Management of Your Personal Information

Psychological Service
As part of providing a psychological service to you, we will need to collect and record personal information from you that is relevant to your current situation.  This information will be a necessary part of the psychological assessment and treatment that is conducted. You do not have to give all your personal information, but if you don’t, this may mean the psychological service may not be able to be provided to you. Only where relevant will information regarding your attendance be communicated to Medicare Australia, your Health Care provider or Insurance Company for the purpose of payment for the appropriate service.

Purpose of Collecting and Holding Information
The information gathered is part of the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a client’s condition, and is seen only by the psychologist.  The information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions, and enables the psychologist to provide a relevant and informed psychological service. This information is not collected for the purposes of medico-legal assessment or reports, so you or your lawyer must seek an independent psychological service for such purpose.

Access to Client Information
At any stage you as a client are entitled to request access to the information about you kept on file, unless relevant legislation provides otherwise.  The psychologist’s progress notes will not be released to you but you may view and discuss with your practitioner in person (at a fee). Attendance or short treatment summary reports may be requested (at a fee).

Confidentiality
All personal information gathered by the psychologist during the provision of the psychological service will remain confidential and secure except where:

1. It is subpoenaed by a court, mandated by law (eg, Children’s Protection Act 1993), or
2. Failure to disclose the information would place you or another person at serious and imminent risk; or
3. Your prior approval has been obtained to 
   1. provide a written report to another professional or agency. eg. a GP or a lawyer; or
   2. discuss the material with another person, eg. a parent or employer.
      

Cancellation Policy
To provide a viable and accessible service, this practice requires 2 full business days’ notice of an inability to attend or a cancellation fee of $80 is payable.

Service Fees & Cancellation Policies

Consultation Fees
$230 for Standard Consultation Fee of 50 minutes duration. 
(Rebates may be claimable as per Medicare benefits or Private health insurer)
$234.83 for NDIS Standard Consultation Fee of 50 minutes duration.

Cancellation Fees
$80 will be charged for less than 2 full business days notice of cancellation, rescheduling, or no show.

Payment
Unless you are being charged under NDIS, the service must be paid at the time of service (ie, no invoicing). 

Rebates
Medicare rebates for up to 10-20 sessions per calendar year are available for people who have been diagnosed and referred by a GP under a GPMHP (GP Mental Health Care Plan). You will need to provide a valid GPMHP from your referring GP (along with a GP referral letter) to enable claiming Medicare rebates.  
OR
Private Health Insurer rebates may be claimable (please check with your health insurer regarding your level of cover and rebate eligibility). 

Concessional Rates
A limited quota of discounted/concession rates may be available for those with genuine financial need.

Other Fees
Any requested reports or letters such as Centrelink, Housing SA, Job Network, Corrections, Uni letters, etc attract fees. Such fees need to be paid prior to preparation & production. For example, a short letter (SR) fee is $230 but psychological reports vary according to complexity and time required (in any case, all reports requested must be approved by the practitioner prior to commencement of service (or you risk being refused preparation of a report & you will also be advised to seek independent medico-legal assessment.