Privacy Policy
Last updated: September 2026
Shivonne Cammell Child & Family Counselling is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal and health information.
The practice handles personal and health information in accordance with applicable privacy legislation, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) and Health Privacy Principles.
What information is collected
The practice may collect personal and health information that is reasonably necessary to provide counselling, parent consultation, clinical supervision and related services.
This may include your name and contact details, date of birth, referral and Medicare information, health and developmental history, family and psychosocial information, clinical notes and assessments, correspondence, appointment information and billing details.
When working with children and adolescents, relevant information about parents, carers and family members may also form part of the clinical record.
For clinical supervision, information may include contact and professional details, supervision records and information relevant to the supervision provided.
How information is collected and used
Information is usually collected directly from you through enquiries, intake and consent forms, appointments, sessions, email, telephone and other communications.
Information may also be received from parents or carers, GPs, schools, health professionals or other services involved in a client's care.
Personal and health information is used for purposes including providing and managing services, maintaining appropriate clinical or supervision records, communicating with you, coordinating care where appropriate, managing appointments and accounts, processing payments and Medicare rebates, and meeting professional and legal obligations.
Storage and security
Personal and health information is primarily held electronically using secure practice-management and other service providers. Reasonable steps are taken to protect information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Paper documents received by the practice are transferred to the relevant electronic record where appropriate and securely destroyed.
Information is retained in accordance with applicable legal and professional record-keeping requirements.
Sharing your information
Personal and health information is treated confidentially.
Where information needs to be shared with another professional or service involved in your care, written consent is generally sought before information is released.
Information may also be used or disclosed without consent where authorised or required by law, including in circumstances involving a serious threat to health or safety.
Third-party service providers may be used to support practice administration, communications, telehealth, payments, Medicare processing and website services. Only information reasonably necessary for those purposes is provided or processed.
Overseas processing
The practice uses some third-party technology and service providers that may process or store personal information outside Australia.
Clinical records held within the practice management system for Australian users are stored in Australia. Other information, including information submitted through the practice website, may be processed or stored overseas.
Reasonable steps are taken when selecting and using service providers to protect the privacy and security of personal information.
Access and correction
You may request access to personal or health information held about you or ask for information to be corrected if you believe it is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date. In some circumstances, access may be limited or refused where permitted by law. Requests can be made using the contact details below.
Privacy concerns and complaints
If you have a question or concern about how your personal or health information has been handled, please contact the practice. Privacy concerns will be considered and responded to within a reasonable timeframe.
If you are not satisfied with the response, you may be able to make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) or the Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner.
Contact
Shivonne Cammell Child & Family Counselling
Wheelers Hill, Victoria
Email: info@shivonnecammell.com
Website: www.shivonnecammell.com
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in the practice, services or legal requirements.