Confidentiality Information Statement

The University of Adelaide Counselling Service provides confidential and professional support to students enrolled at the University of Adelaide.  The Counselling Service is located within the Counselling, Disability & Elite Athlete Service (CD&EAS) at ground floor of the Horace Lamb Building.

Confidentiality

Details regarding your consultation or attendance will not be disclosed without your consent except where required by professional responsibilities or legislation. In such instances, disclosure may occur where:

• there is a perceived risk to your safety or that of another person
• there is a legal requirement to do so

Where possible, permission from you would be sought prior to disclosing any information.

Case discussion and staff consultation within the CD&EAS do not constitute a breach of confidentiality. Confidentiality is ensured within the CD&EAS.

Information and Record Keeping

Personal information is gathered from you for the primary purpose of providing services to you. In addition, this information may be utilised for:

• verification of eligibility for services
• administrative and planning purposes
• correspondence with you
• providing information about the range of services available to you
• preparing statistical reports

No identifying information will be included where information is collated for planning or statistical purposes.

To enable the Counselling Service to provide effective support to you, a record outlining contact, key discussion points, outcomes and other relevant information provided during consultations is kept in a Student File. Additional relevant correspondence and copies of documentation are also kept in Student Files. Student Files are secured for a period of 7 years at the CD&EAS office, after which time they are destroyed.

Access to Information

You may access your file by submitting a written request to the Manager: Counselling, Disability & Elite Athlete Service. You will then be contacted and your counsellor will discuss the content of the file with you before releasing the information. A Receipt of Personal Case Notes form will be completed when the information is provided to you.

Files may be subpoenaed by an authorised legal or court office. You will be notified in such cases.

Related Policies:

• The University of Adelaide Privacy Policy
• The University of Adelaide Record Management policy

For further clarification regarding confidentiality, please speak with the person providing the service to you or the Manager: Counselling, Disability & Elite Athlete Service.