Privacy Policy

Next Steps Counselling & Psychotherapy
Wade Eames, PACFA Registered Clinical Counsellor & Psychotherapist (28644)
ABN 11 263 405 308
Last updated: 6 October 2026

What you tell me in counselling is private. This page explains what information I collect, why I collect it, how I keep it safe, and the few situations where I may have to share it.

What I collect

Your contact details: name, phone, email, address and date of birth.
An emergency contact.
Health information: what brings you to counselling, relevant history, and the notes I keep from our sessions.
Your health fund details, if you want a receipt to claim a rebate.
Payment details. Card payments are processed by Stripe. I never see or store your full card number.
If Victims Services NSW or a workers compensation insurer is funding your sessions: your reference or claim number, and the details they need to approve and pay for your sessions.

How I collect it

Mostly from you: when you book, fill in the intake form, contact me, and in our sessions. Sometimes from someone else, with your consent, such as your GP, Victims Services NSW or a workers compensation insurer.

Why I collect it

To provide counselling, keep proper clinical records, manage bookings and payments, and meet my professional and legal obligations. I don't use your information for anything else. I never sell it, and I never use it for marketing.

How I store it

Your records are kept in Splose, a practice management system built for health practitioners, protected by password and two-step login. Bookings and emails go through Microsoft 365. Online sessions run on Zoom, and I don't record sessions. Payments go through Stripe.

Splose and Microsoft 365 store your records in Australia. Stripe (card payments) and Zoom (online sessions) may process some information overseas.

Who sees it

Only me. I won't share your information without your consent, except where the law requires or allows it:

if there is a serious risk to your life, health or safety, or to someone else's
if a court orders it or a law requires it, for example child protection reporting
in clinical supervision, which is part of good practice, I may talk about my work without identifying you.

If Victims Services NSW or a workers compensation insurer is funding your sessions, I share only what they need to approve and pay for them, such as session dates and, if requested, a report. I'll always tell you what is being shared.

How long I keep it

NSW law requires health records to be kept for at least 7 years after your last session, or until you turn 25 if you were under 18 when we worked together. After that they are securely destroyed.

Seeing or correcting your information

You can ask to see the information I hold about you, or ask me to correct it. Contact me and I'll respond within 30 days. In rare cases I may not be able to give access, for example if it could put someone at serious risk. If that happens, I'll explain why.

Questions or complaints

Talk to me first: wade@nextsteps.au or 0479 155 439.

If you're not satisfied with my response, you can contact:

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: oaic.gov.au, 1300 363 992
NSW Information and Privacy Commission: ipc.nsw.gov.au, 1800 472 679
PACFA: pacfa.org.au