Privacy Policy

Last Updated: Jan 2024

At Brave Mental Health (“we,” “our,” or “us”), we are committed to safeguarding the privacy of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information in compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and other relevant laws and regulations.

By accessing and using our website, services, or interacting with us in any way, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Collection of Personal Information

We collect personal information to provide mental health services, behaviour support, and other related services. The types of personal information we collect may include, but are not limited to:

• Personal Identification Information: Name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, and gender.
• Health Information: Mental health conditions, treatment history, medication, support plans, assessments, and other sensitive health-related information.
• Financial Information: Information required for billing and payment purposes.
• Service Information: Information regarding the services you or your child receive from Brave Mental Health, including appointments, session notes, and care plans.
• Communication Records: Email correspondence, phone calls, and other communications between you and our team.
• Other Information: Any additional information you choose to provide.

We only collect personal information by lawful and fair means, and where possible, we collect personal information directly from you. This may be through forms, conversations, emails, or our website.

2. Use of Personal Information

We collect and use your personal information to:

• Provide behaviour support services, mental health support, and other therapeutic services.
• Communicate with you about your appointments, services, and treatment plans.
• Assess, plan, and manage your treatment and support needs.
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including reporting to health authorities where required.
• Process billing and payments for services provided.
• Improve and enhance our services through feedback and assessments.
• Conduct internal administration and manage our business operations.

We will only use your personal information for the purposes for which it was collected or for purposes that are directly related to providing our services to you, unless you provide us with consent to use it for other purposes.

3. Disclosure of Personal Information

We may disclose your personal information to third parties in order to provide the best possible care and support services, comply with legal obligations, or with your consent. These third parties may include:

• Healthcare Providers: Other healthcare professionals involved in your care, such as GPs, specialists, or allied health providers.
• Support Agencies and NDIS Providers: Where necessary, we may share information with organisations that provide disability or mental health services, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
• Regulatory Bodies: Where required by law, we may disclose information to government agencies such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or health departments.
• Family Members and Carers: With your consent, we may share information with family members or carers who are involved in your care.
• Third-Party Service Providers: Providers who assist us with IT, administration, payment processing, or other operational tasks, who are bound by privacy obligations.
• Legal or Law Enforcement Authorities: Where required by law, such as in the case of mandatory reporting, subpoenas, or safeguarding requirements.

We will not share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Security of Your Personal Information

At Brave Mental Health, we take the protection of your personal information seriously. We have implemented appropriate technical, administrative, and physical security measures to protect your information from unauthorised access, misuse, loss, or disclosure. These measures include:

• Secure storage systems for electronic and physical records.
• Encryption of sensitive data transmitted electronically.
• Restricting access to personal information to authorised personnel only.
• Regular reviews of security measures to ensure effectiveness.

Despite these precautions, no data transmission over the internet or information storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. If you suspect any unauthorised access or disclosure of your personal information, please contact us immediately.

5. Data Retention

We will retain your personal information for as long as it is necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, and fulfil our business needs. Once your personal information is no longer required, we will securely dispose of it in accordance with our data retention policy.

6. Accessing and Correcting Your Personal Information

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to request corrections if you believe the information is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date.

To request access to or correction of your personal information, please contact us using the details provided below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and may ask for verification of your identity before granting access.

7. Your Rights Under the Privacy Act

Under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), you have the following rights:

• Access: You can request access to your personal information.
• Correction: You can request that we correct any errors in your personal information.
• Anonymity: You can choose to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym, though this may limit the services we can provide.
• Complaint: If you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles, you can make a complaint to our Privacy Officer or escalate it to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

8. Cross-Border Data Transfers

In some cases, your personal information may be transferred to service providers located outside of Australia. If we transfer your personal information internationally, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that your information is treated securely and in accordance with Australian privacy law.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any updates will be posted on our website, and we encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we handle your personal information.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:

📧 Email: himani@bravementalhealth.community
📞 Phone: 0491 082 357
🌐 Website: bravementalhealth.community

We take all complaints seriously and will work to resolve any concerns as promptly as possible. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.