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Privacy Policy – Colourful Clouds Counselling & Wellbeing
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Effective Date: 01.01.2025
Colourful Clouds Counselling & Wellbeing ("we", "our", "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information lawfully and responsibly. This Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information under applicable legislation in South Australia and at the Commonwealth level.
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1. Applicable Laws & Regulations
Commonwealth Privacy Law
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Privacy Act 1988 (Cth): Governs handling of personal and sensitive information by private sector health service providers, including therapists. It mandates the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), which address collection, use, disclosure, security, access, and correction of personal data.(Wikipedia)
South Australian Regulations & Guidelines
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Information Privacy Principles (IPPs): Issued via Cabinet Circular PC012, these principles guide how public sector agencies in South Australia must manage personal information. Though not a statute, they're binding policy for state agencies.(Attorney-General's Department, Law Handbook SA)
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Health Care Act 2008 (SA), Mental Health Act 2009 (SA), and South Australian Public Health Act 2011 (SA): These Acts incorporate confidentiality requirements and establish the legal basis for managing health-related personal information, including obligations to handle, store, disclose, and protect such data.(SA Health)
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Freedom of Information Act 1991 (SA) and State Records Act 1997 (SA): Regulate accessibility to government-held information and mandate best-practice recordkeeping and retention for official records.(Wikipedia)
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Surveillance Devices Act 2016 (SA) and Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Acts: Provide legal restrictions on covert surveillance, including interception of communications.(Wikipedia)
2. Collection & Use of Your Information
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We collect personal and sensitive information (e.g., your contact details, therapeutic records) directly from you, or from third parties with your consent, to deliver counselling services effectively.
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Use of your information is strictly limited to purposes such as care provision, appointment management, legal compliance, and (with consent) professional collaboration.
3. Storage & Security
We implement appropriate safeguards—physical, electronic, and administrative—to protect your information against loss, misuse, and unauthorized access, in line with the requirements of the APPs and applicable state health legislation.
4. Disclosure of Information
Your personal information will only be disclosed in the following circumstances:
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With your informed written consent.
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Where required or authorized by law—such as child safety concerns, serious risk of harm, or by court mandate.
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Where permitted under health legislation or IPPs for public interest or safety.
Mandated Reporting
Under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 (SA), we must report any reasonable suspicion of harm or neglect to minors to the Department for Child Protection. Such disclosures may occur without your prior notice or consent, and are legally protected.(SA Health)
5. Access, Correction, and Complaints
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You have the right to access and correct your personal information—please submit requests in writing.
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To address concerns regarding privacy practices, you may contact our practice directly. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) or the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (HCSCC).(OAIC)
6. Data Breach Management
In the event of a data breach that poses serious risk, we will:
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Notify affected individuals.
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Report the incident to the OAIC under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme, as required by Commonwealth law.(SA Health)
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Contact Us
For any queries about this Privacy Policy, or to exercise your rights, please reach out:
Colourful Clouds Counselling & Wellbeing
PO Box 386, Blackwood SA 5051
0434 897 734
By using our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy, inclusive of the legislative context in South Australia and at federal level.
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