Goldfields Counselling & Wellbeing Services
Last updated: 4 November 2026
Your privacy matters to me. This policy explains how I collect, use, store and protect personal information in my counselling practice.
I manage personal and health information in accordance with applicable Australian privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic).
I collect information reasonably needed to respond to enquiries, arrange appointments and provide counselling. This may include:
Your name, contact details and emergency contact.
Relevant personal, family and wellbeing history.
Information about your concerns, goals and counselling needs.
Consent forms, counselling plans, session notes and correspondence.
Appointment, invoicing and payment records.
Please provide only basic contact information in your initial enquiry. We can discuss more sensitive information during the intake process.
Information is generally collected directly from you through conversations, intake forms, counselling sessions and correspondence. Where appropriate and with consent, I may also collect relevant information from a parent, carer or another professional.
I use this information to provide and plan counselling, communicate with you, manage appointments and payments, and meet professional and legal obligations.
You may make a general enquiry without identifying yourself or sharing your personal circumstances. If you choose not to provide information needed for counselling, this may limit the support I can offer.
Counselling conversations and records are confidential, subject to legal and professional obligations.
Information may be shared:
With your consent, including when coordinating support with another professional.
Where required or permitted by law, including relevant child protection and reporting obligations.
Where legally permitted to address a serious threat to someone’s life, health or safety.
In response to a valid subpoena, court order or other legal requirement.
Where possible and appropriate, I will discuss disclosure with you beforehand and limit the information shared to what is necessary.
I participate in professional supervision to support the quality of my counselling. Client information discussed in supervision is de-identified wherever practicable.
Children and young people also have a right to privacy.
Before counselling begins, I clarify consent arrangements, parent or carer involvement, and how information will be shared. These arrangements take account of the young person’s understanding, maturity, safety, family circumstances and applicable legal requirements.
Where parent or guardian consent is required, I confirm that the person providing it has the appropriate authority.
Parent or carer updates focus on information needed to support the young person’s wellbeing and safety. They do not automatically include a detailed account of sessions or access to all counselling notes. Requests for information are considered individually and in accordance with applicable law.
Counselling documents are password protected and stored locally on my own PC. Backups are kept on a private, secure external hard drive. These documents are not synced to OneDrive.
I take reasonable steps to protect personal information from loss, misuse and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
Records are retained for the periods required by applicable law and securely destroyed when they are no longer required.
Online counselling is conducted through Zoom and is available only to clients who are physically located in Australia at the time of their appointment.
I do not record sessions or use AI recording, transcription or meeting-summary tools during sessions. Please do not record sessions without discussing this with me and obtaining agreement beforehand.
Zoom processes information needed to operate its service, even when sessions are not recorded. Its handling of information is explained in the Zoom Privacy Statement.
My website is hosted through Google Sites. Enquiries can be made by phone, email or Facebook Messenger.
Please keep initial enquiries brief and avoid sending sensitive counselling information through Facebook Messenger. Email and online messaging have privacy and security limitations. We can discuss an appropriate way to communicate about your care.
Google, Meta and Zoom handle information through their services under their own privacy policies. Depending on the service and account arrangements, information may be processed or stored outside Australia, including in the United States and other countries where these providers operate.
This can occur even when you and I are both located in Australia. Locally stored counselling documents are separate from correspondence and information processed through these services.
You may contact me to request access to your personal information or ask for a correction.
I will verify your identity and consider your request in accordance with applicable law. Access may be limited or refused where a lawful exception applies, including where another person’s privacy or serious safety concerns are involved.
If I cannot grant your request, I will explain the reason where required and advise you of available complaint options. Any permitted access fees will be explained in advance.
Please contact me if you have a question or concern about how your information is handled.
I will acknowledge your complaint, review the circumstances and aim to provide a written response within 30 days. If more time is needed, I will let you know.
If your concern remains unresolved, you may contact:
Melanie Nash
Goldfields Counselling & Wellbeing Services
Maryborough, Victoria
Phone: 0457 192 347
Email: goldfieldscounselling@gmail.com
This policy may be updated when my services, information-handling arrangements or legal obligations change. The current version will be available on this website.