Privacy Policy

At Mindful Journey Psychology, we are committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of your personal and health information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, store, secure, and provide you with access to your personal information.

This policy adheres to the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and reflects our commitment to our ethical and professional obligations as a health service provider.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal and health information that is necessary to provide our psychological services, including:

• Personal details (name, address, date of birth, contact information)
• Medicare, or private health insurance details
• Healthcare identifiers
• Referral information
• Medical and mental health history
• Current and previous treatments
• Family and relationship information relevant to your care
• Information about your psychological wellbeing and presenting concerns
• Assessment results and treatment records

2. How We Collect Information

We collect personal and health information through:

• Direct communication with you
• Forms you complete
• Consultations and assessments
• Referrals from doctors, other health professionals, or third parties (with your consent)
• Email, phone, or written correspondence

3. Purpose of Collection

We collect and use your personal and health information to:

• Provide appropriate psychological assessment and treatment
• Communicate with you about your care
• Coordinate with other healthcare providers (with your consent)
• Process payments and Medicare/insurance claims
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
• Improve our services
• Contact you regarding appointments or follow-ups

4. Disclosure of Information

We respect your privacy and will only disclose your information in the following circumstances:

• When you have provided explicit consent for us to share specific information
• To other healthcare providers involved in your care (with your consent)
• For Medicare, WorkCover, or insurance processing purposes
• In emergency situations where there is a serious and imminent threat to you or others
• When required by law, including mandatory reporting obligations
• For professional supervision or consultation (in a de-identified manner)

5. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal and health information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure. These steps include:

• Secure storage of physical documents
• Password protection and encryption of electronic data
• Staff training on confidentiality and privacy practices
• Secure disposal of documents when no longer needed
• Regular review of our data security measures

6. Data Retention

In accordance with professional guidelines and legal requirements, we retain client records for a minimum of 7 years after the last client contact, or in the case of a minor, until the client turns 25 years of age.

7. Access and Correction

You have the right to access your personal and health information and request corrections if necessary. Requests for access should be made in writing to the practice owner. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

In some circumstances, we may deny access to certain information if it:

• Poses a serious threat to your or someone else's life or health
• Impacts the privacy of others
• Is subject to legal privilege

8. Website and Online Services

Our website may collect non-identifiable information such as browser type and IP addresses to improve our website performance. We do not use cookies to track your activity on our website.

9. Complaints

If you believe your privacy has been breached or have concerns about how your information has been handled, please contact us directly to discuss your concerns. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact:

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Phone: 1300 363 992
Website: www.oaic.gov.au

Or the Health Complaints Commissioner in your state or territory.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Updates will be published on our website.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us at:

Mindful Journey Psychology
Suite 505, 6 North Lakes Drive
North Lakes QLD 4509
Phone: 0481 578 624
Email: info@mindfuljourneypsychology.com.au

Last updated: 29 June 2025