Payments & Policies
Payment:
Private paying clients:
For all private paying clients, payment is required at the time of your appointment and can be made using card or cash. If you wish to make payment prior to your appointment an invoice can be sent upon request.
NDIS Self Managed Clients:
Self managed NDIS clients are required to make payment at the time of the appointment. You will then be provided with a receipt of payment to claim the cost of the appointment.
NDIS Plan Managed Clients:
For all NDIS Plan Managed clients, an invoice will be sent to your registered plan manager at the time of your appointment.
Late Arrivals
Please ensure you arrive on time for your scheduled appointment. This allows your child to get the most out of the session. If you arrive late, the session will still finish at the scheduled finish time to avoid any disruptions to other clients.
If you arrive late to your session, the full session will still apply regardless of the length of the session attended.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel your appointment a minimum of 24 hours noticed is required. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice of the scheduled appointment will incur the full session fee.
Rescheduling appointments can be discussed upon request and will be accommodated wherever possible.
Please inform me as soon as possible if you cannot attend your scheduled appointment time.
Privacy policy
At Little Steps Play Therapy, all information shared in the context of therapy — whether spoken, written, or observed — is treated with the highest level of care and respect.
Records relating to your child’s therapy are kept confidential and stored securely in line with Australian privacy legislation and professional ethical standards.
Limits to Confidentiality
There are specific legal and ethical circumstances in which confidentiality may be limited. Information may be disclosed without consent if:
There is a serious risk of harm to your child or to another person
There is a reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect
Disclosure is required by law or by a court order
To ensure best practice and effective support, aspects of your child’s presentation or progress may be discussed in professional supervision. Supervision is a confidential and ethically required component of registered play therapy practice.
If collaboration with other professionals (such as teachers, medical practitioners, or allied health providers) is considered helpful, this will only occur with your informed written consent, unless otherwise required by law.
Personal Information
Personal information is any information that identifies, or could reasonably identify, an individual. This may include names, contact details, dates of birth, and other identifying details. Some information collected may be considered sensitive information, such as health information, family circumstances, or court-related documentation. This type of information is handled with additional care due to its private nature.
Why Personal Information Is Collected
Personal information is collected to allow Little Steps Play Therapy to:
Assess and support your child’s therapeutic needs
Provide appropriate and informed services
Meet legal, ethical, and professional obligations
Due to our duty of care, clients cannot engage in therapy anonymously. A pseudonym may be used in some circumstances; however, a legal name as shown on identification is required for our records.
How Personal Information Is Collected
Personal information may be collected through a range of methods, including:
Information shared verbally during sessions
Written communication (email, SMS, letters)
Online booking systems
Intake and consent forms
Referrals from other professionals
Information provided by a parent or legal guardian
Limited interaction through social media platforms (where applicable)
Storage and Security of Information
Personal information is stored securely using a combination of electronic systems and, where necessary, physical records. Access is restricted to authorised individuals only.
We do not retain credit card or banking details once payment has been processed. Information that is no longer required is securely destroyed in line with legal retention requirements.
In the event of a data breach, we will take prompt action to investigate, reduce risk, and notify affected individuals as required by law.
Disclosure of Personal Information
Personal information will not be shared with third parties without consent, except where disclosure is required or authorised by law. It is unlikely that personal information will be disclosed to individuals or organisations outside of Australia.
Access to and Correction of Information
You may request access to personal information held about you or your child. Requests will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act, and a reasonable fee may apply. If you believe any information we hold is inaccurate or outdated, you may request a correction, and we will take reasonable steps to update the information.
Complaints
If you have concerns about how your personal information has been handled, please contact Little Steps Play Therapy directly so the matter can be addressed promptly. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Further information is available via the OAIC website.
Changes to This Policy
This Privacy & Confidentiality Policy may be updated from time to time. Any changes will be made available on our website and, where appropriate, communicated directly to clients.
Contact Information
If you have questions or concerns regarding privacy or confidentiality, please contact:
Little Steps Play Therapy