Client Details + Confidentiality and Therapeutic/Counselling Agreement

Information about Engender Equality Therapeutic Services:

Engender Equality offers a therapeutic counselling service for any person affected by family violence.

Engender therapeutic services are trauma informed and evidence based. This means that we:

Understand the widespread impact of trauma and understand the potential paths for recovery;

Recognise signs and symptoms of trauma;

Respond by integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and

Seek to actively resist re-traumatisation.

Engender Therapeutic Services are: 

Free and confidential;

Suitable for people affected by family violence now or in the past;

For all people regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, marital or socioeconomic status, cultural, religious, or ethnic background;

Available either face-to-face, by phone and/or online using Zoom;

Usually about one hour long (first appointments may go for longer); and

Responsive to your needs. Some people will only need 2 sessions, some people need many more. Your practitioner will review the process with you every six sessions to make sure the support is meeting your needs and to allow for a review of goals and space to acknowledge progress and any steps towards recovery.

Engender Equality is not a crisis/emergency service. Practitioners may not be able to respond in a timely way between sessions. If you are unsafe and need immediate help, please call 000.  

Working together:

If you need to cancel or postpone an appointment, please let your practitioner know as soon as you can so we can give the time to another person. Please also inform your practitioner if you are running late to an appointment.  

There may be some limitations to what services Engender can offer you and this will be based on the discretion of individual practitioners and their expertise and training. In some instances, your practitioner may need to stop working with you. This may be due to a conflict of interest, poor health, or extended leave. Where possible, the practitioner will let you know that they are unable to keep working with you and you will be given the opportunity to work with an alternative Engender practitioner.

If you have any feedback (positive or negative) you can email ceo@engenderequality.org.au. All feedback provided will be handled with respect, sensitivity, and confidentiality.

Respectful communication:

Engender is committed to providing a safe environment for clients, staff and visitors. Please communicate with others respectfully at all times. Disrespectful or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in services being withdrawn.

Consent to services:

I have discussed the therapeutic process with my practitioner and understand: 

What to expect from the therapy process; 

The role and responsibilities of my Engender practitioner;

My responsibilities as an Engender client; and  

My options for giving feedback or making a complaint.

By checking the box below, I am indicating that I have read and agree with the above statements.

Recording and Storing Information:

Engender Equality is committed to the secure collection, maintenance, and disposal of your personal information throughout the therapeutic process. This will be done in ways that protect privacy and maintain confidentiality.

Specifically, Engender Equality will:

Collect and keep information about clients only when it is relevant and necessary to the provision of the service;

Collect, store, and report all data required by funding arrangements within the boundaries of client confidentiality and privacy;

Ensure data about each client is up to date, accurate and secure, whether stored in hard copy or electronically;

Keep records only for the required length of time, and transfer or dispose of client records correctly;

Consider potential safety issues for the client and their children and make accommodations where reasonably possible;

Give clients an option to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym;

Take account of any relevant cultural or religious sensitivities of people using services in the way information about them is collected, stored, and used; and

Collect and analyse de-identified client data to inform service improvements, staff professional development, and performance management.

Confidentiality and sharing information:

I understand that any personal information that I share throughout the therapeutic process will remain confidential, except where: 

I request that an Engender staff member share my information with others, and give written permission for them to do so;

Engender is ordered by a court to share my records or other information;

An Engender staff member believes there is a serious and specific risk of harm to myself or others;

An Engender staff member believes there may be harm, or risk of harm, to children. Engender is legally required to report such concerns to Child Safety Services*;

Basic information (that does not include names or identifying details) is used for supervision, reporting, education, or research purposes. 

I understand that where confidentiality cannot be maintained, an Engender staff member will take all steps possible to inform me of the situation and any concerns they may have and will discuss any options that may be available. 

By checking the box below, I am indicating that I have read and agree with the above statements.