| CONFIDENTIALITY
AND PRIVACY
The Satir Centre of Australia is required to comply with
both the Commonwealth Privacy Amendment (Private Sector)
Act 2000 and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic). We take
very seriously our obligations under the Health Privacy
Principles (HPPs) set out in the Victorian Health Records
Act and the National Privacy Principles (NPPs) set out under
the Commonwealth Privacy Act. We attempt to take all reasonable
steps in order to comply with these Acts and Principles,
and to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the personal
information that we may hold. To comply with our obligations
under the HPPs and the NPPs, we have policies about how
we manage information about you and how you may access that
information.
In the course of carrying out the medical and/or psychological
services provided to you, the doctors or staff of the Satir
Centre of Australia may have collected information about
you from a variety of sources, including yourself and other
members of your treating team. This might include, for example,
information about your health provided by your referring
doctor. Also we may share your information with others,
for example, by providing reports to your referring doctor.
This will be done only as necessary for your proper health
care, and strictly in confidence. If there are details you
do not wish to have recorded in your file, please discuss
this with your doctor.
The legal code in this state establishes privacy and privileged
communication. There are some exceptions to this rule.
In the case of an emergency where there is imminent danger
to the client or to other persons, a medical practitioner
or psychologist may be required to breach the usual requirement
of confidentiality. The law also requires that child
abuse be reported to the appropriate authorities.
A court may order that confidential material be reported
in certain circumstances. In the case of more than
one client being seen in the same room (i.e. a couple, family
or a group), the legal code may not apply. However,
Dr. Neil and
Dr. Silverberg firmly believe in the principle and practice
of confidentiality, and strongly recommend that all therapy
participants maintain the confidentiality of any information
revealed or discussed in therapy.
To receive more information about our policies, please
discuss the matter with your doctor.
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