Dasha Brailko Counselling Privacy Policy
Dasha Brailko Counselling (“we,” “us,” “our”) recognises that any personal or sensitive information you share with us requires special care and protection. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and the relevant NSW legislation including the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW). By accessing our website (www.dashabrailko.com), booking an appointment, or otherwise providing us with your personal information, you consent to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.
Personal and Sensitive Information We Collect
Depending on the nature of your engagement with us, we may collect and hold the following types of information:
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Name and preferred title
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Contact details: email address, phone number, residential address, and emergency contact information
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Date of birth
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Physical and mental health information: This may include GP details, referral letters, mental health history, and any other relevant health or medical details
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Other personal opinions or comments (if submitted through our intake form or emails)
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We recognise that much of this information is considered sensitive information under Australian privacy law and handle it with additional care.
How We Collect Information
We collect personal and sensitive information directly from you through:
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Client intake forms
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Emails or phone calls with you
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Booking and record-keeping system: We use Cliniko, a practice management software, to maintain client records and notes. You can review Cliniko’s privacy policy at: https://www.cliniko.com/policies/privacy/
We only collect information reasonably necessary to provide counselling services and operate our practice effectively.
Purpose and Use of Collected Information
We collect, use, and store your personal and sensitive information for the following purposes:
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Providing counselling services: Understanding your history, assessing your needs, creating treatment plans, and delivering counselling
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Administrative tasks: Scheduling, sending reminders, billing and invoicing, or processing payment claims (where applicable)
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Maintaining client records: Keeping accurate, up-to-date notes and other relevant documentation regarding your sessions
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Legal and regulatory compliance: Meeting our obligations under Australian law and professional standards, including where there is a duty of care or mandatory reporting requirement.
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We will only use your information for the specific purpose it was collected or related secondary purposes expected by you, unless we obtain your written consent or are required by law to do otherwise.
Disclosure of Your Information
We treat personal and sensitive information as confidential. We will not disclose it to third parties without your written consent, except where required or authorised by law. Exceptions may include:
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Permitted health situations under the Privacy Act
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Permitted general situations (e.g., serious threat to life, health, or safety)
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Professional or legal obligations (e.g., when legally compelled or where we have a duty of care to report imminent risk).
If disclosure is required, we will seek written consent unless immediate risk or legal obligations prevent us from doing so.
Data Security
We follow reasonable steps to protect your information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. This includes:
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Physical security measures (e.g., locked cabinets for paper records)
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Electronic security measures (e.g., password-protected devices, secure servers, encryption, and access controls within Cliniko)
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Staff training and confidentiality agreements
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We will retain client records in accordance with legal and professional requirements. Generally, counselling records are retained for at least seven (7) years after your last contact with us. If a client is a minor, records are kept until the minor turns 25 years of age, unless other legal obligations require a longer period.
Access and Correction
​You may request access to the personal and sensitive information we hold about you and ask us to correct any inaccuracies. Requests should be made in writing via info@dashabrailko.com. We will respond to your request in a reasonable timeframe, in accordance with the Privacy Act and relevant NSW legislation.
Anonymity
Due to the nature of therapeutic services, we generally require correct identifying details to provide safe and effective counselling. If you prefer not to disclose your name (or certain information), we will discuss whether it is feasible to deliver services on that basis. However, in most cases, anonymity or pseudonyms may compromise the quality of care.
Identifiers
We will not use or share government identifiers (e.g., Medicare numbers) for any purpose other than those directly related to providing or billing for counselling services, unless required by law.
How to Make a Complaint About a Privacy Breach
If you have concerns about how we manage your personal information or believe we have breached your privacy, please contact us in writing at info@dashabrailko.com. We take all privacy-related complaints seriously and will investigate and respond promptly.
If you are dissatisfied with our response, you may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at https://www.oaic.gov.au.