Privacy Policy
1. Introduction
MNC Psychology is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use, and disclose your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), as well as considering our professional obligations under the Psychology Board / AHPRA Code of Conduct.
2. What Information We Collect
We collect personal and health information that is necessary to provide psychological services. This may include:
Personal contact details (e.g., name, address, phone, email)
Demographic data (date of birth, gender)
Health and mental health information (history, treatment goals, past diagnoses)
Consent records
Session notes and records of psychological assessments or interventions
Billing and payment information
3. How We Collect Information
We collect information:
Directly from you (e.g., via intake forms, questionnaires)
During sessions (through assessments, conversations)
From third parties, if you consent (e.g., referrers, medical professionals)
4. Use of Your Information
We use your information to:
Provide you with safe, effective, and professional psychological services
Plan and deliver assessments, therapy, or other interventions
Communicate with you (appointment scheduling, reminders)
Maintain records for clinical, legal, and professional standards
Billing, invoicing, and financial management
Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
5. Disclosure of Your Information
We may disclose your information to:
Other health professionals (with your consent) for coordinated care
Supervisors (in a de-identified way as appropriate) for clinical supervision
Third-party service providers (e.g., software / IT systems) who help us manage our practice
Authorities if required by law (e.g., for mandatory reporting)
In emergencies, consistent with our duty of care and risk management obligations
6. Data Security
We store your information in secure electronic systems, protected by encryption and access controls.
Physical documents (if any) are stored securely.
Only authorised persons within MNC Psychology have access to identifiable personal information.
We maintain a plan for data continuity / recovery in case of system failure or incident.
7. Use of AI Tools in Psychological Services
As part of our commitment to high-quality care, MNC Psychology may use secure, healthcare-specific artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with clinical documentation, information retrieval, and report generation. AI tools are used solely to support clinical documentation and do not replace professional judgment or clinical decision-making.
Any information processed using AI tools is handled securely and in accordance with Australian privacy legislation and relevant professional standards. Information is not stored, retained, or used for any purpose beyond your specific session, and is not shared with third parties or used for marketing purposes.
Your informed consent will be sought prior to the use of AI tools with your information. You may decline or withdraw consent at any time without impacting the quality or availability of your care. You are encouraged to ask questions about how these tools are used and how your information is protected.
8. Retention of Records
Client records will be retained in accordance with professional and legal requirements. Records will be kept for a minimum of seven years after the last contact, or longer if required by law. For clients who are minors, records will be kept until they reach the age of 25.
After the retention period, records will be securely destroyed or de-identified.
9. Your Rights
You have the right to access your personal and health information, subject to exceptions permitted by law.
You may request correction of your information if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete.
You may withdraw your consent for future uses of your information (though this may impact our ability to continue service).
You may request us to delete or de-identify your information, subject to our legal and professional obligations.
10. Informed Consent
We will obtain your informed consent before collecting sensitive personal information (health, mental health).
We will clearly explain what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and your rights.
You will be asked to renew consent over time, especially if your treatment changes or if required under regulatory standards (such as AHPRA Code of Conduct).
11. Website Use and Cookies
Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to monitor usage.
We may collect non-identifying information (e.g., browser type, IP address) to improve the site.
You can disable cookies in your browser, but this may limit some functionality of the site.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
We will notify clients of major changes (e.g., via email or on our website).
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this policy or how we handle your information, please contact us at mncpsychology.com.au