Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 22/05/2025
Practice Name: Alofa Psychotherapy & Conselling
Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia

Your Privacy Matters

As a registered therapist practicing in Australia, I am committed to protecting your personal information and upholding the highest standards of confidentiality in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and the ethical guidelines set by professional counselling and psychology bodies.

This Privacy Policy explains how your personal information is collected, used, stored, and disclosed during the course of therapy.

1. What Information is Collected

To provide psychological and counselling services, the following types of personal information may be collected:

• Full name, address, date of birth, contact details
  
  
• Medical and mental health history
  
  
• GP or referring health professional contact details
  
  
• Medicare or private health fund information (if applicable)
  
  
• Notes and records from therapy sessions
  
  
• Correspondence between sessions (e.g. email, SMS)
  
  

This information is essential for the delivery of safe, ethical, and personalised psychological care.

2. How Your Information is Used

Your personal information is used solely for the purpose of delivering high-quality therapy and psychological services. This includes:

• Assessment and treatment planning
  
  
• Communicating with you between sessions
  
  
• Referrals or collaboration with other health professionals (with your consent)
  
  
• Invoicing and health fund or Medicare claims (if applicable)
  
  
• Record keeping required by law and professional standards
  
  

3. Confidentiality and Disclosure

Everything shared during therapy is strictly confidential, with the following exceptions where disclosure is required by law or duty of care:

• If there is a risk of serious harm to yourself or others
  
  
• If a child is at risk of harm or abuse
  
  
• If records are subpoenaed by a court of law
  
  
• With your written consent to share information with another professional
  
  

Outside of these exceptions, your information will never be shared without your explicit permission.

4. Storage and Security of Records

All records are securely stored in password-protected digital files or locked physical storage, in accordance with Australian privacy legislation. Reasonable steps are taken to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, or disclosure.

Client records are retained for a minimum of 7 years after the last contact, or if under the age of 18, until the client turns 25 years of age, in line with legal requirements.

5. Accessing Your Information

You may request access to your personal information at any time. If any details are incorrect, you have the right to request an update. Please contact me in writing to make a request. In some cases, limitations may apply under the law or ethical guidelines, which will be explained clearly at the time.

6. Website and Online Sessions

If you use my website, certain information may be collected (e.g. IP address, cookies, browsing activity) to improve the site’s performance. No online activity is linked with therapy records.

For online counselling, secure platforms are used to protect your privacy. However, as with all internet communication, there is a small risk of third-party access.

7. Contact and Complaints

If you have questions or concerns about your privacy, or wish to make a complaint, please contact:

Miriama Bolton

0433 050 560
Miriama@alofacounselling.com

If you are not satisfied with the response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or by calling 1300 363 992.

8. Updates to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated occasionally to reflect changes in legal or ethical obligations. The most current version will always be available on the practice website or by request.

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