Privacy Policy

Suzanne Hurley owns an independent practice operating as a sole trader. PACFA is the professional association she is registered with and she is bound by their Code of Ethics.

Practitioners must generally comply with the following laws and requirements relating to privacy and health records:
» the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth),
» Health Records Act 2001 (VIC), and
» any reasonable recommendation, guideline or policy set down by the Australian Information Commissioner.

Suzanne Hurley needs to collect information about you for the primary purpose of providing counselling services. To fully assess, and provide counselling, I need to collect some personal information from you. This information will also be used for the administrative purposes of running the practice such as billing you or through an insurer or compensation agency. Information will be used within the practice for handover if another practitioner provides you with assistance, with your consent.

Suzanne Hurley may disclose information regarding your care to your doctor or other treatment providers if necessary for your care or otherwise with your consent. In the case of insurance or compensation claims, it may be necessary to disclose information and/or collect information that affects your treatment and return to work.  Suzanne Hurley will not disclose your information to any third party without your consent. Your written consent will be obtained at the start of your treatment to carry out the above activities.

There are some limits to confidentiality, which means that Suzanne Hurley will need to breach your privacy in situations where: There are concerns about your immediate safety or the safety of others. Your information is subpoenaed by a court of law or where there is a legal obligation to do so, i.e., you disclose information regarding involvement or knowledge of a criminal offense/police investigation that has not been brought to the attention of the police.

Information will be stored securely and only Suzanne Hurley has access to it. Suzanne Hurley will take all reasonable steps to ensure that information collected about you is accurate, complete, and up to date. You may request access to your information. You may also request correction of your information if you believe that any of the information is inaccurate.  If you do not provide relevant personal or health information, in part or in full, to Suzanne Hurley, she may be unable to provide some or all her services to you. This may impact the care she can provide to you.

Any concerns that you may have about this statement or about your management can be directed to Suzanne Hurley at Fertile Ground Health Group, 6 Smith Street, Fitzroy Vic 3065 or by email suzanne@suzannehurley.com.au or by phone 0402 407 925.

Alternatively, you may consider making a complaint through PACFA Complaints, the Health Complaints Commissioner, or to the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner