Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 19 July 2026

Essence Occupational Therapy (ABN: 88 369 798 835) ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, store and disclose personal information, in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

Because we provide occupational therapy services, some of the information we collect is sensitive health information, which is subject to additional protections under the APPs.

1. Information we collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

  • Contact details, such as your name, email address, phone number and address.
  • Referral information, such as details provided by you, a family member, case manager, support coordinator or GP when making a referral.
  • Health information relevant to your occupational therapy needs, including assessment notes, medical history relevant to your care, funding details (such as Support at Home, NDIS or DVA information), and treatment records.
  • Website enquiry information, such as the details you submit through our contact or referral form.

2. How we collect information

We collect personal information directly from you, or from a person acting on your behalf (such as a family member, case manager, support coordinator or GP), where you have consented to this or it is otherwise permitted by law. This may occur:

  • When you contact us or submit a referral through our website;
  • When you communicate with us by phone or email;
  • During the course of providing occupational therapy services to you, including assessments and consultations.

Our website contact and referral form is processed using a third-party form provider, Formspree. When you submit the form, your information is transmitted through Formspree's systems to reach us. Formspree may store or process data outside Australia. We recommend reviewing Formspree's privacy policy for further detail.

3. How we use and store your information

We use your personal information to:

  • Respond to your enquiries and referrals;
  • Provide, plan and coordinate occupational therapy services;
  • Meet reporting or documentation requirements under Support at Home, NDIS, DVA or other funding arrangements;
  • Communicate with other treating providers, case managers or support coordinators involved in your care, with your consent;
  • Comply with our legal and professional obligations.

Client health and referral records are stored securely in practice management software, with access restricted to authorised staff. We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

4. Disclosure of your information

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We may disclose your information to:

  • Funding bodies (such as Support at Home providers, the NDIA, plan managers or DVA) where required for service delivery, reporting or claiming purposes;
  • Other treating health professionals or service providers involved in your care, with your consent;
  • Our service providers who help us operate our business (such as our form and practice management software providers), who are only permitted to use your information for the purpose of providing that service;
  • Regulatory or government bodies where required or authorised by law.

5. Cookies, analytics and online advertising

At present, our website does not use cookies, analytics tools, or advertising tracking technologies. We may introduce tools such as Google Analytics or online advertising (for example, Google or Meta ads) in the future to help us understand website usage and reach potential clients. If we do, we will update this policy and, where required, provide appropriate notice or seek your consent, including information about how to opt out.

6. Access and correction

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, and to request that it be corrected if it is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete. To make a request, please contact us using the details below. We may need to verify your identity before providing access.

7. Complaints

If you have a concern about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us first so we can try to resolve the issue. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.

8. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. The updated policy will be posted on this page with a revised "last updated" date.

9. Contact us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us: