Privacy Policy
Recover Psychology
Website: recoverpsychology.com.au
Recover Psychology respects your privacy and is committed to protecting personal information and health information.
This Privacy Policy explains how Recover Psychology collects, uses, stores and discloses personal information and health information.
1. About this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to personal information and health information collected by Recover Psychology through the website, enquiry forms, booking systems, email, phone, telehealth, in-person appointments and related practice activities.
By using this website, making an enquiry, or booking an appointment, you acknowledge that Recover Psychology may collect, use and disclose information as described in this Privacy Policy.
2. Personal information and health information
Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified person or a person who is reasonably identifiable.
Health information may include information about a person’s physical or mental health, health services provided to them, appointment history, referrals, clinical notes, reports, medications, diagnoses, treatment plans, risk information, Medicare details and other information relevant to psychological care.
Health information is sensitive information and is handled with additional care.
3. Information Recover Psychology may collect
Recover Psychology may collect information including:
Name, date of birth, contact details, address, emergency contact details, Medicare details, referral information, GP details, appointment information, payment information, presenting concerns, mental health history, alcohol and other drug history, relevant medical history, family or social information, risk information, clinical notes, reports, correspondence and information provided by third parties where relevant.
Recover Psychology may also collect limited technical information through the website, such as website usage information, analytics information, cookies, device information or information submitted through online forms.
4. How information is collected
Information may be collected directly from you when you make an enquiry, complete an intake form, book an appointment, attend a session, send an email, call the practice, use the website, or communicate with Recover Psychology.
Information may also be collected from other sources where appropriate, including GPs, psychiatrists, other health practitioners, referrers, insurers, rehabilitation providers, third-party funders, legal representatives, family members or support people, where you have provided consent or where collection is otherwise permitted or required by law.
5. Why information is collected
Recover Psychology collects personal information and health information for purposes including:
Responding to enquiries, assessing suitability for services, booking and managing appointments, providing psychological services, maintaining clinical records, communicating with clients and referrers, processing payments, claiming Medicare or other rebates where applicable, liaising with third-party funders where relevant, preparing reports or letters where agreed, meeting legal and professional obligations, managing risk and safety, and operating the practice.
6. Use and disclosure of information
Recover Psychology generally uses personal information and health information for the primary purpose for which it was collected, including providing psychological services and managing the practice.
Information may be disclosed where necessary and appropriate, including to:
GPs, psychiatrists or other treating health professionals; Medicare, private health insurers or payment processors; third-party funders such as WorkSafe, TAC, DVA, NDIS, employers or rehabilitation services; supervisors or professional advisers; legal representatives or courts where required; emergency services or crisis services where there is a serious risk to safety; and technology providers used to operate the practice.
Information may also be disclosed where you have provided consent, where disclosure is required or authorised by law, or where disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to life, health or safety.
7. Consent
Recover Psychology will seek consent where required for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information and health information.
Consent may be written, verbal, electronic or implied by your actions, depending on the circumstances.
You may withdraw consent where it is lawful and practical to do so, although this may affect the ability of Recover Psychology to provide services.
8. Limits to confidentiality
Psychological services are confidential, but confidentiality is not absolute.
Recover Psychology may need to use or disclose information without consent in limited circumstances, including where required or authorised by law, where there is a serious risk to your safety or the safety of another person, where there are concerns about child safety, where records are subpoenaed or otherwise legally required, or where disclosure is necessary for professional supervision, insurer requirements, complaint handling or legal defence.
9. Third-party funding and reports
If your sessions are funded or arranged by a third party, such as WorkSafe, TAC, DVA, NDIS, an employer, rehabilitation provider, insurer, legal service or other organisation, Recover Psychology may need to collect, use and disclose information relevant to funding, approvals, invoicing, reporting, treatment planning, progress updates or legal requirements.
The amount and type of information disclosed will depend on the arrangement, your consent, legal requirements and professional obligations.
