Privacy Policy
1. About This Privacy Policy
Innate Play Therapy respects the privacy of children, parents/carers and families.
This Privacy Policy explains how Innate Play Therapy collects, uses, stores and discloses personal information and health information in connection with the services it provides.
Innate Play Therapy handles information in accordance with applicable Australian privacy and health-records requirements.
This Privacy Policy should be read together with the Innate Play Therapy Terms of Service and relevant consent and service documentation.
2. Information Collected
Depending on the services provided, Innate Play Therapy may collect information including:
Child's name and date of birth
Parent/carer names and contact details
Information about family circumstances and relationships
Developmental, educational and social information
Information about the child's wellbeing, needs and presenting concerns
Relevant health, disability and NDIS information
Information provided by other professionals or services
Appointment and attendance information
Invoices, payment and financial administration information
Clinical observations and notes
Correspondence relating to the child's care
Other information reasonably necessary to provide safe and appropriate services
Clinical records may include photographs of therapeutic materials, play scenes or artwork created during sessions where these are relevant to documenting or supporting the child's therapy. These photographs form part of the child's confidential clinical record and are not used for social media, marketing or other public purposes.
Innate Play Therapy aims to collect only information that is reasonably necessary for the services being provided.
3. How Information Is Collected & Used
Information may be collected through:
Intake and consent forms
Parent/carer consultations
Play therapy sessions
Telephone calls, emails and other correspondence
Referrals
Communication with other professionals or services
Appointment and practice management systems
Invoicing and financial administration systems
Information is used for purposes including:
Understanding the child's needs and circumstances
Providing, planning and reviewing therapeutic services
Maintaining appropriate clinical records
Communicating with parents/carers
Communicating with authorised professionals or services where appropriate consent has been provided
Arranging and managing appointments
Preparing invoices and managing payments
Meeting professional, legal, regulatory and record-keeping obligations
Managing and improving the operation of the practice
Where requested information is not provided, Innate Play Therapy may be unable to assess suitability for services, provide or continue services safely and appropriately, or meet relevant administrative, legal or professional requirements. In some circumstances, this may mean that services cannot commence or may need to be paused or discontinued.
4. Privacy, Confidentiality & Disclosure
Information is treated as confidential and will only be used or disclosed for the purpose for which it was collected, for a related purpose that would reasonably be expected, with appropriate consent, or where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
Innate Play Therapy participates in ongoing professional supervision to support safe, ethical and effective practice. Information about clients may be discussed with a professional supervisor for supervision and clinical practice purposes. Client confidentiality is maintained and identifying information is not disclosed unless authorised, required by law, or necessary to address a serious risk to safety.
Information may be disclosed without consent where required or permitted by law, including where there are significant concerns about a child's safety or wellbeing, where required by a court order or other legal obligation, or where otherwise permitted by applicable legislation.
5. Clinical Records & Access
Clinical notes form part of the child's confidential clinical record and are maintained to support safe and appropriate therapeutic care. They are not routinely provided to parents/carers. Relevant information about therapy may instead be discussed during parent/carer consultations or provided in a therapeutic summary where appropriate.
Clinical records may include photographs of therapeutic materials, play scenes or artwork created during sessions where these are relevant to documenting or supporting the child's therapy. These photographs form part of the child's confidential clinical record and are not used for social media, marketing or other public purposes.
Parents/carers may request access to personal or health information held about themselves or their child. Where a request relates to a child's information, Innate Play Therapy may need to consider the authority of the person making the request, including whether they have parental responsibility, as well as the child's privacy, best interests and any applicable legal requirements. Parents/carers may also request correction of information that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.
Requests will be considered in accordance with applicable privacy and health-records requirements. Access may be limited or refused where permitted or required by law.
6. Storage, Security & Third-Party Providers
Innate Play Therapy takes reasonable steps to protect personal and health information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Information is stored and managed using secure, password-protected systems and practice processes.
Innate Play Therapy uses Cliniko for practice and clinical record management and Xero for invoicing and financial administration.
Information stored or processed through these services may be subject to the privacy, security and data-storage arrangements of those providers. Cliniko stores Australian customer account data in Australia but uses some overseas third-party service providers in operating its services. Xero may use overseas service providers and related entities in providing its services.
Innate Play Therapy takes reasonable steps to select and use providers with appropriate privacy and security arrangements.
Records are retained for the period required by applicable legal, professional and record-keeping requirements and are securely destroyed or de-identified when no longer required.
7. Group Play Therapy & Privacy
Additional privacy considerations apply to group play therapy. Group play therapy involves children participating alongside other children and information may be observed, heard or shared by other children or families participating in the group.
Innate Play Therapy will take reasonable steps to protect each child's privacy and will share information about a child within the group where this is appropriate and necessary for the provision of the group service, or where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in relation to information that is observed, heard or shared by other participants. Children and parents/carers will be encouraged and expected to respect the privacy of other children and families and not share identifying or personal information about other participants outside the group.
Where group play therapy is facilitated in collaboration with another qualified play therapist, relevant information may be shared between the participating therapists where this is necessary for the planning, delivery, review or safe provision of the group program, in accordance with applicable consent and privacy requirements.
8. Disclosure to Other Professionals & Services
Parents/carers are welcome to request that Innate Play Therapy communicate with other professionals or services involved in supporting their child, including educators, psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and other allied health or support professionals.
A separate Consent to Communicate with Other Professionals & Services will generally be required before Innate Play Therapy communicates with an external professional or service. Consent can be withdrawn in writing at any time. Information may also be disclosed without consent where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
9. Privacy Concerns & Complaints
If you have a question, concern or complaint about the way Innate Play Therapy has handled your information, please contact:
Honnie Craig
Phone: 0432 011 535
Email: honnie@innateplay.com.au
Innate Play Therapy will aim to respond to privacy concerns promptly and respectfully.
Where a concern cannot be resolved directly, you may have the right to make a complaint to the relevant external privacy regulator, including the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) where applicable.
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes to privacy requirements, practice procedures, technology or services.
The current version of this Privacy Policy will be made available on the Innate Play Therapy website.
11. Contact
Innate Play Therapy
Honnie Craig | Play Therapist
Phone: 0432 011 535
Email: honnie@innateplay.com.au
Website: innateplaytherapy.com.au