Privacy and Confidentiality Policy

At Yangennanock: Child Play Therapy, we are committed to protecting the privacy, dignity, and well-being of all children, young people, and families who engage with our services. This policy outlines how we manage personal information and uphold confidentiality in accordance with professional, ethical, and legal requirements.

1. Collection of Information

We collect personal and sensitive information directly from you (and, where appropriate, from your child, family members, or referring professionals) to provide effective therapeutic services. This may include:

Contact details (name, address, phone, email)
Demographic information (age, gender, cultural background, family composition)
Relevant medical, developmental, and educational history
Information shared during therapy sessions, assessments, or consultations

2. Use of Information

Personal information is used solely for the purposes of:

Delivering safe and effective therapy services
Developing treatment plans, progress and clinical notes
Communicating with families, caregivers, and other professionals (with consent)
Meeting legal, ethical, and regulatory obligations

3. Storage and Security

All records are stored securely, either electronically with password protection or in locked physical files.
Only authorised staff and therapists directly involved in your care have access to this information.
Records are retained in line with professional guidelines and legislative requirements before being safely destroyed.

4. Confidentiality

Confidentiality is central to the therapeutic process. Information shared in therapy will not be disclosed to others without your consent, except where required by law. Situations where confidentiality may be legally or ethically broken include:

Risk of harm to self or others
Concerns of abuse, neglect, or significant harm to a child or vulnerable person
Legal obligations such as court orders or subpoenas

Where possible, you will be informed if information needs to be disclosed.

5. Sharing Information

With your written consent, information may be shared with schools, doctors, or other professionals to support your child’s care.
Only relevant and necessary information will be provided.
You may withdraw or limit consent at any time.

6. Access to Information

You have the right to request access to your personal information, or request corrections, subject to legal and professional guidelines. Requests can be made in writing to your therapist.

7. Professional Standards

All therapists at Yangennanock: Child Play Therapy, adhere to the Australasian Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA), and relevant privacy legislation. This includes maintaining professional records, respecting cultural safety, and ensuring that children’s rights to privacy and safety are upheld.

8. Complaints

If you have concerns about how your information is being managed, you can:

Raise it directly with your therapist.
Submit a written complaint to our service director.
If unresolved, lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) or the relevant professional association.

9. Mandatory Reporting

All therapists at Yangennanock: Child Play Therapy, are mandatory reporters under Australian child protection legislation. This means:

If a therapist has reasonable grounds to believe that a child is at risk of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or significant harm, they are legally required to make a report to the relevant child protection authority.
Mandatory reporting is not optional and cannot be overridden by client or caregiver consent.
Reports are made to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the child, and wherever appropriate, families will be informed that a report has been made.

10. Contact

For questions regarding this policy or the management of your information, please contact:

Madison Grey
Yangennanock: Child Play Therapy
playtherapywithmadi@hotmail.com, 0409902854

Yangennanock: Child Play Therapy