Privacy Policy

At Attuned Hearts Psychology, your wellbeing, safety, and dignity are of the highest priorities. All psychologists are required by law to be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, ensuring professional and ethical standards of care. As a client of Attuned Hearts Psychology, you have the right to expect that:

• You will be treated with warmth, respect, and compassion at all times.
• Your cultural background, values, and language preferences will be acknowledged and respected.
• You will receive clear information about the nature and purpose of psychological services offered.
• Your informed consent will be sought before services begin and revisited as your therapy progresses.
• You will be provided with an explanation of confidentiality, including circumstances in which confidentiality may need to be limited by law or ethical duty.
• You will be informed about session fees, cancellation policies, and any other relevant administrative details.
• Your psychologist will discuss therapeutic goals and provide an estimate of how many sessions may be needed to address them, where possible.
• You will receive skilled, evidence-based, and professional psychological services.
• You are encouraged to ask questions or raise any concerns about your treatment at any time
  

If you ever have concerns about your care, please discuss them directly with us at Attuned Hearts Psychology. If you wish to raise concerns about the professional conduct of a psychologist, you can contact the Psychology Board of Australia on 1300 419 495 or visit www.psychologyboard.gov.au.

This Privacy Policy outlines how Attuned Hearts Psychology manages clients’ personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles contained within the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). 

To support the provision of effective psychological care, Attuned Hearts Psychology collects personal information relevant to your treatment. This may include details such as your name, contact information, medical history, mental health history, and other information necessary for your care.

Personal information may be collected in the following ways:

• When you complete intake or consent forms, either online or in hard copy;
• When you provide information directly during therapy sessions;
• Through correspondence by email or telephone;
• When information is received following a referral from another health professional or organisation.

All client records are stored securely within a password-protected electronic system and are accessible only to authorised personnel. Records are retained for a period of seven years following your last contact with the service, or longer where required by law.

Information collected by Attuned Hearts Psychology is used exclusively for the purpose of providing high-quality psychological care. Your personal information is treated with respect and remains confidential, except in the following circumstances:

1. When required or permitted by law, including situations where information is lawfully subpoenaed by a court.
2. Where there is a serious risk of harm, if your psychologist believes that you or another person may be at risk of serious injury or loss of life.
3. With your written consent, where information may be shared for purposes such as:

• Providing reports or updates to your GP, psychiatrist, or another treating health professional;
• Communicating with third-party funders (for example, Medicare or insurance providers);
• Sharing relevant information with a nominated support person or agency.
• During professional supervision, where Your Psychologist discusses clinical work in a de-identified manner, in accordance with professional and ethical obligations.
   

Attuned Hearts Psychology does not disclose personal information to overseas recipients unless this is legally required or you have provided explicit consent. Your information is never sold, rented, or used for purposes unrelated to your care.

In the unlikely event of a data breach, Attuned Hearts Psychology will implement its data breach response plan and take all reasonable steps to reduce the risk of harm.

 You are entitled to request access to, or correction of, your personal information at any time. Requests should be made in writing to Attuned Hearts Psychology, and will be responded to in a timely manner. In some circumstances, a discussion or follow-up appointment may be suggested to ensure information is clearly understood. Where information held is identified as inaccurate or out of date, reasonable steps will be taken to amend it. 

If you have any concerns regarding the handling of your personal information, you are encouraged to contact Attuned Hearts Psychology in the first instance so the matter can be discussed and addressed. Further information about your privacy rights is available through the Australian Privacy Principles.

If you wish to lodge a formal privacy complaint, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) via the following channels:

• Phone: 1300 363 992
• Online: www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/making-a-privacy-complaint
• Post: GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001