Child & Family Therapists
Child & Family Therapists
Privacy Policy & Confidentiality Statement
Nurtured Minds Toowoomba
Effective From: February 1st 2026
At Nurtured Minds Toowoomba, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of children, young people, and families who access our counselling and therapy services. We understand that personal information shared in therapy is highly sensitive, and we treat it with the utmost care and respect.
This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect personal information, and explains the limits of confidentiality in counselling.
1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy
2. Collection of Personal Information
We collect only the information necessary to provide safe and effective counselling services. This may include:
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Child or young person’s name, date of birth, and contact details
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Parent/guardian names and contact details
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Emergency contact information
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Relevant medical, psychological, developmental, educational, and family history
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Session notes and clinical assessments
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Reports (where applicable)
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Billing and payment information
Information is generally collected directly from parents/guardians and/or clients. With appropriate consent, information may also be collected from other professionals involved in the child or young person’s care (e.g., GPs, schools, allied health providers).
Personal information is collected and used for the purpose of:
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Providing counselling and therapeutic services
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Developing treatment plans and maintaining clinical records
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Communicating with parents/guardians and clients
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Coordinating care with other professionals (with consent)
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Meeting legal, ethical, and professional obligations
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Billing and administrative requirements
We do not sell, rent, or share personal information for marketing purposes.
3. Use of Personal Information
4. Storage and Protection of Information
Nurtured Minds Toowoomba takes reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.
Client records may be stored in:
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Secure electronic practice management systems (password-protected and encrypted where applicable)
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Locked filing systems for any paper-based records
Access to client records is restricted to authorised persons only.
Records are retained in accordance with Australian legal requirements and professional standards. After the required retention period, records are securely destroyed.
5. Client Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a fundamental part of the therapeutic relationship. Information shared in counselling sessions will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed without appropriate consent, except where required or permitted by law.
Working with Children and Young People
When working with children and adolescents, we aim to balance:
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The young person’s right to privacy
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The parent/guardian’s legal rights and responsibilities
Parents/guardians generally provide consent for treatment; however, to foster trust and openness, young clients are often given a level of privacy within sessions.
Parents/guardians may receive general updates about progress, themes being addressed, and recommendations. Specific details disclosed in sessions may remain confidential unless there are safety concerns or legal obligations requiring disclosure.
6. Limits to Confidentiality
There are circumstances where confidentiality cannot be maintained. These include:
Risk of Harm
If a client is at risk of serious harm to themselves or others, reasonable steps will be taken to ensure safety. This may include informing parents/guardians, emergency contacts, or relevant authorities.
Mandatory Reporting
As required under Queensland law, if there is a reasonable suspicion that a child is experiencing abuse or neglect, a report may be made to Child Safety Services or relevant authorities.
Court Orders or Legal Requirements
If records are subpoenaed or a court orders disclosure, we may be legally required to release information.
Professional Supervision and Consultation
To maintain high standards of care, clinical supervision or professional consultation may occur. Identifying information is minimised wherever possible.
Legal or Regulatory Obligations
Information may be disclosed if required by law or by a professional regulatory body.
Where possible and appropriate, clients and/or parents/guardians will be informed before information is disclosed.
Informed consent is obtained prior to the commencement of counselling services. For clients under 18 years of age, consent is required from a parent or legal guardian, unless otherwise permitted by law.
Clients and parents/guardians may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal and professional obligations.
7. Consent
8. Access to Personal Information
Clients and/or parents/guardians may request access to personal information held by Nurtured Minds Toowoomba, subject to applicable laws.
Requests must be made in writing to:
Nurtured Minds Toowoomba
Email: admin@nurturedmindstwb.com
Requests to correct inaccurate information will be responded to within a reasonable timeframe.
While reasonable precautions are taken to secure electronic communication (including email and telehealth platforms), no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure.
By choosing to communicate electronically or participate in telehealth sessions, clients acknowledge and accept these inherent risks.
9. Electronic Communication and Telehealth
Our website may collect non-identifiable information such as cookies or website analytics data to improve user experience.
Information submitted through website contact forms is used solely to respond to enquiries and is not shared for marketing purposes.
10. Website Privacy
11. Complaints or Concerns
If you have any concerns about privacy or confidentiality, please contact:
Nurtured Minds Toowoomba
Email: admin@nurturedmindstwb.com
Phone: 0404 116 137
If concerns are not resolved, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) or the relevant professional regulatory body.
Nurtured Minds Toowoomba is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and confidential environment for children, young people, and families.