The Listening Finch is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with care.

This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is collected, used, stored, and disclosed through this website and in the course of providing counselling services.

Who I am

The Listening Finch is a counselling practice based in Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or the way your information is handled, you can contact me at:

Email: [email protected]
Location: Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia

What information I collect

I may collect personal information such as:

• your name
• email address
• phone number
• information you include in a contact form or email
• appointment and session information
• health or wellbeing information that is relevant to counselling services
• payment information where relevant
• website usage information where this website uses forms, cookies, or analytics tools

Health information is treated as sensitive information and handled with additional care.

How I collect your information

I may collect personal information when you:

• complete a contact form on this website
• email me
• make an enquiry or request an appointment
• attend counselling sessions
• provide information as part of intake, consent, or ongoing counselling work
• use this website

Where practical, I will usually collect information directly from you.

In some situations, I may receive information from another person or professional, but only with your consent or where otherwise permitted or required by law.

Why I collect your information

I collect personal information so that I can:

• respond to enquiries
• arrange and provide counselling services
• communicate with you about appointments
• maintain practice records
• process payments
• meet legal, ethical, and professional obligations
• support the function and security of this website

How your information is stored

I take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.

Clinical records and counselling notes are stored in Halaxy as part of the management of the practice.

I also use Apple iCloud for email storage, backups, and administrative support.

Your information may also be stored in paper files, secure electronic systems, and other service providers used to support the operation of the practice.

Disclosure of personal information

Your personal information will not be shared with third parties unless:

• you have given consent
• the disclosure is needed for the primary purpose for which the information was collected
• the disclosure is required or authorised by law
• there is a serious risk to your life, health, or safety, or to the life, health, or safety of another person
• the disclosure is required as part of legal, ethical, or professional obligations

Where relevant, personal information may be handled by trusted third-party service providers who support the operation of the practice, such as website, email, cloud storage, payment, video, or practice management providers.

Overseas disclosure

Some third-party service providers used for email, cloud storage, or other administrative functions may store or process information outside Australia.

Halaxy states that, for Australian users, practice data is stored in Australia. Other providers I use, including Apple services such as iCloud, may store or process information in Australia or overseas.

Where this is relevant, I take reasonable steps to use service providers that offer appropriate privacy and security protections.

Access to and correction of your information

You may request access to the personal information I hold about you, and you may ask for it to be corrected if it is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date.

To make a request, please contact me at [email protected].

In some circumstances, access may be refused where permitted by law. If that happens, I will explain the reason where I am able to do so.

Website forms, cookies, and analytics

If you complete a form on this website, the information you submit may be stored by the website and used to respond to your enquiry.

At this stage, this website may use basic website services necessary for functionality and security. If analytics or additional tracking tools are introduced in the future, this Privacy Policy will be updated to reflect that.

Confidentiality and counselling records

If you become a client, further information about confidentiality, record keeping, consent, and the limits of confidentiality will be provided separately as part of the counselling agreement and informed consent process.

This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is handled. It is not a substitute for those practice documents.

Making a privacy complaint

If you have a concern about how your personal information has been handled, you are welcome to contact me first so I can try to resolve it.

Please send privacy concerns to:

[email protected]

I will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you may make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Changes to this policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in the practice, the website, or legal obligations. The most current version will be available on this website.