Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy for Management of Personal Information

This document describes the privacy policy of Growth Pursuit Consulting for the management of clients’ personal information. The psychological service provided is bound by the legal requirements of the Australian Privacy Principles set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

This policy sets out how we collect, use, manage and store your personal information.

What kinds of Personal Information does Growth Pursuit Consulting Collect?

‘Personal information’ is defined in the Act. Essentially, it means information from which your identity is reasonably apparent. Growth Pursuit Consulting collects information from clients, including name, contact details and personal medical and psychological information. We will only collect the information that is necessary to provide you with our services, for billing (e.g., to Medicare and Health Funds), and to communicate with you.

You are not obliged to provide information; should you choose not to do so, we will advise you how this will impact your ongoing treatment.

How is information Collected?

Generally, a client’s personal information is collected directly from you, either when you visit our clinic, phone us, complete a form on our website (including but not limited to an online enquiry, a booking form, an online purchase, registration to receive our newsletter, or survey), or if you contact us through social media. A client's personal information is collected in a number of ways during psychological consultation, including when the client provides information directly to Growth Pursuit Consulting using hardcopy forms, correspondence via email, when the client interacts directly with Growth Pursuit Consulting employees such as the receptionist, and when other health practitioners provide personal information via referrals, correspondence and medical reports.

Website: No personal information is collected when you browse our website anonymously. The Growth Pursuit Consulting website uses Google Analytics to provide information about usage of our website. Google Analytics uses cookies placed on your browser by our website to collected anonymous, aggregated data.

Growth Pursuit Consulting may use Google Adwords Remarketing to serve personalised ads, using cookies based on your previous visits to our website. You can disable the use of cookies through your internet browser. You can learn about Google’s personalisation of ads and turn this off at https://adssettings.google.com/

Purpose of holding personal information and use of your personal information

A client’s personal information is gathered and used for the purpose of providing psychological services, which includes assessing, diagnosing and treating a client’s presenting issue, professional development activities such as supervision and training, group programs and webinars. The personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions, and enables the psychologist or treatment provider to provide a relevant and informed psychological service.

How is Personal Information stored?

Our goal is to maintain your personal information securely and confidentially, and all reasonable steps are taken to prevent loss or unauthorised access, disclosure or alteration.

Client information and client files are held in secure locations such as a secure filing cabinet and secure electronic document management systems which is accessible only to authorised employees. The information on each file includes personal information such as name, address, contact phone numbers, medical history, and other personal information collected as part of providing the psychological service.

Consequence of not providing personal information

If the client does not wish for their personal information to be collected in a way anticipated by this Privacy Policy, Growth Pursuit Consulting may not be in a position to provide the psychological service to the client. In some circumstances, clients may request to be anonymous or to use a pseudonym, this may be possible unless it is impracticable for Growth Pursuit Consulting to deal with the client or if Growth Pursuit Consulting is required or authorised by law to deal with identified individuals.

Disclosure of personal information

Growth Pursuit Consulting will only use or disclose personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act. This means for the purposes for which we have advised that we are collecting it, and for related purposes that you would reasonably expect; where we have the consent by you to do so; as required by law; or under other circumstances where permitted under the Act.

Our promotional emails include an ‘unsubscribe’ link allowing you to opt out as desired. Clients’ personal information will remain confidential except when:

1. it is subpoenaed by a court, or disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law; or
2. failure to disclose the information would in the reasonable belief of the Growth Pursuit Consulting place a client or another person at serious risk to life, health or safety; or
3. the client’s prior approval has been obtained to:

a. provide a written report to another agency or professional, e.g., a GP or a lawyer; or
b. discuss the material with another person, e.g. a parent, employer, health provider, or third party funder; or
c. disclose the information in another way; or
d. disclose to another professional or agency (e.g. your GP) and disclosure of your personal information to that third party is for a purpose which is directly related to the primary purpose for which your personal information was

A client's personal information is not disclosed to overseas recipients, unless the client consents or such disclosure is otherwise required by law. Clients' personal information will not be used, sold, rented or disclosed for any other purpose.

In the event that unauthorised access, disclosure or loss of a client’s personal information occurs Growth Pursuit Consulting will activate its data breach plan and use all reasonable endeavours to minimise any risk of consequential serious harm.

Access to Personal Information

Requests for access and correction to client information At any stage clients may request to see and correct the personal information about them kept on file. The psychologist may discuss the contents with them and/or give them a copy, subject to the exceptions in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). If satisfied that personal information is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete, reasonable steps will be taken in the circumstances to ensure that this information is corrected. All requests by clients for access to or correction of personal information held about them should be lodged with Growth Pursuit Consulting. Requests must be made in writing via email addressed to info@growthpursuit.com.auand proof of identity may be required. These requests will be responded to in writing within ten working days. and an appointment will be made if necessary for clarification purposes.

Concerns

If clients have a concern about the management of their personal information, they may inform the Director at Growth Pursuit Consulting. Upon request they can obtain a copy of the Australian Privacy Principles, which describe their rights and how their personal information should be handled. Ultimately, if clients wish to lodge a formal complaint about the use of, disclosure of, or access to, their personal information, they may do so with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by phone on 1300 363 992, online at http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/making-a-privacy-complaint or by post to: Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, GPO Box 5218, Sydney, NSW 2001.

Disclaimer

Growth Pursuit Consulting has attempted to make the information on this website as accurate as possible. However, there is no guarantee given as to the accuracy or currency of any individual item on the website.

Any links provided on this site to other web sites are provided as a service to users of this site. This does not mean that Growth Pursuit Consulting endorses those sites or material on them in any way.

We may change this Privacy Policy at any time. If we make changes to this Privacy Policy we will notify you by publication on our website. The revised version of this Privacy Policy will be effective at the time we post it.