, complete and up-to-date. If you find that the information I have is not up to date or is inaccurate, please advise me as soon as practicable so we can update our records and ensure that I can continue to provide quality services to you.