Assure Programs - Privacy Statement



	Employee Assistance Programs Organisational Development Services Clinical & Counselling Psychology

	info@assureprograms.com.au

Privacy Statement

The National Privacy Principles of the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 give individuals the right to know what information an organisation holds about them and a right to correct that information if it is wrong. These provisions apply to client records created or modified from 21 December 2001. Assure Programs and its providers adhere to these principles and outlined below are our guidelines with respect to client records and other personal information.

Record Keeping & Storage

As per the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics, psychologists must make and keep adequate client records. These records and their contents are the property of the Assure Programs and/or its provider and are stored and archived in a secure location for a period of 7 years or as required by law. After this time, records are destroyed.

Requesting your Record

You may request access to your client record by completing a “Request for Client Record” form and lodging it with Assure Programs Managing Director (PO Box 1814, Milton Qld 4064). Your Assure Programs staff psychologist/provider and Assure Programs Managing Director will review the record request and respond to you within 14 days. Clarity about your client record may be best obtained by reviewing your record with your Assure Programs staff psychologist/provider. A fee may be associated with providing your record and in having your Assure Programs staff psychologist/provider review your record with you. This fee will be based on the Australian Psychological Society recommended fee schedule and will be discussed with you when Assure Programs responds to your request.

What to do if you feel Information Contained in your Record is Incorrect

If you access your record and feel that certain information contained in it is incorrect, please speak with your Assure Programs staff psychologist/provider to clarify the matter. If further clarification is required, you may wish to make an appointment in person or over the phone with Assure Programs Managing Director to discuss the matter further.

What to do if you are not satisfied with Assure Programs response to your Record Request

If for any reason you are not satisfied with Assure Programs response to your record request you are able to contact the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner who has the power to investigate and to respond to such issues (1300 363 992 or GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 1042).

Non Identifying Statistical Information

When you attend Assure Programs we ask that you complete an “Intake Form”. The information you provide is used for non identifying statistical purposes associated with the operation of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Additionally your counsellor also completes a form on the types of issues and contributing factors that people present with when accessing the EAP. Assure Programs utilises this information to prepare strictly non identifying reports. This information is used to help monitor the effectiveness of services provided through the EAP and to feed back relevant organisational material without compromising confidentiality.

Invoicing Details

A very small number of client organisations, for their own accountability purposes, require Assure Programs to provide the names of employees who have accessed the EAP services. These particular organisations inform their employees of this procedural requirement prior to their accessing Assure Programs. For these organisations, names only but no details of client issues or presenting concerns are provided to a single organisational EAP coordinator. In every case, we are assured that any identifying information is removed prior to invoice processing. Please refer to your organisation’s EAP policy or EAP coordinator for more information on these invoicing protocols.