Privacy Policy

At Australian Psychology and Speech Clinic, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our clients' personal information. We strive to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) as outlined in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and we also adhere to the relevant guidelines from the Australian Psychological Society (APS), Speech Pathology Australia (SPA), and regulatory bodies such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Collection of Personal Information

We collect personal information from our clients to provide them with the highest quality of services possible. We may collect personal information such as the client's name, address, date of birth, contact details, medical history, and other sensitive information relevant to their treatment. We collect this information through various channels, including our website, phone, email, and in-person consultations. We only collect personal information that is necessary for us to provide our services to our clients, and we ensure that we collect it in a lawful and fair manner.

Use of Personal Information

We use personal information to provide our clients with appropriate treatment plans and to communicate with them about our services. We may also use personal information for research purposes, but we ensure that any data used for research is de-identified and does not identify individual clients.

Storage and Security of Personal Information

We store personal information securely and protect it from unauthorized access, misuse, or loss. We take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information is kept safe and secure, including storing electronic records in password-protected files and physical records in locked cabinets. We maintain our records in accordance with the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW) and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Disclosure of Personal Information

We will only disclose personal information to third parties with our clients' consent, except when required by law or when necessary to provide services to our clients. We ensure that clients are fully informed about the purpose and extent of the disclosure and that they provide their consent in writing. We take our clients' privacy seriously and will not disclose any personal information without their explicit permission.

Access to Personal Information

Our clients have the right to access their personal information and request correction or deletion of their personal information if it is inaccurate or incomplete. Clients can also make a complaint if they believe their privacy rights have been breached.

Retention of Personal Information

We maintain client files in accordance with legal requirements and guidelines from regulatory bodies such as the APS and SPA. The Board of Psychology in NSW requires that adult client records be maintained for a minimum of seven years after the last client contact, and for children, the records must be maintained until the client reaches the age of 25, or for seven years after the last contact, whichever is longer. SPA recommends that speech pathologists retain client files for a minimum of seven years.

Confidentiality

At Australian Psychology and Speech Clinic, we take confidentiality seriously. We will only break confidentiality in the following circumstances:

1. In case of harm to self or others;
2. If required by law;
3. If a client requests and consents to sharing information with a third party.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy policy or the management of your personal information, please contact us at  0422 953 917. 

Cancellation Policy:

At the Australian Psychology and Speech Clinic, we understand that sometimes you may need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. However, we kindly request that you give us sufficient notice to allow us to offer the appointment to someone else who may be waiting for a spot.

Medicare and Private Paying Clients:

If you are a Medicare or private paying client, we require at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. This is in line with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) guidelines, which state that health practitioners must provide reasonable notice for cancellation or rescheduling of appointments. If you provide less than 48 hours' notice, we will charge you 50% of the session fee. If you provide less than 24 hours' notice, we will charge you for the session fee.

New South Wales Legislation:

Under the New South Wales Fair Trading Act 1987, service providers are allowed to charge a cancellation fee if a client fails to attend an appointment or cancels without providing sufficient notice. This is in line with our cancellation policy, which states that we will charge a cancellation fee if  less than 48 hours' notice is given (for Medicare and private paying clients).

We hope that you understand the importance of providing sufficient notice for cancellations or rescheduling of appointments. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

At the Australian Psychology and Speech Clinic, we understand that waitlists for our services may occur and can sometimes be lengthy. In such cases, we do our best to provide prompt services and minimise wait times for our clients.

If our waitlist does exceed six months, we will prioritise referrals based on urgency and individual needs. Although we do not have any established partnerships with other service providers, we will make every effort to refer clients to nearby services that are competent and timely.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to provide the best possible care to our clients. If you have any questions or concerns about the waitlist process or any other aspect of our clinic, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for considering the Australian Psychology and Speech Clinic for your healthcare needs. We are committed to supporting you on your journey towards mental and emotional wellbeing.