Reports, letters and treatment summaries may contain personal information and health information. Recover Psychology will discuss the purpose and intended recipient of such documents where appropriate.
10. Website, cookies and analytics
The Recover Psychology website may collect limited technical information through cookies, analytics tools or website hosting services.
This information may be used to understand website traffic, improve website performance, monitor enquiries, maintain security and improve the user experience.
You can usually adjust your browser settings to refuse or limit cookies, although this may affect some website functions.
11. Email, SMS and online communication
Recover Psychology may communicate by email, SMS, phone, online booking systems, telehealth platforms or other electronic methods.
Electronic communication can carry privacy and security risks. While Recover Psychology takes reasonable steps to protect information, email and SMS may not be fully secure.
Clients should avoid sending highly sensitive information by email, SMS or website forms unless they accept this risk.
Recover Psychology does not provide crisis support, urgent clinical advice or therapy through email, SMS, website forms or social media.
12. Telehealth
Telehealth services may involve the use of video, phone or online platforms.
Clients are responsible for choosing a private and safe location for telehealth appointments and for taking reasonable steps to protect their own privacy during the session.
Recover Psychology will take reasonable steps to use secure and appropriate telehealth systems.
13. Storage and security
Recover Psychology takes reasonable steps to protect personal information and health information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Information may be stored in electronic practice management systems, secure cloud-based systems, email systems, booking systems, payment systems, physical files or other practice systems.
Access to information is limited to those who need it for legitimate practice, clinical, administrative, legal or professional purposes.
14. Overseas disclosure
Some technology providers used by Recover Psychology, such as website, email, telehealth, booking, cloud storage, payment or analytics providers, may store or process information on servers located in Australia or overseas.
Recover Psychology takes reasonable steps to use reputable providers and to protect personal information and health information, but cannot guarantee the practices of external technology providers.
15. Data breaches
If Recover Psychology becomes aware of a data breach involving personal information or health information, reasonable steps will be taken to assess and respond to the breach.
Where required by law, affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner may be notified.
16. Access to personal information
You may request access to personal information or health information held about you.
Recover Psychology will respond to access requests in accordance with applicable privacy laws and professional obligations.
Access may be refused or limited in certain circumstances, including where access would pose a serious risk to safety, unreasonably affect another person’s privacy, breach legal obligations, or relate to legal proceedings.
17. Correction of information
You may request correction of personal information or health information if you believe it is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading.
Recover Psychology will take reasonable steps to correct information where appropriate.
Clinical records may not always be changed in the way requested, but a statement or note may be added to the record where appropriate.
18. Retention of records
Recover Psychology keeps clinical and administrative records for the period required by law, professional obligations, insurance requirements and good clinical practice.
Records may be retained after services end.
When information is no longer required, Recover Psychology will take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify it where appropriate and lawful.
19. Social media
Recover Psychology may maintain social media pages for general information and practice updates.
Social media should not be used to send private health information, urgent messages or clinical information.
Interactions with Recover Psychology on social media may be visible to others depending on platform settings.
Recover Psychology may remove comments or content that is inappropriate, confidential, misleading, promotional, offensive, or inconsistent with professional, privacy or legal obligations.
20. Anonymity and pseudonymity
Where lawful and practical, you may choose not to identify yourself or to use a pseudonym when making a general enquiry.
However, Recover Psychology will generally need identifying information to assess suitability, book appointments, provide psychological services, maintain clinical records, process payments, claim Medicare rebates or communicate with referrers and funders.
21. Complaints and concerns
If you have a concern about how Recover Psychology has handled your personal information or health information, you can contact Recover Psychology using the contact details listed on the website.
Recover Psychology will take privacy concerns seriously and aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe.
If you are not satisfied with the response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
22. Changes to this Privacy Policy
Recover Psychology may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
The current version will be published on the Recover Psychology website.
23. Contact
For questions about this Privacy Policy, contact Recover Psychology through the details listed on the website.