Healthy Mind Centre Launceston Privacy Policy
Healthy Mind Centre Launceston, ABN: 79 621 833 065 (“HMC”, “we”, “our” or “us”) recognises the importance of your privacy and is committed to providing quality services to you. This policy outlines our ongoing obligations to you in respect of how we manage your privacy, confidentiality, and how we manage your Personal Information.
We have adopted the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (“the Privacy Act”). The APPs govern the way in which we collect, use, disclose, store, secure and dispose of your Personal Information.
A copy of the Australian Privacy Principles may be obtained from the website of The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.aoic.gov.au.
What is Personal Information?
Personal Information is information that identifies or may identify an individual. Examples of Personal Information we collect includes names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers, payment and billing information including credit card details and other information needed to process payments and bill for services. This Personal Information is obtained in many ways including verbal correspondence, by telephone and facsimile, by email, via our website www.healthymindcentre.com.au, and from third parties.
Why do we collect Personal Information?
We collect your Personal Information for the primary purpose of providing our services to you, for correspondence with referrers and other authorised third parties, when otherwise legally required, and for providing practice-related information and marketing about services we offer. You may unsubscribe from our marketing lists at any time by contacting us in writing. You can not opt out of all communications from us relating to your receipt of services from us, including communications relating to practice changes and related information, appointments, billing, or Personal Information management. We may also use your Personal Information for secondary purposes closely related to the primary purpose, in circumstances where you would reasonably expect such use or disclosure. This could include gaining your feedback about services, to effectuate or enforce a transaction, when procuring advice from legal or accounting forms, auditors, or other consultants.
We also collect information through our website that is often not personally identifiable, such as search terms that lead people to our website pages, the country of the user, and browser and devices used when accessing our website. This information is not linked with personally identifiable information we have collected for the purposes referenced above.
When we collect Personal Information we will, where appropriate and where possible, explain to you why we are collecting the information and how we plan to use it. We will not disclose, sell, share, or trade your personal information with any other third parties without your consent.
Sensitive Information
Sensitive information is defined in the Privacy Act to include information or opinion about such things as an individual's racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of a political association, religious or philosophical beliefs, membership of a trade union or other professional body, sexual preferences or practices, criminal record, or health information.
Sensitive information will be used by us only:
For the primary purpose for which it was obtained;
For a secondary purpose that is directly related to the primary purpose; and
With your consent, or where otherwise required or authorised by law.
Third Parties
Where reasonable and practicable to do so, we will collect your Personal Information only from you. However, in some circumstances we may be provided with information by third parties. In such a case we will take reasonable steps to ensure that you are made aware of the information provided to us by the third party.
Disclosure of Personal Information
Your Personal Information may be disclosed in a number of circumstances including the following:
Third parties where you consent to the use or disclosure;
For the purpose of providing a service, billing for services, and conducting business activities such as engaging the services of external contractors (including legal and accounting services);
Where required to prevent or lessen a serious threat to a person’s life, health or safety; and/or
When otherwise authorised by law.
In the event that a consumer of our service is under 18 years of age and not deemed competent as a “Mature Minor” or “Gillick Competent” to consent to their own medical treatment, or in the event a consumer of our service is over 18 years of age and has a legally appointed administrator or guardian, we may disclose some Personal and Sensitive Information to that guardian if deemed appropriate and/or necessary. We will always endeavour to try to gain the assent of a service consumer before sharing Personal or Sensitive Information with a guardian, if possible.
Security of Personal Information
Your Personal Information is stored in a manner that reasonably protects it from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. We use commercially reasonable physical, technical, and administrative measures to protect Personal Information that we hold, including physical security, password protection, and encryption, to the standard accepted under the Privacy Act. Personal Information may be stored electronically through third party data storage facilities, which may be hosted in Australia or in selected countries overseas, or in physical storage at our premises or other suitable secure storage facilities. We do not supply third party organisations with your Personal Information for the direct purpose of marketing.
Although we will take all appropriate measures to protect personal information collected and used by us, no data security measures can guarantee 100% security all of the time. We also cannot guarantee the security of any information transmitted to us via the internet, post, or other methods by our clients or other third parties, and transmission of this information is at your own risk. You are personally responsible for maintaining the security of any passwords or other account information that you may use to access our platforms, website, apps, or other relevant services. At times, our platforms or website may contain links to other, third-party websites or apps. Any access and use of these websites or apps is governed by the privacy policies of those websites, and we are not responsible for the privacy and Personal Information management policies of those third-party websites or apps.
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 and Sensitive 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, which is a legal requirement.
Data Breach Notification Scheme
If we have reason to suspect a data breach has occurred, we will undertake an assessment and respond in accordance with the Notifiable Data Breach Scheme, as well as undertake any further relevant activities including potentially adapting other policies and procedures and completing staff training. Further information about the Notifiable Data Breach Scheme can be found on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.
Access to your Personal Information
You may access the Personal Information we hold about you and to update and/or correct any inaccurate information, subject to certain exceptions. If you wish to access your Personal Information, please contact us in writing. If you wish to review your Personal and/or Sensitive Information, this must be completed with a clinician and will be subject to consultation fees (typically the clinician’s usual hourly rate). If you would like a copy of your clinical file and this is deemed safe and suitable to provide, you may be charged an administrative fee that covers preparation of the clinical file, which is typically the current recommended Australian Psychological Society (APS) fee.
In order to protect your Personal Information, we may require identification from you before releasing the requested information.
If you would like a copy of your Personal Information sent to another healthcare or support provider, please contact us in writing. Fees may apply.
Maintaining the Quality of your Personal Information
It is an important to us that your Personal Information is accurate and 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.
Policy Updates
This Policy may change from time to time, and the most current version is available on our website. We will update service consumers about changes to the privacy policy as they occur, via notification on our website.
Privacy Policy Complaints and Enquiries
If you have any queries or complaints about our Privacy Policy or management of your Personal Information, or you are concerned about a data breach, please contact the HMC Launceston Director or their representative by phoning (03) 6388 9229, emailing admin@healthymindcentre.com.au, or lodging your complaint in writing to: The Director, Healthy Mind Centre Launceston, PO Box 305, Prospect TAS 7250.
This policy is current as of 23/08/2022.