Privacy and Confidentiality

Privacy

As part of providing a service to you, Leap Psychology and Consulting needs to collect and record personal information from you that is relevant to your presenting concerns. The psychological service provided is bound by the legal requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Your personal information is gathered and used for the purpose of providing psychological services and is stored in an electronic file. The personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions and enables the psychologist to provide a relevant and informed psychological service. In accordance with APS guidelines, Leap Psychology and Consulting destroys or permanently de-identifies personal information if it is no longer needed for the agreed purposes.

At any stage you are entitled to seek access to your personal information kept on file, subject to exceptions in the relevant legislation. Your psychologist will discuss the appropriate course of action, should you wish to make a formal request to access your file.

Confidentiality

All personal information will remain strictly confidential except in the following situations:

• It is subpoenaed by a court or a summons, or disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law
• There is a perceived serious risk of harm to yourself or another person
• Information is provided about a child at risk of abuse
• As required as part of the external party providing funding for the psychological services provided to you (such as Medicare, WorkCover)
• Your prior approval has been obtained to:
  • provide a written report to another agency or professional, e.g., a GP, School or a lawyer;
  • discuss the material with another person, e.g. parent or other healthcare provider;
  • disclose the information in another way