The Anna Centre Privacy Policy:
Purpose of this policy
The Anna Centre collects, works with and retains its clients’ personal information. The information is important in the optimal provision of mental health services. However, it is also important that the information is appropriately managed in accordance with law and ethical guidelines of the profession. This policy outlines how The Anna Centre handles clients’ personal information in accordance with Australian Privacy Principles.
Relevant Laws and Other Documents
The Anna Centre is bound by the legal requirements of the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988, The Australian Privacy Principles 2014 and the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics (2007).
What is personal information?
Personal information is any information which identifies you or could reasonably be used to identify you.
What personal information do we collect and why?
In order to provide optimal mental health services, The Anna Centre will collect information from clients or referrers. As a base, the following information will likely be collected:
• Your name, address and date of birth
• Your contact details
• Current and past medical information
• Your family medical history to the extent it may inform current services
• Your educational and occupational history
In addition, in the provision of psychological services (i.e. assessment, therapy/counselling) The Anna Centre will in all likelihood collect the following personal information:
• Responses and results from psychological tests and questionnaires.
• Responses and results reasonably obtained as part of a neuropsychological assessment.
• Information pertaining to your session notes, treatment plan and response to treatment.
All of the above material is used to inform accurate assessment, diagnosis and treatment plans for The Anna Centre clients. Not having this information may increase the risk that the assessment, diagnosis and treatment plans subsequently arrived at or generated are sub-optimal.
Information provided by third parties
We will collect information from you where it is reasonable and practical to do so. We may also need to collect information from others who have known you a long time (such as a spouse or parent) or from others involved in your care (such as your GP). We will always endeavour to keep you reliably informed of the information collected and the source of that information, and where appropriate will seek and obtain written informed consent to contact and retrieve that information.
Use and disclosure of personal information
The Anna Centre will use and disclose personal information for the primary purpose of providing optimal mental health services (i.e. counselling or psychological services) when required. This may take the form of a report prepared by your clinician which is then sent to the referrer or referring agent, plus others involved in the client’s care where applicable.
It is noted that in some circumstances mental health clinicians are required, by law, to disclose personal information without the consent of the client. Specifically, clinicians may disclose personal information if a “permitted situation” exists such as to “lessen or prevent a serious threat to life, health or safety of any individual, or to the public health or safety”. This threat does not need to be imminent.
There may be occasions where The Anna Centre discloses personal information of a client where there is a serious threat to life, health or safety of an individual or the public, or on a rare occasion to assist in the location of a missing person.
Storage and Security of personal information
Clinicians and staff at The Anna Centre will continue to take reasonable steps to protect the personal information of clients from misuse, inference or loss, and from unauthorised modification, access or disclosure.
Paper documents containing information listed above will be digitised and the originals destroyed. All electronic information containing personal information listed above will be stored and backed up securely in accordance with the APS Code of Ethics (2007).
Can you access your personal information?
Clients have the right to access their personal information held by The Anna Centre. Such requests need to be in writing for security and recording purposes and to assist in gathering the information for you.
The Anna Centre reserves the right to decline a request for information or limit information provided where it is legally entitled to do so. We will endeavour to provide reasons for refusal. For example, the release of information may be denied or limited where such release may have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others or is considered frivolous or vexatious.
Research and personal information
On occasion The Anna Centre will engage in research activities to improve the quality of the service we provide. In such cases, personal information of clients will be used. In this context, the information will not be released to third parties, but will be retained by The Anna Centre for the sole purpose of quality evaluation and improvement of services.
In addition, The Anna Centre may engage in academic or scientific research. In such cases, clients will be asked to sign a consent form allowing the use of personal information for the purpose of a specific research project. Such research will be required to have obtained prior approval of a Human Research Ethics Committee within The Department of Health or relevant University.
Psychologists and Counsellor/Therapist duty of care
The Anna Centre is guided by the APS Code of Ethics (2007). Section A.4 of the Code relates to the appropriate collection of private information related to the provision of psychological/mental health services. Sections A.5 to A.7 of the Code relate to Confidentiality, the release of information to clients, and the collection of client information from associated parties. Section B.2 of the Code relates to appropriate record keeping. The APS Code of Ethics (2007) can be obtained from The Anna Centre or from the APS website (www.psychology.org.au)
It is noted that under section A.5.2 (c.) of the Code that clinicians disclose confidential information obtained in the course of the provision of psychological services, “if there is an immediate and specified risk of harm to an identifiable person or persons that can be averted only by disclosing information”
Clients may refer to the APS Charter for Clients of Psychologists on the APS website.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is responsible for the registration of psychologists throughout Australia. Through AHPRA, and under National Law, there are requirements for health practitioners to make mandatory notifications to prevent the public from being placed at risk of harm.
Data Breach Plan
The Anna Centre follows the national requirements. See https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/notifiable-data-breaches
Changes to this policy
We may, from time to time, make changes to this policy to reflect changes in the law or professional best-practice guidelines. All clients and referrers are encouraged to periodically review this policy to remain informed.
