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Our Commitment to Confidentiality & Privacy

At Therapeutic Axis, your safety, trust, and privacy are paramount. The content of your discussions is strictly confidential. We adhere to the highest ethical and legal standards required by all our professional bodies (APS, PACFA, and AASW) and Australian law.

The Rule: Absolute Privacy

The nature and content of your discussions with your therapist, as well as the fact that you are a client of Therapeutic Axis, are confidential. Your therapist will only speak to someone else about you, or let them know you are a client, if they have your written permission.

The Exceptions: Mandatory Limits to Confidentiality

The following are the few legal and ethical exceptions where disclosure may occur without your permission. These are designed to protect you, your family, or the community.

Duty of Care (Protecting Life) – Disclosure is required if your therapist has reasonable grounds to believe that disclosure is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to life, health, or safety of:

  • Yourself (e.g., you are in danger of killing or doing serious physical harm to yourself).
  • Somebody else (e.g., you plan to do serious physical harm to another person).

Mandatory Reporting of Child Harm (NSW Law) – All practitioners at Therapeutic Axis are mandatory reporters under NSW law. We are required to report when we have reasonable grounds to suspect a child (under 16) is at Risk of Significant Harm (ROSH).

  • This is a legal obligation that supersedes confidentiality.
  • Risk of Significant Harm includes suspected physical or sexual abuse, neglect, serious psychological harm (such as exposure to domestic violence), or a failure to meet basic needs.

Legal Subpoenas

If legal proceedings are taken out against Therapeutic Axis or yourself, your therapist and/or your file may be subpoenaed by a court of law.

  • Should this occur, you would be informed.
  • Your therapist is required to provide the subpoenaed information to the court. 

Professional Supervision & Internal Consultation

  • Supervision: Your therapist regularly undertakes clinical supervision to ensure objectivity, clarity, and quality of care, as required by their professional body. In these sessions, identifying details will not be disclosed.
  • Internal Consultation: Therapists may consult with each other within Therapeutic Axis. Should you have any personal or family relationship with another staff member, please advise your therapist to ensure your case is not discussed with that person.

Client Records & Information Use

We manage your records in compliance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW).

Storage and Retention

  • Client Files (Notes, Sessions) are stored securely in a locked filing cabinet and can only be accessed by your own therapist, except in case of emergency.
  • Retention Period for Adults: Records must be kept for seven years from the date of last service.
  • Retention Period for Minors (Under 18): Records must be kept until the client turns 25 years of age.
  • Intake Information is accessed by your therapist and administration only. Summary, non-identifiable data may be used for statistical analysis of the practice.

Your Right to Access Your Information

You are entitled to see the information that is kept about you and have a right to a copy of that material.

  • We require one weeks notice for access
  • You can request corrections to information you can demonstrate is wrong
  • Therapeutic Axis reserves the right to deny access to information if it would pose a risk to the life or health of you or another person. 

If you are satisfied with our commitment to your privacy, we invite you to take the next step towards support. You can read more about starting psychotherapy with our team in Inner West Sydney.

Website Privacy & Contact

Website Data

When you visit our website, we collect non-identifiable technical data (e.g., browser type, date/time of visit). We use cookies to understand site usage and improve your experience. We do not combine this with information that will identify you.

Further Information or Concerns

If you would like further information, or have any concerns about our management of your personal information, please contact our office on (02) 96929788 or email to enquiries@therapeuticaxis.com.au.