Privacy Policy

We are Connecting Mental Health and we are based in New South Wales, Australia. We are committed to protecting your privacy and respecting and upholding your rights when you use this Site. This Privacy Policy applies to the products and/or services we provide on our Site (“Site”) and our social media channels, and explains how we collect, hold, use and disclose data and comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and constitutes part of our Website Terms & Conditions. This Privacy Policy does not cover information that you submit on other websites, even if we communicate with you on those sites. For example, if you post something on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or YouTube, that information is governed by the privacy policies on those websites, and is not governed by this Privacy Policy.

You can contact us for privacy-related questions by completing the form on our Contact page.

We will only use your personal information in compliance with Australian Privacy Laws (Privacy Act (1988 (Cth)), Australian Privacy Principles and to the extent applicable, with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and any replacement legislation or regulation or guidelines and standards governing the use, storage or transmission of personal data.

From the moment you visit our Site, we are collecting data, sometimes you might provide this data by completing a form or setting up an account, otherwise we might collect the data automatically. We may also collect data when:

You purchase a gift card for redemption on our Site
You purchase an online course, webinar, program or service
You interact with us on social media
You complete any sign-up forms, landing pages or send us a direct message via social media or an email to any of our nominated emails
You participate in events, promotions and giveaways or any request for additional data such as customer surveys
You accept our cookies and other tracking technologies on any device you use to interact with us
You voluntarily submit your data to us for any reason

Contact details (name, address, email)
Financial Information (bank details when you are making a purchase)
Your business name (sometimes)
Basic information about your business and its history (sometimes)
Data about the products or services you purchase
Data about your experience with our Site and our products and services
Data relating to your circumstances and such other information that is relevant to the products or services we provide to you
Data relating to your attendance at seminars or other events held by us (including webinars and podcasts)
Data that identifies you (your IP address, login, browser type, time zone, browser plugins, geolocation, what operating system and version) - we do not link this with any personal Data
Data on how you use our Site (URL clicks, products and services views, how long you are on our pages and other actions)

Under data laws, we are only allowed to use your data for specific reasons and where we have the legal basis to do so.

We will use your data for the purposes it was collected and related purposes that include:

Operating our Site
Providing you with products, information and services
Customer support
Tracking your purchase history
Detecting and preventing fraud
Improving our Site
Making your experience on our Site more efficient and enjoyable
Market research e.g. we may contact you for feedback about our products and services
Provide you with information about events, other products or services or opportunities that may be of interest
Marketing (with your consent)
Monitoring your compliance with our Website Terms and Conditions

We may disclose your data for the purposes it was collected and also:

As required by law subject to our obligations
With your consent
Within our business
To send you marketing material (with your consent)
To process your participation in any promotions and giveaways (including contacting you if you win, displaying your name online and on our social media platforms)
Share with third parties to enable us to provide our products and/or services

We use Google Analytics functions. You can find out how your data is collected here and there are instructions here on how to opt-out of Google Analytics data tracking.

Our use of Google Analytics may include but is not limited to display advertising and remarketing. You may see our adverts across the internet, this is due to the use of tracking technologies (cookies) to optimise and serve our adverts based on past visits to our Site. When you log onto our Site, we, with the help of Google Analytics, use your browsing behaviour to connect this with other data that you previously provided to us in accordance with this privacy policy.

We use Facebook Insights to track your interaction with our Facebook page, this will allow us to track usage and improve the performance of our page. We will use Facebook Analytics to better measure, track and understand customer user experience to enable us to improve our products and services that we offer. You can check out Facebook’s privacy policy here, and if you want to opt out of seeing ads on Facebook based on information we have received, you can control this in your ad preferences here

We will always let you know before we collect any data from you what the intended use is and if we intend to use it for marketing and if third parties are involved we will obtain your consent (which you can withdraw at any time). You can change your mind about marketing material by opting out by:

completing the contact us form on our contact page; or
unsubscribing within the email if you have previously subscribed to our newsletter.

We realise that our customers trust us to protect their data and whilst we cannot guarantee the security of any information you transmit to us, or receive from us, we take that task seriously and maintain reasonable and appropriate physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to help protect your data. This includes the following:

Password access to accounts
Storing electronic data with reputable third party storage providers who have appropriate security protections
Limit access to personal information to individuals who need to know.
Using payment providers who are PCI DSS compliant
We do not store your payment details

We share data with third parties in the following circumstances:

Other companies in our group of companies, as necessary to operate our Site
Our suppliers and service providers working for us e.g. payment processors
Our professional and legal advisors
Third parties engaged in fraud prevention and detection
Law enforcement or other government authorities

Share with third parties who enable us to provide our products and services which may include:

payment processors such as Stripe, PayPal, Xero, Shopify who may process your payment for any products and services bought from us;
Social media and analytics such as Facebook, Instagram and Google Adwords for purpose of custom audience generation and the development of targeting criteria;
Other third parties such as Leadpages, LeadQuizzes, Teachable, Zoom, Active Campaign, MailChimp for processing and holding Data that enables us to ensure you are kept informed of all course information, logins and marketing material, offers, promotions, newsletters, blogs and video training.
Where we have your consent to do so or otherwise where we are legally permitted to do so.

