Last updated: July 2026
1. Overview
Begin to Become Psychology (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store and protect your personal information, including sensitive health information, through both our website and the provision of psychological services.
2. What Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of personal information:
- Identity details, including your name and date of birth.
- Contact details, including your address, email address and telephone number.
- Emergency contact details.
- Health information, including relevant medical history, psychological history, assessments, reports, referral information, treatment plans and clinical notes.
- Referral and funding information, including Medicare details, Mental Health Treatment Plan information, private health insurance details (where applicable), GP and psychiatrist details.
- Payment information, including invoices, billing records and transaction information.
- Website usage information, including IP address, browser type, pages visited and website activity collected through website analytics.
Health information is considered sensitive information and is afforded additional protection under Australian privacy legislation.
3. How We Collect Information
We may collect your information:
- Directly from you during appointments, telephone conversations, emails or written correspondence.
- Through our website enquiry form.
- Through our online booking and practice management system.
- From your referring GP, psychiatrist or other healthcare professionals with your consent.
- Where authorised or required by law.
- Automatically through cookies and website analytics technologies.
4. Why We Collect and Use Your Information
We collect and use your information to:
- Provide psychological assessment, treatment and ongoing care.
- Communicate with you regarding appointments, treatment and administrative matters.
- Prepare clinical records, reports and correspondence where required.
- Process payments and Medicare or private health claims where applicable.
- Meet our legal, ethical and professional obligations.
- Improve our services and website functionality.
If you choose not to provide certain information, we may be unable to provide psychological services safely or effectively.
5. Disclosure of Your Information
Your personal information is treated as confidential and will only be disclosed where:
- You have provided your consent.
- It is necessary to communicate with other healthcare providers involved in your care.
- It is required to process Medicare, private health insurance or payment claims.
- It is required or authorised by law.
- It is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to your life, health or safety, or that of another person.
- It is required under mandatory reporting or other legal obligations.
We use Halaxy, a secure Australian practice management system, to manage appointments, clinical records, billing and practice administration. Information required to provide our services may be stored within Halaxy and is handled in accordance with its privacy and security practices.
We take reasonable steps to ensure that any third-party service providers we use handle your personal information securely and confidentially.
6. Storage and Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.
This includes:
- Secure electronic practice management software.
- Encrypted digital storage.
- Password-protected systems with restricted access.
- Secure storage of any physical records.
- Secure backup systems where appropriate.
Client records are retained in accordance with Australian legal and professional record retention requirements.
7. Access and Correction
You may request access to the personal information we hold about you or request correction of information that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.
Requests should be made in writing using the contact details below.
We will respond within a reasonable timeframe. Access may be refused in limited circumstances permitted under Australian privacy legislation.
8. Cookies and Website Analytics
Our website may use cookies and analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to understand how visitors use our website and improve its performance.
This information may include pages visited, time spent on the website, browser type and general location information. It does not usually identify you personally.
You can disable cookies through your browser settings if you prefer.
9. Website Enquiries and Contact Forms
If you contact Begin to Become Psychology through our website, we collect the information you choose to provide, such as your name, email address, telephone number and the contents of your enquiry.
This information is used solely to respond to your enquiry and provide information about our services.
If you choose to book an appointment online, you will be directed to our secure Halaxy booking system. Information submitted through Halaxy is managed in accordance with Halaxy’s privacy and security practices.
Please avoid including detailed or sensitive health information in website enquiries. If additional clinical information is required, we will provide a more secure method of communication.
10. Overseas Disclosure
Some third-party service providers used by Begin to Become Psychology may store information outside Australia. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure your information is handled in accordance with Australian privacy standards.
11. Third-Party Websites and Services
Our website may contain links to third-party services, including Halaxy, our secure online booking and practice management system.
When you access Halaxy from our website, your use of that service is governed by Halaxy’s own Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. We encourage you to review their privacy policy before providing personal information.
Begin to Become Psychology is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites or services.
12. Complaints
If you have concerns about how your personal information has been handled, please contact Begin to Become Psychology so we can investigate your concerns.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
13. Changes to This Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, technology or our practice procedures. The most current version will always be available on our website.
14. Contact Us
Begin to Become Psychology
Email: hello@begintobecomepsychology.com.au
Website: www.begintobecomepsychology.com.au