As an private client in our service, The Abbwell Group, we need your consent to collect, store, and use your personal information to effectively deliver services. Please review this form carefully along with the Service Agreement, and sign it if you agree to the stated terms.
Protection of Your Sensitive Information
We respect your privacy and dignity. Thus, we only collect sensitive information like health, medical, and disability-related information when it’s needed for service provision and only if:
- You provide explicit consent, or
- We’re legally required to do so.
Counselling & Equine Assisted Therapy
Counselling provides a safe and confidential space for you to explore thoughts and feelings, behaviours and relationships that may be troubling you or causing difficulty in your life. It offers a source of support in times of crisis. There are many times when we need someone to walk with us through difficult, challenging, or confusing situations. However, counselling does require you to actively participate in this journey; as a counsellor we can support you, but we cannot do your work for you during these challenging times.
Counselling can enable some deeper personal insights and help you find better ways of coping with problems. However, there is also potential for strong emotions, uncomfortable feelings and difficult memories to surface due to the nature of the conversations; to master these always requires honesty, and sometimes bravery also. It should also be mentioned that it is not the role of the counsellor to “fix”.
Please note that as we live in a small community, we will maintain your confidentiality should we cross paths in public. Should you wish to acknowledge a member of our team or initiate a brief conversation, we am very happy to speak with you, however at no time will we speak of personal issues outside of the counselling context. It is also completely safe and acceptable for you not to acknowledge us in an effort to maintain your confidentiality.
Your Consent
Before you give consent, our Workers will explain how we will use your data and who it may be disclosed to. They will ensure you understand everything clearly, providing assistance such as interpreter services or legal aid, as necessary. This consent can be amended at any time.
Informing You about Your Information
We will regularly inform you about how your information is used and stored. You have a right to access, correct your data, or lodge a complaint. Should you prefer, we encourage your involvement with family, friends, or chosen community in this process.
Information Collected
We may collect the following personal information: Participant details, Identifiers, Service details, medical information, Financial information, and Interaction records. We may collect recorded material such as audio/visual formats.
How We Collect Information
We may gather your information from our website, your correspondence with us, forms filled by you, face-to-face interactions, events, third-party referrals, or government agencies.
Purpose of Information Collection
We use this information to customise your support plans, answer inquiries, manage and improve our services, adhere to legal obligations, inform you about our activities, perform research, and improve your website experience.
Third-Party Disclosures
We may disclose your data to NDIS Commission, funding providers, external auditors, regulatory bodies, law enforcement, courts, financial institutions, or external service providers, as necessary for service provision, legal compliance, or based on your authorisation.
Access to Your Personal Information and Complaints
The Abbwell Group Privacy and Information Management Policy includes information about how you can access your personal information we hold, and how to make a complaint about a breach of your privacy or the Privacy Act, which will be dealt in accordance with our Feedback and Complaints Policy.
Handling of Privacy Breaches
Any breach or alleged breach of your privacy will be taken seriously. Such incidents will be reported and managed as per our Incident Management Policy.
Contacting Us
For questions, concerns, or to request a copy of our Privacy and Information Management Policy, Feedback and Complaints Policy, or Incident Management Policy, please contact us at 07 4179 0730 or admin@abbwell.com.au.
Withdrawal of Consent
If you would like to adjust your consent regarding specific uses of your personal information by The Abbwell Group, you will be able to indicate your preferences by checking the corresponding boxes below on the final form:
- Participation in NDIS audits and other quality assurance activities associated with maintaining The Abbwell Group’s status as a registered NDIS provider.
- Participation in quality assurance activities including surveys, research, and complaint resolution.
- Inclusion in The Abbwell Group promotional activities and events.
- Receiving the The Abbwell Group newsletter. You may opt out at any time.
- Consent to the use of your personal information for the recruitment of employees, contractors, and volunteers.
- Involvement in the evaluation of The Abbwell Group’s services and external reporting.
- Use of your data for internal training and operational processes.
- Receipt of marketing communications from The Abbwell Group. You may opt out at any time.
- Permission for photos to be published on The Abbwell Group’s website or social media profiles.
- Information about me may be provided to other service providers.
- Information may be provided to appropriate authorities such as health professionals, pharmacy, medical specialists etc.
Sharing My Information
- I consent for you to disclose my / the participant’s information to: (speak to your Counsellor and you can nominate people here)
- Irrespective of any request received, I direct you NOT to provide my / the participant’s personal information to: (speak to your Counsellor and you can nominate people here)
Future Withdrawal or Amendment of Consent
Please remember that your consent continues until you provide us with instructions to the contrary. You can withdraw or amend your consent to The Abbwell Group using your personal information at any time by providing written notice to The Abbwell Group.
By signing the form, you confirm that you understand and agree to the use of your personal information as outlined above by The Abbwell Group.