All of our real-time credit card authorisations are handled by secure third party gateway providers and these are secured by the highest level of security. The following measures are taken to protect your data:

Payments are fully automated with an immediate response.
Your complete credit card number cannot be viewed by us or any outside party.
All transaction data is encrypted for storage within our third party gateway suppliers bank-grade data centre, further protecting your credit card data.
Our third party gateway provider is an authorised third party processor for all the major Australian banks.
Our third party gateway provider will at no time touch your funds, all monies are directly transferred from your credit card to the merchant account held by us.

We use third-party gateway providers that are widely respected for providing secure and reliable online payment solutions. We have chosen to deal with the best so you can feel safe that your personal information is kept safe and secure at all times. While we attempt to protect the information in our possession, no security system is perfect, and we cannot promise that information about you will remain secure in all circumstances.

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is an information security standard for all organisations that handle branded credit cards from major card schemes. PCI DSS is a standard mandated by the card brands like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover and is managed by the PCI Security Standards Council.

PCI-DSS requirements help ensure the secure handling of credit card information through our Site and the service providers.

We use cookies, this helps us improve the products and services we provide. Unfortunately, they are not the edible kind! “Cookies” are data files that are placed on your device or computer and often include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies can also be used to analyse traffic and for advertising and marketing purposes. They do not harm your systems and the HELP function in your browser will tell you how to restrict or block the cookies. For more information about cookies, and how to disable cookies, visit http://www.allaboutcookies.org. If you use browser settings to block all cookies, you may not be able to access all or parts of our Site.

We may use web beacons (or clear gifs) on our website and in our emails. So basically when we send emails, we can track behaviour such as who opened the emails, who clicked the links and collect information such as your IP address, your browser or email type, we then put this information together to improve the performance of our email campaigns and provide you with better and/or services specific to your needs. You will always have the ability to opt out of any emails we send just click the link in the email that says “unsubscribe”.

Please make sure to check in on our Privacy Policy periodically, as we may update this Privacy Policy from time to time in order to reflect, for example, changes to our practices or for other operational, legal or regulatory reasons. We will always ensure that the current date of the Privacy Policy also known as the “Effective Date” is prominently displayed at the very top of this Privacy Policy, so you know it's the latest version.

Basically the difference is the individual’s qualifications/training. Most specialists need to maintain ongoing/ yearly accreditation. A good question to ask is what and when was the specialist’s most recent CPD (Continuing Professional Development) training?

Research shows that the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of successful. This is why at Connecting Mental Health the main focus is not on 'titles' of the therapists, but rather the modalities and approaches of the therapists.

Below is a breakdown of the most common types of specialists in alphabetical order:

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, AMHSW

AMHSWs are university-educated professionals who have completed a bachelor or master's degree in social work, followed by at least 2 years of supervised clinical experience in a mental health specific social work role, and then completion of a thorough accreditation process through The Australian Association of Social Workers. Only after successful completion of this accreditation process can a social worker be known as an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) and then be able to register for a Medicare Provider Number, enabling them to offer Medicare rebated counselling through a Mental Health Treatment Plan provided by a GP.

Counsellor

A counsellor is a person trained to help you with concerns or problems such as anxiety, depression, grief or relationship difficulties. They aim to help you resolve problems in a positive way by helping you to clarify the issues, explore options, develop strategies and increase self-awareness.

There is currently no law in Australia that requires a person who provides a counselling service to have qualifications and/or experience. This is why it's important to ask, towards all therapists, what their qualifications, experience and recent training is to get a better sense of their skills and resources.

Mental Health Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists specialising in mental health work with individuals to support them to identify and successfully engage in the everyday activities they find meaningful. They draw on, and are trained in, occupational therapy specific tools and approaches as well as structured psychological techniques. Occupational therapists bring a unique occupational focus, addressing the activities and occupations that are important and meaningful to a person’s daily life.

Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed specialised training in psychiatry, which is how to diagnose, treat and prevent mental, emotional and behavioural disorders.

They work in different ways and can use a combination of treatments, including counselling, psychotherapy and medication such as antidepressants. They can admit people to hospital if needed.

You will probably need to see a psychiatrist if you have a severe mental health condition such as:

Severe depression
Anxiety disorders, like panic attacks and phobias
Complex conditions, like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
Eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder

Psychiatrists and paediatricians are the only specialists that can prescribe schedule 8 medications.

Psychologist

When you seek support from a psychologist, you might see a psychologist with general registration, or one who also has a specific ‘area of practice endorsement’, such as clinical psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology or sport and exercise psychology.

The two most common psychologists within the therapy space are:

Registered Psychologist

A registered psychologist is somebody who has completed a four-year university degree and has obtained either a post-graduate university degree or completed an equivalent of two years of supervised practical training to obtain registration as a psychologist.

Clinical Psychologist

A clinical psychologist has completed a six-year university degree and undertaken an equivalent of two years of supervised practical training.

