Privacy & Cancellation policies.
This policy outlines the ways in which Matthew Phillips handles the personal
information of our clients. We take privacy seriously and are committed to complying
with the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
Personal Information
Personal information is any information about an individual that can be used to
identify them directly or indirectly, such as name, address, phone number, email
address, and date of birth. Sensitive information is a type of personal information
which includes details, for example, about a person’s racial or ethnic origins, political
or religious beliefs, sexual orientation, health or genetic information, family court
orders or criminal record. The breach of sensitive information is likely to leave people
open to discrimination or embarrassment.
Why we collect personal information
The sharing of personal information by a client assists us to assess and support the
client in processing their identified concerns. Personal information is retained to
enable us to provide a relevant and informed service. Within our practice and due to
our duty of care a client cannot be anonymous. A client may request to use a pseudonym, but a name as listed on ID’s is required.
How we collect personal information
We collect personal information through a variety of means, including:
the information you verbally share with us
written communication received from you via email, SMS or letter
our online booking system
our intake form
social media
the guardian of those under 18 years of age
a referral from your GP or another treating practitioner or service
Our storage of personal information
To protect the personal information we hold from misuse or loss we store it in several
ways, all of which are secure and can only be accessed by approved individuals.
The method of storage varies between types of information and includes both hard
copies and digital versions (either on a secure server or offline). We do not retain any
credit card or banking details once processing the payment is finalised. We also try
not to retain unnecessary information, disposing of it securely from time to time
depending on the type on information it is and our legal obligations. If we become
aware of a security breach we will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, take
remedial action and notify the individual affected in accordance with the Privacy Act.
Disclosure of your personal information
Accessing your personal information
We will not disclose personal information about you to third parties without your
consent, except when the disclosure is required by law. It is unlikely that we will
disclose any information to a recipient outside of Australia.
You may request access to personal information we hold about you. We may ask
you to specify what information you require and may charge a fee where we provide
access. We deal with all requests for access to personal information as required by
the Privacy Act. We may refuse to provide access if the Privacy Act allows us to do
so.
Accessing your personal information
Integrity of your personal information
We try to ensure that the personal information we collect is accurate and up to date.
You may request an update or correction to personal information we hold about you
and we will deal with all such requests as required by the Privacy Act.
You may request access to personal information we hold about you. We may ask
you to specify what information you require and may charge a fee where we provide
access. We deal with all requests for access to personal information as required by
the Privacy Act. We may refuse to provide access if the Privacy Act allows us to do
so.
Complaints
If you think your personal information has not been handled in line with the Privacy
Act, please contact us in the first instance. We will investigate your complaint and try
to promptly resolve your complaint directly with you. If you are not satisfied with the
outcome, then you may make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC). For information about how to make such a complaint, please
refer to the OAIC website http://www.oaic.gov.au/
Contact
We may make changes to this privacy policy from time to time and in such cases we
will notify clients by email or on our website.
If you have any questions relating to privacy matters, please contact us by email at
Mattp150391@gmail.com
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Late cancellations or no shows will incur the full session fee as per cancellation policy. Bookings made are set aside just for you. Short notice cancellations often can’t be filled, which results in both loss of income and a missed opportunity for others who are waiting for support. I appreciate your understanding.