Privacy Policy
Coast Psychology Clinic
Last updated: November 6, 2025
1. Introduction
Coast Psychology (ABN: 63 667 940 294) (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). We provide psychological services in Perth / Broome (and via telehealth) and maintain a website for client contact, booking, information, and resources. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use, disclose and protect your personal and sensitive information.
2. What is personal information?
“Personal information” means information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. “Sensitive information” is a subset of personal information and includes health information, race or ethnic origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation, criminal record and other categories defined under the Act.
Consistent with APS guidance, we only collect sensitive information when necessary for the provision of psychological services and with appropriate consent.
3. What kinds of personal information we collect and hold
Depending on your interactions with us, we may collect personal information, including (but not limited to):
Your name, date of birth, contact details (postal address, email address, telephone numbers)
Emergency contact details
Medicare number, health insurance details or other funding/claim information (if relevant)
Referral information, medical or health history, psychological assessment results or notes (sensitive information)
Answers to intake questionnaires, session notes, treatment plans
Financial/payment information (credit card number, billing address)
Information you provide via our website (including via contact forms, booking forms) or by email/phone in the course of our services
Website usage data (e.g., IP address, browser type, pages visited, cookies) when you visit our site.
4. How we collect personal information
We collect personal information in a number of ways, including:
Directly from you (e.g., when you complete intake forms, provide information in sessions, email or contact us)
From your referrer (e.g., GP, other health professional) with your consent
Online via our website, booking platforms or contact forms
From third parties where permitted or required by law (e.g., insurers, funding bodies)
Automatically via website analytics or cookies when you access our website.
If you decline to provide certain personal information we ask for, we may not be able to offer some services or meet all our obligations (for example, accurate assessment or treatment planning).
5. Purposes for which we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information
We collect and use your personal information for purposes including (but not limited to):
Providing psychological assessment, diagnosis, treatment and associated services
Complying with professional obligations (e.g., record-keeping required under registration bodies)
Communicating with you about appointments, treatment plans, invoicing and other administrative matters
Facilitating billing, Medicare or health fund claims (where applicable)
Referral to/liaison with other health professionals or services (with your consent)
Responding to your enquiries, complaints or feedback
Improving our services, website and operations (for example via usage analytics)
Where required or permitted by law (including to protect life, health or safety of an individual, or to comply with a court order, subpoena or mandatory reporting obligation).
We will not use your personal information for any other purpose without your consent, unless otherwise permitted by law.
6. Disclosure of your personal information
We may disclose your personal information to:
Other health professionals or referral agencies (with your consent)
Service providers who assist us in running our practice (for example IT service providers, booking platforms, payment processors) — with appropriate confidentiality obligations
Insurers or funding bodies (with your consent) to claim rebates or process invoices
Courts or regulatory bodies, as required by law (e.g., in the event of subpoena)
In circumstances required to prevent a serious threat to someone’s life, health or safety, or as otherwise authorised by law.
We will not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
7. Storage and security of personal information
We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. These steps include:
Secure electronic systems (password-protected, encrypted where practicable)
Secure physical storage of paper records where still used
Staff education about confidentiality and privacy obligations
Regular review of security practices.
In the event of an unauthorised disclosure of personal information that is likely to result in serious harm, we will respond in accordance with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme under the Privacy Act.
Records are retained for the minimum required period in accordance with professional and legal requirements (for example clients’ records retained for at least 7 years from last contact or until a minor turns 25).
8. Access and correction
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, and to request correction of any information that is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete or misleading.
We may refuse access in certain circumstances permitted by law (for example if providing access would jeopardise someone’s life or health, or reveal information about another person). Should we refuse we will provide you with written reasons for refusal and mechanisms to lodge a complaint.
9. Cookies and website analytics
When you visit our website [insert your website URL], we may collect anonymous technical information (such as IP address, browser type, pages visited, length of stay) via cookies, analytics services and log files. This helps us monitor and improve our website.
You can disable cookies via your browser settings (though this may limit website functionality).
Where cookies are used to identify an individual or for marketing, we will only do so with your consent.
10. Consequences of not providing personal information
If you choose not to provide us with the requested personal or sensitive information, we may be unable to provide you with appropriate assessment, treatment or administration of services.
11. Cross-border disclosures / overseas recipients
From time to time we may use service providers that are located (or store data) overseas (e.g., cloud servers, analytics providers). We will take reasonable steps to ensure that the overseas recipient deals with your personal information in a manner consistent with the APPs, except where you consent or the law permits the disclosure.
12. Complaints and contact
If you have a question about our privacy practices, or wish to request access, correction or make a complaint about a possible breach of this policy, please contact:
Coast Psychology
info@coastpsychologyclinic.com
If you are unhappy with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) by phone at 1300 363 992 or online at www.oaic.gov.au.
13. Changes to this policy
We may amend this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will be published on our website. If we make material changes, we may notify you via email (if you have provided your address) or via a notice on our website.
14. Specific note for child clients (if relevant)
If you are under the age of 18, we require the consent of a parent or legal guardian for us to collect, hold and use your personal information (unless otherwise permitted by law). Parents/guardians and the minor jointly have rights to access and correct personal information, subject to exceptions under the Privacy Act and professional guidelines.
Coast Psychology
Renae WalshPrincipal Psychologist
Date: 6 November 2025