Privacy Policy - Benchmark Psychology

BENCHMARK PSYCHOLOGY PRIVACY POLICY

Introduction:

Benchmark Psychology Pty Ltd ACN 161 852 820 (“Benchmark”) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our clients, students, website visitors, and individuals who engage with our services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, store, use, disclose, and manage Personal Information in compliance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). This policy applies to Benchmark Psychology Pty Ltd, and all of its related entities including but not limited to; Supervisor Training and Approval Program, Psychology, Psychology Registrar Endorsement Program, Benchmark STEPS, and Find a Supervisor.

Personal Information Collected:

We collect Personal Information that is reasonably necessary for our business operations as a provider of clinical psychology services, education, training, and related resources and services. This information may include:

Names, contact details, and demographic and professional information.
Health information relevant to the provision of psychological services (with your consent).
Academic and assessment-related information for students in our training programs.
Website usage information collected through cookies and similar technologies.

We may collect this information directly from you or from third parties when necessary and permitted by law.

No personally identifying information is collected routinely as a result of your interactions with our website(s). However, the provision of our website does collect key information such as browser type, IP address and operating system as part of tailoring the delivery of your online experience.

Use and Disclosure of Personal Information:

We collect Personal Information for the following purposes:

To provide clinical psychology services and educational training programs.
To maintain and improve the quality of our services and educational offerings.
To communicate with you about our services, events, and resources.
To operate and administer our website and online platforms.
To share (with your consent) in order to facilitate collaboration and networking.
To comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

We may disclose Personal Information to:

Our employees, contractors, and service providers who assist us in delivering our services.
Government agencies, regulatory bodies, and professional associations as required by law.
Third-party providers of secure online platforms used for professional collaboration and resource sharing.

We will take reasonable steps to ensure that any third parties we share your information with comply with the APPs and protect your privacy.

Data Security:

We take reasonable precautions to protect your Personal Information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercial best practice means to protect your Personal Information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Data Retention Periods:

Benchmark will retain Personal Information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. We have established the following data retention periods:

Client Information: Personal Information collected for the provision of clinical psychology services will be retained for seven (7) years following the last date of service, unless a longer retention period is required by law.
Student Information: Personal Information related to educational and training programs will be retained for the duration of the program and for 18 months thereafter for reporting and audit purposes. Contact and completion information will be retained for a period of us to five (5) years to assist with reminders for refresher due dates
Website Usage Data: Non-personally identifiable website usage data collected through cookies and similar technologies will be retained for 26 months for analysis and improvement purposes.

Data Breach Notification:

In the unlikely event of a data breach that compromises the security of Personal Information, Benchmark will promptly investigate the incident and notify affected individuals and relevant authorities in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. We will take reasonable steps to mitigate the harm caused by the breach and implement additional security measures as needed.

Sensitive Information:

When we collect sensitive information, such as health-related data, we implement additional security measures to protect its confidentiality and integrity. This may include encryption, restricted access controls, and regular audits of our security practices.

Cookies:

We may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our website, analyze website traffic, and personalize content. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent.

Accessing and Correcting Your Personal Information:

You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your Personal Information held by us. Please contact our Privacy Officer using the details below.

Overseas Disclosure:

In some cases, we may need to disclose Personal Information to overseas recipients, such as cloud service providers located outside Australia. We will only do so if we are satisfied that the recipient will handle your information in accordance with the APPs.

Anonymized Data:

We may use anonymized or de-identified data derived from Personal Information for research, statistical analysis, or other purposes that do not identify individuals. Anonymized data is no longer considered Personal Information and is not subject to the restrictions of this Privacy Policy.

Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten):

You have the right to request the erasure of your Personal Information held by us, subject to certain exceptions allowed by law. To exercise this right, please contact our Privacy Officer using the contact details provided below. We will assess your request and take reasonable steps to delete your Personal Information if it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or if you withdraw your consent (where applicable).

Changes to this Privacy Policy:

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. We encourage you to review the latest version of this policy on our website.

Privacy Contact:

If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy practices, please contact our Privacy Officer:

C/o Benchmark Psychology

Suite 204

4/16-18 Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road

Loganholme Qld 4129

info@benchmarkpsychology.com.au

Definitions:

Personal Information: Information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable.
APPs: Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

By using our services or accessing our website, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your Personal Information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Version 1.4.1 Privacy Policy (effective April 2024)