Please note that the limits to what Heart Matters Psychology can keep confidential (outlined below) apply to all and any information and communication that takes place directly between you and your psychologist, regardless of:

• The medium by which you contact us (online, in person, telephone call, sms, post, email, etc); and
• The nature of the contact (i.e., these limits apply during the active delivery of psychological services, but they also apply to what you post to our social media, what you include in an email enquiry to us, what you say in a voice message recording, etc).

By communicating with us, you do so with the understanding that all information we gather during our contact with you will remain strictly confidential except under any of the following serious circumstances:

• Where there is a legal obligation to disclose information (e.g., if we or our file notes are subpoenaed);
• If we reasonably believe that the collection, use, or disclosure of such information is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to the life, health or safety of any individual, or to the public’s health or safety;
• When we access professional supervision or training (we agree to only discuss information in a way that conceals your identity and the identity of associated parties, and to only discuss this concealed information with colleagues who are professionally and ethically bound to preserve your privacy too);
• To comply with the conditions of your funding (e.g., reporting requirements for sessions funded by a Medicare scheme, your employer, WorkSafe, DVA, etc.);
• In following all legal requirements for reporting alleged or suspected child abuse to the relevant authorities as specified by the Victorian Government;
• If you are (or someone you tell us about is) a registered health practitioner that has behaved in a way that AHPRA deems ‘notifiable conduct’; or
• If you are a supervisee accessing our services for clinical supervision, we adhere to the reporting requirements outlined in the Psychology Board of Australia’s supervisor guidelines.

In all of the above exceptional circumstances, we make efforts to safeguard your privacy where possible by communicating only what is necessary and relevant to disclose. If we wish to share information with others on your behalf under any circumstances other than those listed above, we will gain your consent or the consent of the person/s with legal authority to act on your behalf (usually using this Information release form). Session notes and records of all other communication are stored in a secure location.

We respect and support your right to make an informed decision about how and what you communicate with us, and so we will do our best to alert you to our confidentiality policy as early in our first communication as we can. By communicating with us, you are consenting to all information being treated in accordance with our confidentiality policy. If you have any questions or concerns about your privacy and information, please raise these with us at the beginning of our first contact before disclosing anything further.