Privacy Statement

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Privacy and Confidentiality Statement 

At Wellbeing Support Space, we are committed to respecting and protecting your privacy, confidentiality, and the sensitive nature of your personal, health, and wellbeing information. This policy statement outlines how we handle your information and the steps we take to ensure it is kept secure and confidential, in line with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Code of Ethics.

1. Collection of Information

We collect personal, health, and wellbeing information that is relevant to the services we provide to you. In accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988, we will only collect information that is necessary for providing our services.

The types of information we may collect include, but are not limited to:

- Personal information: such as name, contact details, date of birth, and occupation.

- Health information: including medical history, mental health, and wellbeing information, which may involve sensitive health details.

- Service-related information: such as progress reports, assessments, and case notes.

- Other relevant information: depending on the services we provide, including information related to your care or support plans.

We will collect this information directly from you, either through forms, consultations, or interactions, unless it is unreasonable or impractical to do so. We will also inform you of the purpose of collecting this information at the time it is collected.

2. Use of Information

We use your information to provide you with appropriate support, ensure effective service delivery, and comply with legal and professional requirements. The uses of the information we collect include:

- Assessing and planning your care: We use the information to assess your needs and develop a plan that addresses your goals and requirements.

- Providing services: To deliver counselling, therapy, support, consultation, training or supervision, and to monitor progress.

- Professional development: Where applicable, to support the development of students or other professionals in the social work or human services field, ensuring confidentiality is maintained.

- Legal and professional compliance: To ensure we meet legal obligations, such as those outlined by the AASW Code of Ethics, and comply with relevant laws, regulations, and professional guidelines.

We will not use your information for any purpose other than the one it was collected for, unless you provide explicit written consent or it is required by law.

3. Storage of Information

We take all reasonable steps to ensure that your information is stored securely. This includes physical, electronic, and administrative safeguards to protect against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. Information is stored in a way that is compliant with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and in accordance with AASW ethical standards, ensuring confidentiality is maintained at all times.

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide ongoing support, comply with legal requirements, and fulfill our professional obligations. Once it is no longer required, we will ensure that the information is safely destroyed or de-identified, in accordance with our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

4. Consent for Information Sharing

We respect your privacy and will only share your personal, health, and wellbeing information with others if you have given us your written or verbal consent, unless we are required to disclose it by law.

In situations where disclosure is required by law, we may need to share information in the following circumstances:

- If there is a legal obligation to report information, such as in cases of suspected child abuse, harm to self or others, or other serious safety concerns.

- If required by a court order or subpoena.

- If we are required to share information with relevant government bodies or health agencies for the purposes of public health and safety, such as notifying authorities about communicable diseases.

- In response to a request from a regulatory body or professional association for compliance or investigation purposes.

Where possible, we will inform you before disclosing your information in these circumstances.

5. Your Rights and Access to Information

You have the right to:

- Access the personal, health, and wellbeing information we hold about you, subject to certain exceptions required by law.

- Request corrections to any inaccurate or incomplete information we hold.

- Withdraw consent for sharing your information at any time, subject to any legal obligations we may have to retain or disclose it.

To access or amend your information, or if you have any questions or concerns about our privacy practices, please contact us using the details provided below.

6. Confidentiality in Supervision and Training

As part of our services, we may provide supervision or training to other social workers or students in the social work and human services fields. Any personal information shared in these sessions will remain confidential, unless there is a legal or ethical obligation to disclose it. We ensure that the information shared is kept within the boundaries of professional and ethical standards, as outlined in the AASW Code of Ethics.

7. Complaints and Concerns

If you have any concerns about how your personal information is being handled, or if you believe that there has been a breach of your privacy, please contact us. We take all complaints seriously and will address them promptly. You can also lodge a complaint with the Australian Privacy Commissioner if you are unsatisfied with the outcome.

Contact Details:  

Wellbeing Support Space  

Cate@wellbeingsupportspace.com.au  

0437 182 282

8. Legal and Professional Compliance

We are bound by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Code of Ethics and applicable privacy laws. Our professional responsibilities include maintaining confidentiality and protecting your privacy while ensuring that we comply with legal and ethical obligations. If we are required to share your information for legal or safety reasons, we will do so in accordance with the law.

For more information on the AASW Code of Ethics, please visit: [AASW Code of Ethics](https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/1201).

For details on privacy law in Australia, please refer to the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) outlined in the Privacy Act 1988: [Australian Privacy Principles](https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles/).

This policy ensures that we comply with all relevant laws and ethical standards while providing you with the highest level of care and respect for your privacy. We are committed to maintaining confidentiality and protecting your personal, health, and wellbeing information.