Awareness Services Pty Ltd are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the confidentiality of any personal and sensitive information you provide to us in the course of your professional relationship. This Privacy Policy outlines the terms and conditions under which your personal and health-related information will be handled in compliance with Australian privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

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1. Scope of Confidentiality

This Privacy Policy applies to all information provided by you to Awareness Services during the course of your engagement with our health and mental health professionals. This includes any personal, medical, or psychological details shared during your consultations or communicated through other channels.
– All information disclosed within our sessions will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
– Your information will only be shared with third parties if you provide explicit written consent or as required by law (see "Limits of Confidentiality" below).

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2. Limits of Confidentiality

While we maintain strict confidentiality, there are certain circumstances where confidentiality may be breached, in accordance with Australian law:

Risk of Harm – If there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, the health or mental health professional may disclose relevant information to appropriate individuals or agencies to prevent harm.

Legal or Court Order – If required by law or under a court order, we may be compelled to disclose certain information to law enforcement agencies, regulatory
bodies, or courts.

Mandatory Reporting – If there is a suspicion of child abuse or other mandatory reporting obligations, the professional may need to report this to the relevant authorities, as required under Australian law.

These exceptions are intended to ensure your safety and the safety of others and are consistent with the legal and ethical requirements governing our practice.

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3. Storage and Protection of Information

We take the security and protection of your personal and sensitive information seriously. All records, whether written or electronic, are stored securely and are protected by physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to prevent unauthorised access, loss, or misuse.

– Electronic records – are stored on secure, encrypted servers with restricted access.
– Physical records – are stored in locked files and are only accessible to authorised personnel.

All records will be kept for the required retention period under applicable laws and ethical guidelines.

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4. Professional Consultation

Our health and mental health professionals may discuss aspects of your case with supervisors or colleagues for professional consultation. However, identifying details (such as your name or other personal information) will be omitted to ensure your confidentiality is maintained.

– These consultations are for the purpose of providing the best possible care and improving the quality of services delivered.
– Any consultations will only be conducted within the scope of professional supervision and will adhere to strict confidentiality agreements.

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5. Communication Security

While we make every effort to protect your privacy, please be aware that email communication is generally not encrypted. Therefore:

– Email communication will be limited to non-sensitive matters, such as scheduling appointments, administrative inquiries, and billing.
– We cannot guarantee the security of information sent via email and strongly advise against using email for sharing sensitive or confidential information. If necessary, we may discuss alternative communication methods to ensure your privacy.

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6. Client’s Rights

As a client, you have the following rights concerning your personal and health information:

– Access to Records: You have the right to request access to the personal and health-related records that we hold about you. We will provide you with this access
as required under the Privacy Act 1988, subject to certain exemptions.

– You may request a copy of your records by submitting a formal request to our office. We will respond to your request within 30 days or as required by law.

– Correction of Records: You may request that any information we hold about you be corrected if it is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, or misleading.

– Withdrawal of Consent: You have the right to withdraw your consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information at any time, except where we are required by law to retain or disclose information.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us directly.

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7. Termination of Services

Upon the termination of services, whether by you or us, we will retain your records for the minimum period required by applicable laws and professional guidelines (typically 7 years for adults and until the age of 25 for minors).

– Once the retention period has expired, your records will be securely destroyed or anonymized.
– If you have any questions or concerns about the retention or destruction of your records, please contact us.

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8. Discussion of Potential Outcomes

By entering into a professional relationship with Awareness Services, you acknowledge that the potential outcomes of health and mental health services,
including mental health, financial, or other services, have been clearly explained to you.

– These discussions include an explanation of possible treatment or intervention pathways, expected outcomes, and the risks and benefits of these services.
– The client also acknowledges that they have been given an opportunity to ask questions and to make an informed decision about their participation in the services provided.

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9. Emergency Situations

In the event of an emergency, where your health or safety is at immediate risk, the health or mental health professional may take necessary steps to ensure your wellbeing:

– This may include contacting emergency services (e.g., ambulance or police) or reaching out to a designated emergency contact if you have provided one.
– If you do not have an emergency contact, the professional may act according to the most appropriate measures to protect your safety.

We encourage clients to share emergency contact information with us to ensure we can respond appropriately in case of urgent situations.

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10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal obligations, or for other operational reasons.

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11. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, the handling of your personal information, or your rights, please contact us:

Awareness Services Pty Ltd
Email: link@awareness-services.com
Phone: (02) 4907 1000

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By engaging in services with Awareness Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the terms and conditions outlined in this Privacy Policy.

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This Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions aims to provide transparency and clarity about how your personal and health information will be managed. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.