Privacy Policy

Casey Psychology Centre takes its obligations under the Victorian Health Records Act 2021 and the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 seriously and takes all reasonable steps to comply and protect the privacy of personal information. 

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What is Personal Information and why do we collect it?

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Casey Psychology Centre collects and holds personal health information about you. The information enables us to properly assess, diagnose, provide treatment and be proactive in your health care needs. 

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All members of the team involved in your care will have access to your personal information.  This means that we may use or disclose the information you provide in the following examples:

• Disclosure to others involved in your mental health care, including doctors and specialists outside our practice who may become involved in treating you or in emergency situations.

• Administrative services in running our practice to appropriate authorities or personnel. This includes our insurer or clinical indemnity providers, and quality assurance and accreditation bodies.

• Billing purposes, including providing information to your health insurance fund, Medicare and other third party organisations responsible for the financial aspects of your care.

• Clinical supervision with another health professional or psychologist (in these circumstances clients are de-identified).

• By law, for example under mandatory reporting legislation.​​

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Security of Personal Information

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Your Personal Information is 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.

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Maintaining the Quality of your Personal Information

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It is an 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.

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Access to records

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Clients have a general right of access to their health information held about them. 

Casey Psychology Centre can refuse access in such cases where:

• It would pose a serious threat to the individual's life, health or safety 

• Unreasonably impact on someone else's privacy (e.g couples therapy)

• It might prejudice an investigation of possible unlawful activity

• Denying access is required and authorised by or under law

 

If access is denied on the grounds that it might cause significant harm to the individual, potentially resulting in withdrawal from treatment or engaging in harmful behaviours, you can request a second opinion. In this case, the individual can nominate any health service provider that consents to the nomination. Casey Psychology Centre must accept this nomination if they provide similar services to a Psychologist and have the ability to interpret  and understand the health information. 

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The Access process

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The request should be directed to your treating Psychologist who will determine whether the information can be provided simply and freely or whether a written request is preferred.  

A range of fees set by the Health Records Act are payable to Casey Psychology Centre to cover the costs to provide access. Please discuss these fees with your Psychologist. 

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Complaint Handling Process

The treating Psychologist would usually be the first appropriate contact to discuss any complaints. Most issues can be resolved simply through discussions. However, if there is a failure to reach a common ground the Privacy Commissioner can be asked to investigate the complaint. 

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Contact details for the Privacy Commissioner: PO Box 24274, Melbourne. VIC 3001. You can also contact them via phone 1300 006 842 or email enquiries@ovic.vic.gov.au.

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Policy Updates

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This Policy may change from time to time and is available on our website.

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Privacy Policy Complaints and Enquiries

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If you have any queries or complaints about our Privacy Policy please contact us at:

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Email: admin@caseypsychology.com.au

Phone: 0466677727

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