Privacy Policy

5 BEFORE 5 SOLUTIONS PTY LTD is committed to providing quality services to you, and this policy outlines our ongoing obligations to you in respect of how we manage your Personal Information.

We have adopted the National Privacy Principles (NPPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act). The NPPs govern the way in which we collect, use, disclose, store, secure, and dispose of your Personal Information.

A copy of the Australian Privacy Principles may be obtained from the website of The Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner at www.privacy.gov.au.

What is Personal Information and Why Do We Collect It?

Personal Information is information or an opinion that identifies an individual. Examples of Personal Information we collect include: names, addresses, email addresses, phone and facsimile numbers, along with personal documentation.

We collect your Personal Information for the primary purpose of providing our services to you, providing information to our database in order to assure you that you receive the assistance that is requested from 5 BEFORE 5 SOLUTIONS PTY LTD. When we collect Personal Information, we will, where appropriate and where possible, explain to you why we are collecting the information and how we plan to use it.

Sensitive Information

Sensitive information is defined in the Privacy Act to include information or opinion about such things as an individual’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of a political association, religious or philosophical beliefs, membership of a trade union or other professional body, criminal record, or health information.

Sensitive information will be used by us only:

• For the primary purpose for which it was obtained

• For a secondary purpose that is directly related to the primary purpose

• With your consent; or where required or authorised by law.

Third Parties

Where reasonable and practicable to do so, we will collect your Personal Information only from you.

However, in some circumstances, we may be provided with information by third parties. In such a case, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that you are made aware of the information provided to us by the third party.

Disclosure of Personal Information

Your Personal Information may be disclosed in a number of circumstances, including the following:

• Third parties where you consent to the use or disclosure; and

• Where required or authorised by law.

Access to Your Personal Information

You may access the Personal Information we hold about you and to update and/or correct it, subject to certain exceptions. If you wish to access your Personal Information, please contact us in writing.

5 BEFORE 5 SOLUTIONS PTY LTD will not charge any fee for your access request but may charge an administrative fee for providing a copy of your Personal Information. In order to protect your Personal Information, we may require identification from you before releasing the requested information.

Maintaining the Quality of Your Personal Information

It is important to us that your Personal Information is up to date. We will take reasonable steps to make sure that your Personal Information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. If you find that the information we have is not up to date or is inaccurate, please advise us as soon as practicable so we can update our records and ensure we can continue to provide quality services to you.

Social Media Privacy Policy

The intention for using social media is for marketing, education, advocacy, and providing content that viewers may find useful. A counselling relationship is a professional relationship, and in today’s technological climate, a social media presence or following your counsellor on social media is not to be confused with a relationship outside of sessions. Ethical, professional, and therapeutic boundaries must be followed and honoured. To maintain confidentiality, if you are a client, you can follow us on social media; however, it is recommended that you do not engage, comment, share, or react to content from your counsellor’s social media pages.

Direct messaging is another risk to your privacy. Remember, commenting and messaging between sessions is not a confidential or encouraged means of communication. Please schedule an official session to discuss, explore, and ask any treatment-related questions or concerns. Social media is not an appropriate medium for sharing therapeutic concerns, questions, comments, or reaching out in crisis to your counsellor. When you direct message, you may not be interacting with the counsellor directly. Comments and messages are monitored by social media admins and staff.

A counsellor’s social media page is not therapy, a replacement for a professional counselling relationship, or a substitute for mental health care. A social media presence as a counselling professional is not seeking an endorsement or rating from past or current clients. No social media posts should be considered professional advice. The information contained in posts is general information for educational purposes only.

We do not offer counselling via DMs or give personal opinions to questions.

We honour ourselves and others by deleting or blocking people who are disrespectful, demeaning, or ill-spirited. We understand that you may not agree with all our posts and you may find our posts unhelpful to you, so we invite you to unfollow or block us whenever you want. Counsellor isn’t our identity; it’s our occupation. We are human. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, you should call 000 or admit yourself to your nearest hospital or Emergency Room. Alternatively, you should call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for free 24-hour crisis and suicide prevention support.