Not necessarily. The only reason you need a referral or Mental Health Treatment

Plan is to access a Medicare rebate, rather than just paying the full fee.

Not all therapists are eligible for a Medicare provider number. Without a Medicare

provider number, a therapist cannot claim the Medicare rebate. With this in mind, it

might be helpful to think about why you are seeking professional support, as your

reason and chosen practitioner may not need a Medicare provider number to provide

the relevant support that you are seeking.

A Mental Health Treatment Plan (previously known as a ‘mental health care plan’) is

a plan that a doctor completes with you. It is best to book a long doctors appointment

for this, as it takes time for the doctor to discuss and complete the plan with you.

There are three doctors that can write a Mental Health Treatment Plan, they are a

GP, psychiatrist or a paediatrician.

The plan identifies what type of health care you need and spells out what you and

your doctor have agreed you are aiming to achieve.

The MHTP provides up to 10 individual sessions in a calendar year. Your referring

doctor will assess your progress after the first six sessions.

You can also access up to 10 group therapy sessions in a calendar year where such

services are available and seen as appropriate by your referring doctor.

This specific plan was developed in 2019 to support people living with anorexia

nervosa and other eating disorders. The changes are relevant for medical

practitioners (including GPs, psychiatrists, and paediatricians), and eligible

psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, and dieticians.

A medical doctor in general practice (GP), consultant paediatrician, or consultant

psychiatrist can develop an EDP. This doctor is recognised as the managing

practitioner. It is important to allow a longer appointment time to discuss and develop

a plan that meets the needs of the person living with an eating disorder.

People eligible for the EDP will be able to access comprehensive treatment and

management services for a 12-month period, including:

Assessment and treatment planning
Up to 40 sessions of evidence-based psychological treatment from a mental health professional
Up to 20 sessions of dietetic services from an accredited practicing dietician (as recognised by Dieticians Australia)
Review and ongoing management services to ensure the person accesses the appropriate level of intervention
To be eligible, your patient must be enrolled in Medicare and diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.

You may also be eligible if you meet the following criteria:

Diagnosed with bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder or other feeding or eating disorder
A score of 3 or more on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire
Rapid weight loss or binge eating or inappropriate compensatory behaviour 3 or more times a week.

If you have not been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa you must also have at least 2 of the following indicators:

Body weight less than 85% of expected weight as a result of an eating disorder
High risk of or current medical complications due to eating disorder behaviours and symptoms
Serious comorbid medical or psychological conditions that significantly impact your medical or psychological health
Hospital admittance for an eating disorder in the last 12 months
Inadequate treatment response to evidence-based eating disorder treatments over the last 6 months.

The sessional cost will vary from therapist to therapist. The sessional cost and the

Medicare rebate will also vary depending on the length of the session.

You can review Medicare rebates here. These rebates may change with time. Below

are correct as of July 2023.

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (50+mins session) $81.90

Clinical Psychologist (50+mins session) $136.35

Occupational Therapist (20+mins) $58.00

Psychiatrist (45+mins session) $217.05

Registered Psychologist (50+mins session) $92.90

The Medicare Safety Net is the dollar amount you need to reach in the gap/out of

pocket costs to be eligible for a higher Medicare benefit. This means you’ll get more

money back from Medicare for certain Medicare services (GP, counselling,

psychiatrist, etc.) once you reach your Medicare Safety Net. Medicare rebates/

Safety may change. Please refer here for up-to-date figures.

Concessional and Family Tax Benefit Part A Medicare Safety Net = $770.30

General / Family Medicare Safety Net = $2414.00

admin@connectingmentalhealth.com.au

0452 144 732

WHO WE ARE AND HOW YOU CAN CONTACT US

OUR ROLE IN YOUR PRIVACY

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

WHEN AND HOW WE COLLECT DATA

TYPES OF DATA WE MAY COLLECT

USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR DATA

GOOGLE ANALYTICS

FACEBOOK INSIGHTS

CHOOSING NOT TO PROVIDE PERSONAL DATA

TURNING OFF COOKIES

MARKETING

YOUR RIGHTS

ACCESSING INFORMATION WE HOLD ABOUT YOU

INACCURATE INFORMATION

OBJECTIONS TO USING DATA FOR PROFILING OR AUTOMATED DECISION

THE RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN

MAKING A COMPLAINT

SECURITY OF THE DATA WE COLLECT

WHERE WE STORE DATA

HOW LONG WE STORE DATA FOR

THIRD PARTIES WHO ACCESS YOUR DATA

PAYMENT SECURITY

AGE OF CONSENT

COOKIES AND HOW TO BLOCK THEM

WEB BEACONS

GOVERNING LAW

UPDATES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY

What is the difference between a psychologist, counsellor, therapist, psychiatrist?

Do I need a referral for counselling?

What is a Mental Health Care Plan?

What is an Eating Disorder Plan?

What is the cost / Medicare rebate to therapy?

What is the Medicare Safety Net?

What to expect at the first session?

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