How your information is handled.

In short: I collect only what's needed to provide you with good psychological care, store it securely, never sell or share it for marketing, and disclose it to no one without your consent except in the narrow situations the law requires. You can ask to see your information at any time.

Who this policy covers

This policy explains how Bayview Psychology (ABN 97 532 164 709) handles personal information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), including the higher standards that apply to health information.

What is collected, and why

• Contact details (name, phone, email), used to communicate with you about appointments.
• Health information: relevant history, session notes, referral letters and treatment plans. Keeping accurate records is part of providing safe, effective psychological care, and a legal requirement for psychologists.
• Payment and Medicare details, to process fees and rebates.
• Website enquiries: only what you type into the enquiry form. The form deliberately asks for the minimum needed to reply to you.

Information is collected directly from you wherever possible: in session, by phone, or through the website form. With your consent, some information may come from your GP or another referring practitioner.

How it is stored

Clinical records are kept in [PRACTICE SOFTWARE / STORAGE ARRANGEMENT — e.g. an encrypted, Australian-hosted practice management system], protected by access controls and kept for the period required by law (generally seven years from last contact, or until age 25 for clients seen as minors). Paper documents, where they exist, are stored securely and digitised or destroyed confidentially.

Who it may be shared with

• No one, without your consent. In the ordinary course, your information stays within the practice.
• Your GP. If you use a Medicare referral, brief progress correspondence is required, and you're welcome to see what is sent.
• Where the law requires it. A court subpoena, a mandatory reporting obligation, or a serious and imminent threat to someone's safety.
• Service providers. The practice uses a small number of carefully-chosen providers (practice software, secure email, the website host) that may process limited data on its behalf. The website form is processed by the site's hosting provider (Netlify) to deliver your message.

Your information is never sold, and never used for advertising.

This website

The site sets no advertising trackers, no social media pixels, and does not record your browsing session. [IF ANALYTICS ADDED: name the privacy-respecting analytics tool and what it collects — otherwise state "No analytics are currently used."] You can read this site without being observed. If you book online, the booking window is provided by Halaxy, the practice's appointment system, and information you enter there is handled under Halaxy's privacy policy as well as this one.

Access and correction

You may request access to the personal information held about you, and ask for corrections, by contacting info@bayviewpsychology.com.au. Access to psychological records occasionally involves a conversation about the safest way to provide them, but the starting position is that they are about you and you may see them.

Complaints

If you have a concern about how your information has been handled, please raise it with me first, since most things resolve in a conversation. You are also entitled to complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992.

Last updated: [DATE — set when the policy is finalised]