Privacy policy.

We collect the information we need to provide behaviour support services safely and lawfully. We don't sell it. We don't share it without your consent except in narrow circumstances required by law. You can ask to see what we hold about you, and we'll respond within 30 days. You have the right to change your mind about what we share at any time.

Purpose

This policy explains how Richer Support collects, stores, shares, and protects your personal information. We're committed to keeping your information safe, respecting your choices about what we share, and operating in line with Australian privacy law and NDIS standards.

Scope

This policy applies to everyone we work with: clients, their families, our staff, contractors, referral sources, and anyone else whose information we collect in the course of our work.

Key definitions

Personal Information: Any data that could be used to identify you (name, contact details, NDIS number, health information, behavioural data, family history).

Sensitive Information: Personal information about your health, disability, or support needs. We handle this with extra care and usually need your specific consent to collect and use it.

Disclosure: When we share your information with someone outside Richer Support (like a treating practitioner, implementing provider, or NDIS Commission).

Use: When we handle your information within Richer Support for the purpose of delivering or managing your care.

Consent: Your voluntary, informed agreement to something we're asking permission for. You can always change your mind or withdraw consent at any time.

What information we collect and why

We only collect information that's reasonably necessary to deliver your behaviour support services, meet NDIS requirements, and coordinate with other professionals involved in your care. This typically includes:

  • Your personal and contact details (name, address, phone, email)
  • Information about your support network (family, carers, other providers)
  • Medical or allied health records relevant to your support
  • Behavioural assessments, observations, and reports we create
  • Safety and risk information
  • Feedback and observations from people supporting you

We collect this information in various ways: directly from you, from your representatives, from other professionals (with consent), and from your support network. If you give us information we didn't ask for, we'll let you know what we're doing with it and check we're allowed to keep it.

How we collect information

We collect personal information lawfully and only to the extent necessary. Sometimes we collect information directly from you. Sometimes we ask your family, your support network, or other professionals (like your GP or psychiatrist) with your permission.

Wherever it's practical and lawful, you can ask to engage with us anonymously or under a pseudonym. Let your practitioner know if that matters to you.

How we use artificial intelligence

We use AI tools thoughtfully and only where they genuinely benefit you and your support. Here's what that means.

Why we use AI

The main reason is so your practitioner can focus entirely on you during sessions. When they're not busy writing notes, they can listen, observe, and engage properly. This makes for better quality sessions and better quality support.

It also has a direct financial benefit for you. Notes written after a session are billable from your NDIS plan. AI helps us complete documentation more efficiently, which means less of your funding is spent on paperwork and more is available for direct support.

Our approach

In February 2026, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission published guidance on using AI in behaviour support planning. The standard is clear: your personal information should not be shared with general AI systems, and you need to stay at the centre of your plan. We've designed our practice to meet this standard:

  • When we use AI tools built specifically for clinical use (like Heidi Health for session notes, or AI features in Splose), those tools are Australian-based, comply with the Australian Privacy Principles, and are covered by your consent.
  • When we use general-purpose AI tools (like to improve the clarity of your behaviour support plan), we remove all identifying information first. We don't share your name, NDIS number, date of birth, or address with general-purpose AI systems.

Which tools we use

We currently use AI features within Splose (our practice management system) and Heidi Health (an AI-assisted note-taking tool some practitioners use to transcribe conversations during sessions). Both are Australian-based and comply with Australian privacy laws. Neither retains audio recordings after transcription. For general-purpose AI work, we only use business-grade tools that operate under commercial terms prohibiting use of your information for AI training.

Your consent

AHPRA requires us to get your consent before using AI tools that record your sessions or process your information. You can consent to one, both, or neither of these. Declining either option won't affect the quality of your support.

Your right to ask questions. You can ask your practitioner at any time which AI tools have been used for your support and to see the notes that were generated. If you have concerns about AI use at any point, raise them with your practitioner. We'll always work with you to find an approach you're comfortable with.

How we store and protect your information

Your information is secure. Here's what we do:

  • All data is stored online using encrypted systems and password-protected access
  • Only authorised Richer Support staff and contractors involved in your support can access your file, and only for the purpose of delivering or reviewing your services
  • We don't keep paper records of personal information, and nothing is stored on individual devices. Everything lives in our encrypted online systems
  • We use industry-standard encryption and access controls
  • Staff receive training on privacy and confidentiality at induction and annually

Important: Information sent by email or over the internet without encryption can be accessed by unintended recipients. If you're sending personal information by email, please be aware of this risk.

Website and booking tools we use

When you fill in a form or book a time through our website, that information passes through trusted third-party tools. We name them here so you know exactly who handles your details:

  • Splose — our practice management system, which also powers the referral form on this website. Splose is Australian-based and stores information in Australia, in line with the Australian Privacy Principles.
  • Calendly — the scheduling tool we use for booking introductory calls. Calendly is based in the United States, so the details you enter when booking (your name, email address and chosen time) are stored on servers in the United States under Calendly's privacy policy. We don't put health information into Calendly, and we suggest you don't either — the booking form only needs your name and contact details.

If you'd rather not use these tools, you can always reach us directly by phone on 0413 213 810 or email at contact@richersupport.com.

Telehealth and video sessions

We use secure, healthcare-grade platforms for telehealth sessions. These platforms comply with Australian privacy standards and the Australian Privacy Principles.

Recording sessions: Sessions are never recorded unless you give explicit written consent beforehand. If we do record (for example, for supervision purposes), you'll know exactly what's being recorded, who can access it, and how long we keep it.

