Privacy Policy

Sydney Centre for Psychological Medicine (“we,” “us,” “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website sydneycentrepsychologicalmedicine.com.au.

Information We Collect

Personal Information: We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Contact us via phone, email, or contact forms
• Book appointments through our website
• Subscribe to our newsletter or communications
• Interact with our website

This information may include: name, email address, phone number, date of birth, address, health information (when provided for appointment purposes), and any other information you choose to provide.

Automatically Collected Information: When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device, including:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring to website addresses
• Device identifiers

Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website. You can manage your cookie preferences in your browser settings(if specifically asked).

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Schedule and manage appointments
• Provide mental health services and treatment
• Communicate with you about appointments, services, and administrative matters
• Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
• Improve our website and services
• Comply with legal obligations
• Send you relevant information about our services (with your consent)

Legal Basis for Processing (Australian Privacy Principles)

We collect and process your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). Our legal bases for processing include:

• Your consent
• Performance of a contract (provision of healthcare services)
• Compliance with legal obligations
• Our legitimate interests in operating our practice

Health Information

Health information is considered sensitive information under Australian privacy law. We will only collect, use, and disclose your health information:

• With your express consent
• As required or permitted by law
• As is necessary for the provision of healthcare services

Your health information is stored securely and accessed only by authorised personnel involved in your care.

Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your personal information with:

• Healthcare professionals involved in your care (with your consent)
• Medicare, private health insurers, or other third-party payers (for billing purposes)
• Legal and regulatory authorities (when required by law)
• Our service providers who assist in operating our website and practice. 

We will not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure servers and encrypted data transmission
• Access controls and authentication procedures
• Regular security assessments
• Staff training on privacy and confidentiality

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide you with services
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements (including medical record retention requirements)
• Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements

Medical records are retained in accordance with Australian healthcare regulations, typically for a minimum of seven years from the date of last contact.

Your Rights

Under Australian privacy law, you have the right to:

• Access your personal information held by us
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal obligations)
• Withdraw consent for processing (where consent is the legal basis)
• Complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) if you believe your privacy has been breached

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details below.

Third Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Children’s Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18 years of age without parental or guardian consent. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate consent.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a new “Last Updated” date.

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

Sydney Centre for Psychological Medicine

Level 2, Suite 31, Queensland Arcade
181 Church Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
Phone: (02) 9806 0667
Email: admin@scpm.net.au