PRIVACY AND COLLECTION POLICY

Counsellor Edwina Smith complies with the Privacy Act 1988 and the applicable Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act when handling personal information, together with the Health Records Act 2001 NSW and the applicable Health Privacy Principles in the Health Records Act when handling personal information which is health information.

Therapist  Edwina Smith takes the protection of your personal information seriously. Personal information includes any information or opinion, whether true or not, about a person who is identified or whose identity can reasonably be established.

Data Collection Practices

 Therapist Edwina Smith collects personal information for the purposes of providing you with a counselling service. As part of this service, it is possible that the practice may need to collect information about things like how to contact you to arrange an appointment.  Therapist Edwina Smith may collect information via the practice forms that you complete, via our online booking system and via administration, or through our website https://babushkacounselling.com.au/.

The kind of personal and health information that  Therapist Edwina Smith may collect will depend on who you are (e.g. a client or third-party service provider) and the nature of your connection with Counsellor Edwina Smith. This information may include things like:

• your full name
• address
• email address
• date of birth
• billing information
• general appointment information and other personal information.

It is important that you are aware that failure to provide  Therapist Edwina Smith with all the information requested means that Therapist  Edwina Smith may not be able to deliver the counselling services that you have requested.

 Therapist  Edwina Smith collects personal information in the following ways:

• from you when you make an inquiry, book an appointment, email the practice, complete documentation, in a counselling session where you request a letter or report, where you complete an assessment or make an online booking;
• from third-party service providers – if you are referred through a third party, they usually provide us with your contact information and other information relevant to the referral;
• when we receive enquiries through https://babushkacounselling.com.au/ and when the website is otherwise accessed or used.

The kind of personal information Therapist Edwina Smith may collect will depend on who you are (e.g. a client or third-party service provider) and the nature of your interaction with us and may include your full name, address, email address, date of birth, billing information, general appointment information and other personal information. If you do not provide us with all the information requested, Therapist Edwina Smith may not be able to deliver the counselling services requested.

Consent

You consent to Therapist Edwina Smith collecting, using, and disclosing your personal and health information for the purpose of complying with this privacy policy. By booking an appointment, making an inquiry, registering your details via our website, email, SMS, social media contact or other, and/or by completing a consent form, you provide Therapist  Edwina Smith with consent to collect, use and disclose your personal and health information for the purpose covered in this privacy policy.

Information and Use

In the course of providing you with services,  Therapist Edwina Smith may use the information that you have provided, including personal and health information, in order to:

• provide you with counselling services,
• send you an electronic newsletter,
• respond to feedback and complaints,
• utilize the https://babushkacounselling.com.au/ website,
• correspond with you, and
• if required, enforce our client consent form/payment arrangement form.
• Quality and Security of Data Collected

Therapist  Edwina Smith takes reasonable steps to protect personal information collected and secure it from misuse, loss, and interference, and from unauthorized access and modification. Counsellor Edwina Smith endeavors to ensure all such information collected is up-to-date and complete at the time it is collected, used, or disclosed.

To ensure your information is accurate, please notify Counsellor Edwina Smith. You can do this by emailing us at  eddie@babushkacounselling.com.au

Health Information Collected

Therapist Edwina Smith complies with the Health Privacy Principles and the ethical guidelines of PACFA in the collection, use, and disclosure of all health information to ensure that it is kept confidential.

 Therapist Edwina Smith may collect your health information when you attend the practice and/or at any other time in the course of providing counselling services.

Your information may be collected for, but is not limited to, the following reasons:

• as it is required for the provision of counselling services, including recording your personal and health information as relevant to your current situation for the purposes of providing therapeutic intervention, writing reports, and summaries;
• only as essential for the provision of counselling services, or as otherwise in accordance with your consent, or as may be required by law;
• only from you (or from someone authorized by you with your written consent);
• in accordance with the code of ethics set out by PACFA;

with accuracy, on the basis that you may at any time request a copy of the health information that Therapist  Edwina Smith has collected by emailing eddie@babushkacounselling.com.au (subject always to applicable law), and where our records are found to be inaccurate, we will rectify any inaccuracies based on the further information you provide.

Access, Updates, and Complaints

Therapist  Edwina Smith will provide you with access to your personal and health information that has been collected, subject to any legal exceptions, at your written request. Please also let us know if you have any concerns, questions, or complaints so that Counsellor Edwina Smith can address them promptly for you by sending an email to eddie@babushkacounselling.com.au. Where our records are found to be inaccurate, Counsellor Edwina Smith will promptly correct any inaccuracies on the grounds of updated information that you provide.

Disclosure

Therapist Edwina Smith discloses personal information to additional third parties with your consent in accordance with this privacy policy or if permitted, authorized, or required to do so by any relevant Federal or State or Territory law.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

From time to time, Therapist  Edwina Smith may make amendments to this privacy policy. Any changes will be effective immediately upon the uploading of the revised privacy policy on https://babushkacounselling.com.au/.

By continuing to use the https://babushkacounselling.com.au/ website and/or the counselling service following any changes, you will be deemed to have agreed to such changes. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, as amended from time to time, in whole or in part, you must terminate your use of the website and inform us immediately prior to any further receipt of our counselling services.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact Therapist  Edwina Smith at  eddie@babushkacounselling.com.au

Last Update: February 2025