Privacy Policy
Nourish Psychotherapy and Counselling is committed to protecting your privacy and managing your personal and health information respectfully, securely and in accordance with applicable Australian privacy legislation.
As a private mental health practice, we understand the importance of confidentiality and are committed to maintaining the privacy and security of your personal information.
What information do we collect?
We collect information necessary to provide safe and effective psychological care. This may include:
Your name, date of birth and contact details.
Emergency contact information.
Medicare and referral information.
GP, psychiatrist, or other healthcare provider details.
Relevant medical, mental health and family history.
Clinical notes and treatment plans.
Payment and billing information.
Correspondence relating to your care.
Where services are provided to infants, children or adolescents, information relating to parents, carers or guardians may also be collected where relevant to treatment.
Why do we collect your information?
Your information is collected to:
Provide assessment, psychotherapy, and mental health services.
Develop and review treatment plans.
Communicate with you regarding appointments.
Process Medicare claims and payments.
Prepare reports or correspondence (with your consent unless otherwise required by law).
Meet professional, ethical, and legal obligations.
How is your information stored?
Nourish uses secure electronic practice management software, including Halaxy, to manage appointments, clinical records, invoicing, and Medicare claiming.
Reasonable steps are taken to protect your information from unauthorised access, misuse, loss, or disclosure.
Clinical records are retained in accordance with relevant Australian legislation and professional record-keeping requirements.
Who may your information be shared with?
Your personal information will only be shared:
with your consent.
where necessary for your ongoing care (for example, your GP, psychiatrist, or another treating practitioner).
when required by law.
where there is a serious risk to your safety or the safety of another person.
where there are concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person.
where records are subpoenaed by a court or disclosure is otherwise legally required.
Clinical work may also be discussed during professional supervision. Any identifying information is removed wherever possible.
Access to your information
You may request access to your personal information or clinical records at any time.
Requests will be managed in accordance with applicable legislation and professional guidelines. In some circumstances, access may be limited where permitted by law.
If you believe your information is inaccurate, please let us know so we can update our records.
Website and online enquiries
When you contact Nourish through our website, email or online booking system, personal information you provide will be used only for the purpose of responding to your enquiry or providing services.
Our website may use basic website analytics or cookies to improve website performance. No identifying health information is collected through website analytics.
Telehealth
Secure telehealth platforms are used where appropriate. While every reasonable effort is made to protect your privacy, no online communication can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Telehealth appointments are conducted in accordance with professional practice standards.
Complaints
If you have concerns about how your personal information has been handled, please contact Nourish Psychotherapy and Counselling in the first instance.
If your concerns cannot be resolved, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) or the Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner for further information.