Ballarat Women's Psychology is committed to protecting your privacy and managing your personal and health information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

This Collection Statement explains why we collect your personal information, how it is used, who it may be shared with, and your rights regarding your information.

What Information Do We Collect?

We may collect personal and health information including:

• Your name, date of birth and contact details

• Emergency contact details

• Medicare, private health insurance and funding information

• Referral information

• Medical, psychological and social history

• Information discussed during appointments

• Assessment results and clinical records

• Payment information

• Correspondence with you or other treating health professionals

Where relevant, we may also collect information from your GP, psychiatrist, paediatrician, other health professionals, or third-party funders with your consent or where otherwise authorised by law.

Why Do We Collect Your Information?

We collect your information to:

• Provide psychological assessment and treatment

• Maintain accurate clinical records

• Communicate with you regarding appointments and services

• Process payments and Medicare claims

• Coordinate your care with other health professionals (where appropriate)

• Meet our legal, ethical and professional obligations

• Improve the quality and safety of our services

If you choose not to provide certain information, we may be unable to provide safe or appropriate psychological services.

Who May We Share Your Information With?

Your information will remain confidential unless:

• You provide your consent;

• Disclosure is required or authorised by law;

• There is a serious risk to your life, health or safety, or that of another person;

• Disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat; or

• Disclosure is otherwise permitted under applicable privacy legislation.

With your consent, information may be shared with:

• Your GP

• Psychiatrist

• Paediatrician

• Other treating health professionals

• Medicare

• Approved third-party funding bodies (including WorkSafe, TAC and NDIS where applicable)

Information discussed during professional supervision is de-identified wherever possible.

How Is Your Information Stored?

Ballarat Women's Psychology stores information securely using electronic practice management systems, including Halaxy.

We also use secure clinical platforms, including NovoPsych and approved AI-assisted clinical documentation tools such as Heidi Health or NovoNote, where appropriate.

These providers utilise security measures designed to protect your information and comply with Australian privacy requirements.

Reasonable steps are taken to protect your information from unauthorised access, misuse, loss or disclosure.

Access to Your Information

You may request access to your personal information or request correction of inaccurate information by contacting Ballarat Women's Psychology.

Requests will be managed in accordance with applicable privacy legislation. In some circumstances, access may be declined where permitted by law.

Overseas Disclosure

Ballarat Women's Psychology takes reasonable steps to ensure that any third-party service providers used to support our practice maintain appropriate privacy and security standards.

Where information is stored or processed by service providers outside Australia, this will occur in accordance with applicable privacy legislation and contractual privacy obligations.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Collection Statement or how your personal information is managed, please contact:

Ballarat Women's Psychology

604 Barkly Street
Golden Point VIC 3350

Email: admin@ballaratwomenspsychology.com.au

Phone: 0490 884 951

Website: www.ballaratwomenspsychology.com.au

Further Information

Further information about how Ballarat Women's Psychology manages personal information, including how to request access to your records or make a privacy complaint, is available in our Privacy Policy.