Privacy

What I collect

Personal and health information you provide directly — your name, contact details, date of birth, Medicare or other funding details where relevant, referral and GP information, and the information you share in sessions and on intake forms. For psychological services this is health information, which the law treats as sensitive and which I hold to a higher standard of care.

Enquiry and website forms. When you use a contact form or request a free guide, I collect the details you enter (such as your name, email address and message) so I can respond or send what you asked for. Form submissions are emailed to my practice address and may also be held within the website’s form system.

Information from others, with your consent or where the law permits — for example a referral letter from your GP, correspondence from a funder, or information from someone who knows you well as part of an assessment.

Why I collect it

To provide psychological services — assessment, therapy, reflective practice and supervision; to keep the records I am professionally required to keep; to communicate with you about appointments; to claim rebates or invoice funders where you have asked me to; to write reports and correspondence you or a funder have requested; and to meet legal and professional obligations.

Psychological records

I keep records of the services I provide, as the Psychology Board of Australia requires. Records are kept securely in access-controlled systems, retained in line with professional and legal requirements for psychological records (at least seven years after your last contact, or longer where the law requires), and then securely destroyed. Appointments, invoicing and practice records are managed through Halaxy, a practice-management system used by Australian health practitioners, which has its own privacy policy.

Telehealth

Sessions are provided by secure video or phone. Video sessions use a secure platform accessed through a link sent to you before the appointment. Sessions are not recorded. Please take your own steps to ensure privacy at your end — a private room, and a personal rather than an employer device where you can.

Email and communication

I communicate by email and phone about appointments and administrative matters. Email is not a fully secure medium; I keep clinical content in email to a minimum and ask that you do the same. Appointment reminders may be sent by SMS or email through the practice-management system.

Medicare, referrals and funded services

Medicare. If you claim a rebate under a Mental Health Treatment Plan, I submit the claim to Medicare on your behalf, which involves sharing your Medicare details and the service item; I also provide the correspondence to your referring GP that Medicare requires.

WorkCover, insurers and compensation schemes. Where treatment is funded by WorkCover Queensland or another insurer, the funder receives invoices and the reports and progress updates that are part of the arrangement. I will explain what is shared before treatment begins, and you can ask to see any report about you.

DVA. Where services are funded by DVA, claiming and correspondence follow DVA’s requirements.

NDIS. For self- and plan-managed participants, invoices go to you or your plan manager. Reports are provided to you, or to the NDIA with your consent where you ask me to prepare them.

EAP and other third-party funded services. Where an employer or organisation funds sessions by arrangement, the funder receives attendance and invoicing information only. Session content is not shared with an employer without your consent, except where disclosure is required by law or professional obligations.

Confidentiality and disclosure

What you share with me is confidential. I do not share your information without your consent, except where: there is a serious and imminent risk to your safety or someone else’s; disclosure is required by law, including by a court order or subpoena; or it is necessary to meet a professional obligation, such as mandatory reporting. Where a funder is involved, the reporting described above is part of the funding arrangement and is explained to you at the start. I may discuss de-identified aspects of my work in my own professional supervision, as psychologists are expected to.

Website, analytics and cookies

This website is hosted by Hostinger. It uses Google Analytics to understand how the site is used (for example which pages are visited and from what kind of device); this involves cookies and does not identify you by name. You can prevent analytics cookies through your browser settings or Google’s opt-out tools. Online bookings are made through Halaxy, which has its own privacy policy.

Free guides and email

If you request a free guide, I use your email address to send it. I do not currently add addresses to a mailing list.

Storage and security

Information is stored in password-protected, access-controlled systems and, where paper exists, in locked storage. I use reputable providers with appropriate privacy protections, take reasonable steps to protect information from misuse, loss and unauthorised access, and destroy or de-identify information when it is no longer needed and the retention period has passed.

Access, correction and questions

You can ask to see the information I hold about you, and ask for it to be corrected if it is inaccurate. Requests can be made by email to admin@biopsyche.com.au or by phone on 0494 746 877. There are limited circumstances in which access to psychological records may be restricted, for example where access would pose a serious threat to someone’s health or safety; if that applies, I will explain why. If you have a concern about how your information has been handled, please raise it with me first. If you are not satisfied with my response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (oaic.gov.au).

Contact

Suzanne Robertson · Registered Psychologist · BioPsyche Psychology Practice · admin@biopsyche.com.au · 0494 746 877