Counselling & Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)

Privacy

We are committed to protecting the privacy of our contacts and clients and comply with the Australian Privacy Principles set out in the Privacy Act 1988.
All your personal information and discussions in counselling sessions remain private and confidential.
Personal information and client case notes are necessary for this service's assessment and care plans.
All personal information and case notes are stored securely on the online platform known as Splose. Splose adheres to Australian Privacy Principles. Equinnect and Splose will not use any Personal Information for the purpose for which it was collected other than with the individual’s permission or as otherwise outlined in this Privacy Policy. For more information on Splose's privacy policy, please visit https://splose.com/privacy-policy.

Confidentiality is limited at times when:
1. Where a court orders the release of client information for legal purposes.
2. Failure to disclose the information would place you, a child, or another person at serious and imminent risk or danger.
3.  Where the treating practitioner is seeking supervision support to provide you with the best service. In such circumstances, your identity will be de-identified, and only critical aspects of your case will be shared for your case care and counselling.
4. Your prior approval has been obtained to provide a written report to another agency (GP, Lawyer) or discuss the material with another person—for example, parents, employers, teachers.
5. If disclosure is required or authorised by law, such as suicidal mental health crisis, child sexual assault, or abuse.

Equinnect's adherence to Australia's national professional organisations for Code of Conduct and Practice
Equinnect's Tanya Pidgeon is a member of and adheres to the Ethics and Code of Conduct of Australia's three leading health organisations (below). Please copy and paste the links into an internet browser for more information.

PACFA (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia)

ACA (Australian Counselling Association)

AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) as RN

Animal Therapies Ltd. (Animal Therapies Limited Standards Documents)

Complaints and Grievance Procedure
If you have concerns about the counselling services you receive, please discuss them with Equinnect directly to resolve the issue.  If you feel your concerns have not been adequately addressed, you may make a formal complaint to the relevant professional body:

Australian Counselling Association (ACA):
Visit www.theaca.net.au and navigate to the 'Complaints' section for guidance on submitting a formal complaint.

Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA):
Visit www.pacfa.org.au and refer to the 'Complaints' section for information on the complaints procedure.

Both ACA and PACFA uphold the ethical standards in counselling practice and will review your complaint impartially. Your rights and confidentiality will be respected throughout the process.

Privacy & consent specific to EAL and Counselling in Nature
Though there are many benefits to receiving EAL and counselling in nature, there are some unique risks: 

1. Privacy Limitations Environmental Privacy: Sessions conducted in outdoor settings may not provide the same level of confidentiality as indoor settings. There is a risk of encountering other people, which could result in unintentional disclosure of your identity or the nature of the session. Audio Privacy: Conversations may be overheard by others in public areas, which may compromise confidentiality. 

2. Environmental Risks Physical Safety: Hazards, including uneven terrain, weather conditions, and wildlife, may exist. Clients are advised to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. 

Weather Conditions: Sessions may need to be rescheduled due to extreme weather conditions, which could affect the regularity of counselling. 

Horses: Clients are not to touch or directly contact horses on the property other than those co-facilitating the session (with waiver and consent completed). Doing so is at one's complete risk. 

3. Digital Confidentiality Electronic Devices: If mobile phones or digital devices are used for communication or emergencies, there is a potential risk of data breaches or location tracking. Equinnect recommends switching off location-based apps during your sessions. This includes services such as Siri or Alexis. Please be aware that there is little connectivity in some areas of the property. The best connectivity is located near the Zia Park office. 

4. Client Responsibilities Awareness of Surroundings: Clients should remain mindful of their environment to avoid disruptions or hazards. 

Informed Choice: Clients must understand that outdoor therapy involves privacy risks that are different from traditional indoor counselling or educational sessions.  

The waiver form you choose to sign for your EAL or Counseling in nature sessions form a binding contractual agreement between you (you) and Tanya Michelle Pidgeon ABN 74 686 357 065 trading as ‘Equinnect’ (Equinnect, we, us), in consideration for you being permitted to access the facility at 8410 Stoneville Road, Gidgegannup, Western Australia, and the Equinnect Counselling in Nature service, and the surrounding grounds and facilities such as walking tracks, horses, and equipment (Site).  

When we refer to Activities, we mean any undertaken on the Site by you, including but not limited to an EAL session or a Nature in Counselling Service (‘Activity’, ‘Activities’). Activities include all activities and services ancillary to or associated with the named Activity, both before and after the Activity, including transportation to and from the location of the Activity, whether provided by Equinnect or not, briefings, inductions, training, and the provision of information in all manuals, safety guidelines and other documentation provided to or made available to you with respect to the Activity, familiarisation with clothing or equipment and methods of operation of equipment and the wearing and removal of any clothing or equipment associated with the Activity.  

For the avoidance of doubt, Counselling in Nature Service and Activities without a horse co-facilitator may include sitting in a camp chair surrounded by bushland, sitting near a horse that is behind a fence in its paddock for guided or non-guided relaxation exercises, walking nearby horses that are being lead or tethered for care by others, or walking on bushland trails and uneven ground and paths on the property. 

