Privacy Policy

Ocean Blue Social Work and Counselling (ABN 48 425 106 519) is an independent practice owned and operated by Tara Macdonald.

This Privacy Policy explains how we handle your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988, the Australian Privacy Principles 2014, and other applicable privacy legislation.

This policy will be provided to you prior to, or within your first session, along with a request for personal information. A Privacy Consent Form will also be provided and discussed at your initial session or prior to services commencing, and you will receive a copy for your records. Further discussions can be had during your initial session.

Collection of Personal Information

Ocean Blue Social Work and Counselling may collect personal information such as:

• Contact details (name, address, phone, email)

• Personal health and medical information

• Emergency contact details (e.g., next of kin or nominated support person)

• Details required for billing, rebates, or funding claims

This information is collected to ensure high-quality supports, including therapeutic treatment. It is also used for the administrative purposes of running the practice, such as billing, confirming details, and verifying entitlements with Services Australia, insurance providers, or other funding schemes.

Funding Bodies

Where your services are funded or subsidised, Ocean Blue Social Work and Counselling may need to collect, use, and share limited information with the relevant funding body or third party, including:

• Medicare – for Mental Health Treatment Plans and Chronic Disease Management Plans. Reports are required at mid-review and final review stages to your referring practitioner.

• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) – to confirm eligibility, funding categories, and provide progress updates in line with your plan and goals.

• Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) – to confirm treatment approvals and entitlements.

• Private Health Insurers – where rebates are claimed for counselling or therapeutic services.

• Aged Care/Home Care Packages – where counselling or social work supports are accessed through your provider.

• WorkCover – where services are provided following a workplace injury, requiring reporting to WorkCover and/or your treating GP.

Only information necessary for funding compliance and ongoing treatment will be shared, and this will be handled securely.

Duty of Care and Legal Obligations

Ocean Blue Social Work and Counselling has a professional and legal duty of care. Information may be disclosed without your consent if:

• You are at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others

• A child is considered to be at risk of harm

• A court subpoena legally requires disclosure of records

Storage and Security of Information

All personal information is stored securely. Only Ocean Blue Social Work and Counselling has access to this information. We take all reasonable steps to ensure your records are accurate, complete, and up-to-date.

You have the right to access your personal information and request corrections where necessary. If you choose not to provide certain details, assessments may be incomplete, which may impact the therapy or supports provided.

Payment Information

Ocean Blue Social Work and Counselling processes payments through Tyro Health (online claiming system).

• Credit card details are collected solely for payment processing.

• Information is not disclosed to third parties except banks and payment processors necessary for the transaction.

• Tyro Health uses encryption and other safeguards to protect your data.

• In the unlikely event of a data breach, Tyro Health will notify you and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner in line with the Privacy Act 1988.

You can view Tyro Health’s Privacy Policy here: Tyro Health Privacy Policy.

Access and Enquiries

You may request access to your personal information at any time. Exceptions and fees may apply in limited circumstances.

If you have any concerns or questions about this policy or how your information is managed, please contact:

Tara Macdonald
📧 Email: tara.macdonald@oceanbluesocialwork.com.au
📞 Phone: 0493 187 663

Policy Availability and Updates

This Privacy Policy is available on request and may be updated from time to time. Any amendments will be incorporated into the updated version, which will be provided to you.