Your privacy during sessions: We ask you to take reasonable steps to ensure your end of the call is private. This means:

  • Closing doors or finding a private space where you won't be overheard
  • Using headphones so others can't hear the conversation
  • Avoiding public Wi-Fi where possible (mobile data or home Wi-Fi is more secure)
  • Letting your practitioner know if you can't be in a private space

If privacy is a concern on your end, let your practitioner know. We can work around it or arrange a face-to-face session instead.

How long we keep your information

We keep healthcare data for seven years from your last date of service, as required by AHPRA guidelines and best practice. For young people under 18, we keep records until they turn 25 (that is, seven years after they turn 18). After these periods, we securely destroy the information or de-identify it (remove anything that could identify you) in line with document retention laws.

How we share your information

There are three types of sharing: things we're legally required to do, sharing that supports your services, and sharing that's entirely your choice.

Sharing we're legally required to do

In some situations, we must share information regardless of your consent. We'll always tell you this is happening and why, unless the law prevents us from doing so. These situations include:

  • Restrictive practices reporting: If your Behaviour Support Plan includes any restrictive practices, we must lodge these with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and relevant state authorities for authorisation.
  • Mandatory reporting: Where there's a risk of harm to you or someone else, including child protection concerns. As practitioners, we have a legal duty to report.
  • Court or tribunal orders: If we receive a subpoena, court order, or tribunal request (for example, if a guardianship order is being reviewed by NCAT).
  • NDIS obligations: Reporting required under the NDIS Act or to meet provider registration requirements.

Even when we're required to share, we share only the minimum necessary. We'll let you know before we share (where we legally can) and explain what's being shared and why.

Sharing that supports your services

For your behaviour support to work well, we often need to share information with other people involved in your care. For example, your plan might need to be shared with your group home so their staff can follow it properly. Before we share anything, we'll talk to you about it. This type of sharing might include:

  • Sharing your Behaviour Support Plan with implementing providers (group homes, day programs, in-home support services) so their staff can support you properly
  • Sharing reports or updates with your Support Coordinator or Plan Manager
  • Contacting medical or allied health professionals about your treatment and support needs
  • Collecting behavioural data from support workers or carers implementing your plan

Sharing that's your choice

Some types of sharing are entirely up to you. You get to decide whether you're comfortable with them, and you can change your mind anytime. These include:

  • Whether we contact family members or informal supports about your care
  • Whether we share assessments or reports with specific allied health practitioners
  • Whether we share information with education providers (schools, TAFEs)
  • How much detail is shared with the people around you

If you're not sure about any of these, we'll talk it through. You're always allowed to say no, and it won't affect the quality of your support.

Changing or withdrawing your consent

Your consent to sharing isn't a one-off decision. You can change your mind about who we share information with at any time. Just let your practitioner know and we'll update things. Withdrawing consent won't affect the support we provide to you, and it won't affect any sharing we're legally required to do.

Accessing your information

You have the right to access the information we hold about you, or to ask us to correct it, at any time. To request access or corrections, call 0413 213 810 or email contact@richersupport.com.

We'll verify your identity and aim to respond within 30 days. In some cases, the Privacy Act lets us refuse access (for example, if releasing information would harm your safety or someone else's). If we deny access, we'll give you a written explanation. There is no charge for accessing your own information. We may charge a reasonable fee only if you request an extensive copy that takes significant time to prepare.

Children and young people

If you're under 16, we usually involve a parent or guardian in your referral, intake, and treatment planning. However, young people have a right to confidentiality, and we discuss with each young person what will and won't be shared with their parents.

We follow the mature minor doctrine, which means we respect your right to privacy depending on your age and maturity. This means:

  • We may discuss some things just with you, not your parents
  • We'll be clear about what we're telling your parents and what stays between us
  • If something requires parental consent, we'll explain that to you

Mandatory reporting applies: If we become aware of a child at risk of harm, we're legally obligated to report to child protection authorities, regardless of consent. We'll tell you if this happens.

What if something goes wrong: data breaches

A data breach happens when we lose control of, or someone unauthorised accesses, your personal information. This might be loss of a device, hacking, or accidentally sending information to the wrong person.

We take breaches seriously. We have a response plan that covers detecting the breach, stopping unauthorised access, notifying affected people, investigating what happened, and making improvements so it doesn't happen again. If a breach occurs that affects your information, we'll let you and the NDIS Commission know as soon as we can, explain what happened, and tell you what we're doing about it.

Our Privacy Officer

Boudicea Hodgson is our Privacy Officer. She's responsible for handling privacy complaints, overseeing staff training, and making sure we follow this policy and the privacy laws. If you have concerns about how we handle your privacy, contact our Privacy Officer on 0413 213 810 or contact@richersupport.com.

Complaints about privacy

You have every right to complain if you're unhappy with how we handle your information.

Start with us, if you're comfortable:

We take all complaints seriously and aim to respond within 48 hours. You'll never be disadvantaged for making a complaint.

If you're not satisfied with our response, you can contact external authorities at any time. You don't need to contact us first.

Changes to this policy

We review this policy regularly. If we make changes, we'll let you know before they take effect. New staff receive this policy during induction. Clients receive a copy once a service agreement is signed. The most up-to-date version is always available at www.richersupport.com. You can request a copy anytime by calling 0413 213 810 or emailing contact@richersupport.com.

Questions or feedback

If you have a question about this policy or how we handle your information, there are three ways to get in touch: call Bo directly on 0413 213 810, email contact@richersupport.com, or submit feedback through the Feedback & Complaints form. If you have a question, chances are someone else does too. Please ask.

This policy aligns with:

  • The Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 and the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012
  • The Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)
  • The Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) Act 2017
  • NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators 2021
  • NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulated Restrictive Practices Guide 2020
  • AHPRA guidelines for registered practitioners

Last reviewed: June 2026  ·  Next review due: June 2027  ·  Owner: Bo (Boudicea Hodgson), Privacy Officer  ·  Version 2.1