We may deny you access to the Site for any reason we deem reasonably necessary, including if you fail to sign the waiver or fail to comply with the conditions of entry as displayed on the premises or instructed by Equinnect. 

1. APPLICATION OF WAIVER

1.1  The signed waiver applies to all Activities you attend, undertake and/or participate in the Site. To avoid doubt, any persons who attend the Site with Equinnect’s consent must sign this waiver and acknowledge the risks that may apply to them.   

1.2  The signed waiver will commence on the date you sign the waiver and continue with full force and effect, applying to all Activities. If you sign this waiver in relation to an Activity and later attend and/or participate in another Activity, this waiver will apply without needing to be signed again. 

1.3  To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all express or implied representations and warranties not expressly stated in this agreement are excluded. Nothing in this agreement is intended to limit the operation of the Australian Consumer Law contained in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) (ACL).

Cancellation of sessions
Cancellations/Reschedules are possible up to 48 hours before your appointment to avoid cancellation fees.
Cancellations can be made by contacting the Equinnect by text, email or phone.
If you cancel/reschedule your appointment within 48 and 5 hours of your appointment time, you will be charged a 50% non-refundable cancellation fee.
Sessions that are cancelled after this period (within 5 hours of your session), or that you fail to attend, will be charged at the full rate of the session.
If there are sudden extenuating circumstances, please contact Equinnect at 0427 383 696 to discuss them.
We will send reminders, but it is your responsibility to manage your appointment times.

Consent to Equinnect counselling services (Online & in Nature)
Please note that you ​HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE CONSENT agreement that will be sent before commencing counselling. ​However, in certain situations, your refusal may mean that you cannot proceed with services at Equinnect, especially if they are funded ​through a collaborative government scheme that requires reporting.
If the client cannot provide consent, that is, they do not understand the nature of what they are consenting to related to age or compromised cognitive capacity, or the consequences, their Parent or Guardian (Authorising representative) can complete, consent and sign the Client Information and Consent Form on behalf of the client.
If there is no Authorising representative or they were uncontactable, relevant information will be shared as set out in the Health Records Act 2001*

*It is not reasonably practical to obtain consent from an authorised representative, or if the client does not have an authorised representative, health information can still be shared in the circumstances set out in the Health Records Act 2001. This includes where a health service provider does the sharing of information and is reasonably necessary for the provision of a health service or where there is a statutory requirement.

Emergency & after hours coverage of Equinnect counselling services

(This service DOES NOT have coverage for emergencies or mental health crises).
You should contact medical emergency services at 000 or attend our closest hospital emergency department in an emergency. Alternatively, you may call Lifeline, an agency that operates a 24-hour telephone counselling service, at 13 11 14.
You are encouraged to share any emergencies you experience after hours as soon as possible with your Equinnect counsellor.

When you contact Equinnect but no one is available to take your call, email, or text message, you may leave a short message. Be mindful of what you leave in your message regarding your confidentiality and privacy. Equinnect will respond when able and endeavours to reply within 24 hours.
Please note that Equinnect also works on property in bushlands and stables in Gidgegannup, where the internet connection can be poor or fleeting at best. As such, messages are often not received until Equinnect returns to the Perth metropolitan area. Equinnect will respond when able and endeavours to reply within 24 hours. 

Consent specific to online/telehealth counselling - video counselling
You will be asked to consent to participate in telehealth (video conferencing) sessions provided by Tanya Pidgeon using telecommunication technology.
Tanya uses Zoom for online counselling. Your online counselling session will be sent by link and active for your session. Zoom is free, and for the best, most secure, and most reliable user experience, Tanya encourages you to download the Zoom app on your laptop or PC.
For information on Zoom's privacy policy, please click here.

Technological event causing the loss of connection in a videoconference counselling session:
In a technological emergency during a session, such as a sudden loss of connection, I understand that Tanya Pidgeon will provide instructions on reconnecting or alternative contact methods if necessary. This process will include:

1. Tanya/Equinnect’s Immediate attempt to reconnect via Zoom. If no reconnection,

2. Tanya will wait 5 minutes and attempt reconnection via Zoom again. If no reconnection,

3. Tanya will attempt to reconnect via Zoom after 15 minutes have passed. Further, with prior consent, Tanya will attempt to call and continue the session on the phone using the client’s mobile/telephone number.

4. If the session is towards the end of the session time, and the connection is unsuccessful, Tanya will text or email to contact the client and would like to book a new future session.

5.  If risks for client safety were identified during the session and you/the client suddenly disconnects and cannot be contacted via all the above means, emergency services may be called to support the client. 

Confidentiality means that everything we discuss during our sessions will be kept private and secure. However, there are times when Tanya Pidgeon may need to share information, like if Tanya is worried about your safety or if the law requires it.