In order to provide therapeutic psychology services, Koira Psychology will collect and record personal information relevant to your situation.
Purpose of collecting and holding information
Any personal information gathered as part of your assessment and treatment process will be kept securely and, in the interests of your privacy, used only by your psychologist and the authorised personnel of the practice (as necessary). Your personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions, assisting your psychologist to provide a relevant and informed service to you.
Access to client information
You are entitled to access your personal information kept on file, unless relevant legislation states otherwise. If you require access to your information please discuss this with your psychologist.
Disclosure of personal information
Personal information gathered by your psychologist during the provision of services is considered confidential and will not be disclosed to another party except when:
your prior approval has been obtained to:
provide a written report to another professional or agency. eg. a Doctor or Psychiatrist
discuss your care with another person, eg. a Legal Guardian, or Health Care Provider; or
it is subpoenaed by a court; or
failure to disclose the information would in the reasonable belief of your psychologist place you or another person at serious risk of harm; or
disclosure is otherwise required by law.
Before engaging with psychology services, clients need to understand there are three kinds of disclosures in psychological practice:
-Legally obligated disclosure such as mandatory reporting of abuse or responding to a subpoena
-Allowable disclosure, for example, when a psychologist reasonably believes disclosure is necessary to prevent serious harm to a client or others
-Contractual disclosure, such as obligations to third-party payers like Medicare. For example, whenproviding services under Medicare, psychologists are obliged to send the referring GP a brief summary report about the treatment after a designated number of sessions. However, if you are self-referred, reports are not sent to your GP. You will receive Koira's Privacy Policy by email, which covers this information and discusses how your personal information will be handled.
The Privacy Act
In March 2014, the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) replaced the National Privacy Principles and Information Privacy Principles. The Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) is an Australian law which regulates the handling of personal information about individuals. This includes the collection, use, storage and disclosure of personal information, and access to and correction of that information. The Privacy Act includes 13 Australian privacy Principles that apply to the handling of personal information. Click here for Privacy fact sheet 17 (Australian Privacy Principles)http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-act/the-privacy-act
From 1 December 2025, psychologists must adhere to the Psychology Board of Australia's Code of Conduct, which will replace the APS Code of Ethics as the profession's regulatory standard.
This shift reflects a national move toward unified standards across all regulated health professions.
Will the things I discuss in therapy be kept private?
Koira Psychology complies with relevant privacy laws and regulations. They stay updated on any changes in privacy legislation to ensure ongoing adherence to best practices in protecting client privacy. Client records and information are securely stored and accessible only to authorized personnel. Koira Psychology utilizes secure electronic systems and physical safeguards to protect client data from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse.
Is confidentiality absolute in psychology?
No. While confidentiality is foundational to building trust and therapeutic safety, it is not unlimited.
Psychologists at Koira understand that for people to feel comfortable talking about private and revealing information, they need a safe place to talk about anything they’d like, without fear of that information leaving the room. Psychologists follow strict guidelines for professional conduct and confidentiality, and information will remain confidential unless you give your permission to release it. For example, you may wish your psychologist to discuss your care with your other health care professionals to coordinate your care.
Can my psychologist discuss client cases during supervision or training?
Yes, your psychologist can discuss client cases during supervision or training if the information is de-identified. At Koira Psychology, we ensure that not only our clients' names are removed, all other sensitive and unique, identifiable known history are protected and remain confidential during peer supervision and training purposes.
If I access EAP, will my employer know I saw a psychologist and what will they know?
Koira Psychology do not give information to Employers about who has utilised services, or the information that is discussed within your sessions. You will usually have a number of sessions that has been approved by your employer – identified by number of sessions per employee. Your organisation is billed with hours that you have utilised. If you feel you need support, please discuss with your HR Department how you can access our Employment Assistance Program.