Privacy Policy

Last updated: 29 May 2026

YOUR PRIVACY

Connected Future is committed to protecting your privacy as a client and visitor to www.connectedfuture.com.au. We are committed to maintaining the privacy, confidentiality and security of your personal and health information and comply with applicable Australian privacy legislation and professional obligations.

This Privacy Policy explains how information is collected, used, stored and disclosed within counselling and social work services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT

During the provision of services and use of www.connectedfuture.com.au, we may collect personal and health information including:

  • Name

  • Date of birth

  • Address

  • Email address

  • Telephone number

  • Emergency contact details

  • Medicare or referral information (where relevant)

  • Payment and billing information

  • Family and relationship information

  • Medical and mental health information

  • Assessment information

  • Clinical notes and treatment records

  • Information obtained from referring professionals (where consent has been provided)

  • Website usage information including IP addresses and cookies

Information collected will be limited to information reasonably necessary for providing counselling, social work and therapeutic services.

You may request access to your information and request corrections where information is inaccurate.

Requests can be made by contacting:

·      Email: connectedfuture@outlook.com

·      Mobile: MOBILE

·      Website: www.connectedfuture.com.au

PRIVACY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Services may be provided to children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

For children and young people, personal and health information may be collected directly from:

  • parents or legal guardians

  • the child or young person

  • schools

  • health professionals

  • support services

  • other relevant parties where consent has been provided or disclosure is otherwise permitted by law

For younger children, consent to treatment and information collection will generally be obtained from a parent or legal guardian.

For adolescents, privacy and confidentiality arrangements for children and adolescents may vary according to the young person's maturity, capacity, clinical circumstances, parental responsibilities and applicable legal requirements. In Australia, including Victoria, a young person may be considered capable of making decisions regarding healthcare and confidentiality where they demonstrate sufficient maturity and understanding of the treatment being provided.

Where clinically appropriate and legally permissible:

  • children and adolescents may have confidential discussions

  • where a young person is assessed as having sufficient decision-making capacity, information may be managed confidentially in accordance with legal and ethical obligations.

  • parents or guardians may receive general treatment updates without disclosure of specific confidential content

Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where:

  • there is a risk of harm to the child or another person

  • there are child protection concerns

  • disclosure is required by law

  • there is a court order or subpoena

  • mandatory reporting obligations apply

Information sharing involving children will occur only where consent has been provided or where disclosure is authorised or required under relevant legislation.

Relevant legislation and guidance may include:

  • Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)

  • Australian Privacy Principles

  • Health Records Act 2001 (Victoria)

  • Child Information Sharing Scheme (Victoria)

  • Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (Victoria)

  • Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Victoria)

  • AASW Code of Ethics and Practice Standards

HOW YOUR INFORMATION IS USED

Personally identifiable information may be used for purposes including:

  • providing counselling and social work services

  • communicating with you

  • scheduling appointments

  • maintaining clinical records

  • coordinating care with other professionals where consent has been provided

  • managing billing and payments

  • complying with legal and professional obligations

  • improving service delivery

Marketing communications will only be sent where consent has been provided. You may opt out at any time.

STORAGE AND SECURITY OF INFORMATION

Reasonable steps will be taken to protect personal and health information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

Information may be stored:

  • electronically through secure systems

  • within password protected clinical software

  • in encrypted digital storage

  • in secure physical files where required

Access to information is restricted to authorised persons only.

Personal information will be retained according to legal and professional requirements.

Generally:

Adult records may be retained for a minimum of seven (7) years following the last service.

Records relating to clients who were under 18 years of age at the time of their last health service will be retained until the client reaches 25 years of age, or longer where otherwise required by law, professional obligations, or actual/potential legal proceedings.

Where information is no longer required it will be securely destroyed.

In the event of a privacy or data breach, affected individuals will be notified where required under applicable law.

SHARING INFORMATION WITH THIRD PARTIES

Personal information will not be sold or disclosed to third parties except:

  • with client consent

  • where required for service provision

  • where legally required

  • where necessary to prevent serious risk of harm

  • where required under child protection obligations

  • under subpoena, court order or other lawful authority

Where third-party service providers are used, reasonable steps will be taken to ensure they maintain privacy protections.

WEBSITE COOKIES

www.connectedfuture.com.au may use cookies and related technologies to:

  • improve website performance

  • analyse website traffic

  • understand website usage patterns

Cookies do not generally identify individuals directly.

You may disable cookies through your browser settings, although some website functions may not operate correctly.

LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES

www.connectedfuture.com.au may contain links to third-party websites.

No responsibility is accepted for privacy practices of external websites and users are encouraged to review their privacy policies separately.

CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in legislation, professional standards or service practices.

Any updates become effective immediately upon publication on www.connectedfuture.com.au.

CONTACT

Questions, concerns or requests relating to privacy may be directed to:

Dilan Kent “Lani”

Email: connectedfuture@outlook.com
Mobile: MOBILE
Website: www.connectedfuture.com.au

A response will generally be provided within a reasonable timeframe.