Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 2026
The Centre for Anxiety & OCD (CAO) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly. This policy explains how we collect, use, store and disclose your personal information, in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and applicable Queensland health privacy legislation.
1. Who we are
The Centre for Anxiety & OCD operates psychology clinics on the Gold Coast (Queensland) and in Adelaide (South Australia). We provide psychological assessment and treatment services to individuals, children, adolescents and adults.
If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your information, please contact us using the details at the end of this document.
2. What personal information we collect
We may collect the following types of personal information:
Name, date of birth, and contact details (phone number, email address, postal address)
Information about who you are enquiring on behalf of (e.g. a child or family member)
Health and sensitive information, including presenting concerns, mental health history, and clinical notes
Medicare, referral, and health fund details (where applicable)
Preferences regarding appointment days, consultation mode, and psychologist gender
Emergency contact information
3. How we collect your information
We collect personal information in the following ways:
Directly from you via our website intake form, telephone, email, or in person at our clinics
From referrers such as GPs, psychiatrists, and other health professionals (with your consent)
Through our practice management software (Halaxy)
Through third-party form processing services used on our website (currently Web3Forms), which transmit your enquiry data to our team by email and do not retain it on their servers
4. Why we collect your information
We collect and use your personal information to:
Match you with an appropriate psychologist based on your presenting concerns and preferences
Schedule and manage appointments
Provide psychological assessment and treatment services
Communicate with you regarding your care
Process Medicare rebates and health fund claims
Meet our legal, regulatory and professional obligations
Improve our services
5. Health and sensitive information
Information about your mental health and presenting concerns is sensitive information under the Privacy Act. We only collect this information where it is necessary for providing our services, and we handle it with the utmost care and confidentiality.
When you use our online intake form, you may be asked to indicate your area of concern. This information is transmitted securely to our administration team for the sole purpose of matching you with an appropriate psychologist and scheduling your appointment. It is not used for any other purpose.
6. How we store and protect your information
Your personal and health information is stored securely in Halaxy, our practice management software, which is purpose-built for Australian healthcare providers and compliant with Australian privacy legislation. Halaxy uses industry-standard encryption and security practices.
Our administration team members access your information only to the extent necessary to provide our services. We do not store client enquiry data in third-party form services beyond what is required to deliver your enquiry to our team.
Paper records, where used, are stored securely at our clinic premises.
7. Who we share your information with
We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
Treating practitioners: with your consent, we may communicate with your referring GP or other treating health professionals
Service providers: third-party providers who assist us in operating our practice (such as our practice management software and website form processing services), under confidentiality obligations
Legal obligations: where required or authorised by law, including mandatory reporting obligations
Safety: where we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to prevent a serious threat to your life, health or safety, or that of another person
We will not disclose your information to overseas recipients except where required by law or where you have provided explicit consent.
8. Your rights
Under the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to:
Access the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate or outdated information
Make a complaint about how we have handled your information
Withdraw consent for us to use your information (noting this may affect our ability to provide services)
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below.
9. Website and cookies
Our website is hosted on Squarespace. Squarespace may collect certain technical information (such as your IP address and browser type) through cookies and analytics tools. Please refer to Squarespace's privacy policy for further information. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.
Our online intake form uses Web3Forms to transmit your enquiry to our administration team. Web3Forms does not retain your submission data after delivery. Please refer to the Web3Forms privacy policy for further information.
10. Complaints
If you believe we have handled your personal information inappropriately, please contact us in the first instance so we can attempt to resolve the matter. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or by calling 1300 363 992.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The current version will always be available on our website. We encourage you to review it periodically.
12. Contact us
Centre for Anxiety & OCD
Gold Coast, Queensland | Adelaide, South Australia
Phone: 07 5681 0775
Email: info@caogoldcoast.com