Privacy Policy

THE NEST PSYCHOLOGY MELBOURNE

LAST REVIEWED: JUNE 2025

At The Nest Psychology Melbourne, we are independent practitioners committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the confidentiality of your personal and health information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in compliance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988. By using our services or visiting our website, you agree to the terms outlined in this policy.

TYPES OF INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect both personal and sensitive information to provide you with the best possible psychological services. This information may include:

Personal Information: Name, contact details (email, phone number, address), and demographic information.
Sensitive Information: Health-related data, including medical history, psychological assessments, treatment plans, and any other information relevant to your care.
Health Information: Any details related to your mental health or physical condition shared during consultations.

We may collect this information through various means, including online inquiries, phone calls, emails, or during in-person consultations.

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

Your personal and sensitive information is used primarily to provide you with psychological services, including:

Assessing, diagnosing, and treating your mental health concerns
Managing appointments, billing, and processing Medicare or health insurance rebates
Communicating with you about your sessions, treatment, and services offered
Complying with legal, regulatory, and Medicare and other funding requirements

We may also use your information to improve our services, send updates, and notify you of changes related to your care or our practice.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

We respect your privacy and will not disclose your personal information to third parties, except under the following circumstances:

With your consent: For example, sharing information with other healthcare professionals (e.g., GPs, paediatricians, psychiatrists) or providing reports to a third party with your written or verbal approval.
Legal requirements: If required by law, such as in response to a subpoena, warrant, or law enforcement request.
Third-party service providers: We may share your information with trusted third-party providers who help us deliver our services, such as practice management software, payment processors, or IT support. We ensure these providers adhere to strict privacy standards.

OVERSEAS DISCLOSURE

In some instances, your information may be stored or processed overseas by third-party service providers, such as cloud storage or IT service providers. We take reasonable steps to ensure these providers comply with Australian privacy standards.

SECURITY OF YOUR INFORMATION

We take the protection of your personal and sensitive information seriously. We use appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard your data, including:

Password protection and encryption of electronic records
Secure storage of physical files
Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis

While we take every reasonable step to protect your data, please note that no transmission of data over the Internet is completely secure. However, we strive to maintain the highest standards of security to minimise any risks.

ACCESSING AND CORRECTING YOUR INFORMATION

You have the right to access and correct any personal information we hold about you. If you believe your information is incorrect or incomplete, please contact us to request a correction. We will respond to your request in a timely manner and make necessary adjustments where appropriate.

If you wish to access your records, please contact us at hello@thenestpsychology.com and we can discuss the options in which your records may be accessed. We may charge a fee to cover the cost of providing access to your information.

COOKIES AND WEBSITE USAGE

Our website may use cookies to enhance your experience and track usage patterns. Cookies do not identify you personally but help us improve the functionality and content of our site. If you prefer not to accept cookies, you can disable them in your browser settings.

We also use Google Analytics to analyze website traffic and improve our services.

RETENTION OF YOUR INFORMATION

We retain your personal and health information for as long as necessary to provide our services and meet our legal and regulatory obligations. Client records are typically kept for a minimum of 7 years after the last service provided, or longer if required by law. If the client is under 18, records will be kept until they turn 25.

CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we do, we will publish the updated policy on our website, and if significant changes are made, we will notify you directly.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your privacy.

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:

Email: hello@thenestpsychology.com
Address: Suite 1.02, 171 Union Road, Surrey Hills VIC 3127

You can also lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) if you feel that we have not handled your information appropriately. Visit the OAIC website at www.oaic.gov.au.

By using our services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal and health information as described in this Privacy Policy.

Thank you for trusting The Nest Psychology Melbourne with your care.