Privacy (full version)

The Source of Wellness and its staff and representatives abide by the privacy principles contained in the Federal Privacy Act 1988 and the NSW Health Records and Information Privacy (HRIP) Act 2002 in relation to information you provide to us.

Your health information collected as part of treatment (filling out a form, discussed in consultation and noted, discussed outside of consultation in relation to ongoing treatment & noted) is:

1. Relevant to the purpose for which it was collected
2. Collected directly from you, or received from a third party with your consent, such as a referral from your GP, podiatrist, physiotherapist etc or in the case of a person who is physically or legally (eg person under 18 years of age) incapable of giving consent then information collected by a person who is responsible for you as defined by the Act
3. Secure. All client / patient health information is kept in secure storage when not in use, or with a practitioner during treatment
4. Access to client / patient health information is limited to your treating practitioner(s) and only health information relevant to a practitioner's discipline is shared. For example, information you provide to our Counsellor may be shared with one of our Remedial Therapists only with a) your consent, AND b) the information is relevant and will assist the other practitioner's treatment of you
5. You are entitled to request access to information we have about you on file. The HRIP Act requires that you do so in writing stating your name and address and what type of information you seek. Please provide five working days notice, as we will organise your treating practitioner to be with you to explain or answer any questions. (Please note: Under the HRIP Act there are 11 premises by which a request for access may be refused. If we do so, we will notify you in writing stating the legal restriction)
6. Disclosure of your health information to people or organisations outside of The Source of Wellness are limited to requests by:

• Law enforcement agencies should you be reported as missing or the law enforcement agency has reasonable belief that an offence has been or may be committed by you
• Serious imminent threat to your life, health or safety or that of another person
• With your consent
• For purposes of further health treatment eg a referral to another health professional

Information relating to your racial or ethnic origins, political opinions, religion, trade union or other professional / trade association membership, sexual preference or activity, or criminal record made known to The Source of Wellness staff or representatives is only noted as far as it reasonably relates to treatment of you or the provision of services for you.

As per our Code of Ethics we operate a non-discriminatory centre, though we will take steps to protect our staff or representatives, other clients / patients and property should there be a risk of harm to such.

Health information about you that is sensitive will be used and disclosed only for the purpose for which it was provided or a directly related secondary purpose, unless you agree otherwise, or the use or disclosure of sensitive information is required by law.

Should you wish to not receive or restrict the types of communication from us, then you can at any time request such via email or letter.