Our Privacy Policy
Family Counselling Support Network
Family Counselling Support Network is committed to providing quality services to you and this policy outlines our ongoing obligations to you in respect of how we manage your Personal Information.
We have adopted the National Privacy Principles (NPPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act). The NPPs govern the way in which we collect, use, disclose, store, secure and dispose of your Personal Information.
A copy of the National Privacy Principles may be obtained from the website of The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.aoic.gov.au
WHAT IS PERSONAL INFORMATION AND WHY DO WE COLLECT IT?
Personal Information is information or an opinion that identifies an individual. Examples of Personal Information we collect include: names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers.
This Personal Information is obtained in many ways including by telephone, by email, and via our website www.familycounsellingsupportnetwork.com
We collect your Personal Information for the primary purpose of providing our services to you, and marketing. We may also use your Personal Information for secondary purposes closely related to the primary purpose, in circumstances where you would reasonably expect such use or disclosure. You may unsubscribe from our mailing/marketing lists at any time by contacting us in writing.
When we collect Personal Information we will, where appropriate and where possible, explain to you why we are collecting the information and how we plan to use it.
SENSITIVE INFORMATION
Sensitive information is defined in the Privacy Act to include information or opinion about such things as an individual's racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of a political association, religious or philosophical beliefs, membership of a trade union or other professional body, criminal record or health information.
Sensitive information will be used by us only:
• For the primary purpose for which it was obtained
• For a secondary purpose that is directly related to the primary purpose
• With your consent; or where required or authorised by law.
DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
Your Personal Information may be disclosed in a number of circumstances including the following:
• Third parties where you consent to the use or disclosure; and
• Where required or authorised by law.
SECURITY OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
Your Personal Information is stored in a manner that reasonably protects it from misuse and loss and from unauthorized access, modification or disclosure.
When your Personal Information is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was obtained, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify your Personal Information. However, most of the Personal Information is or will be stored in client files which will be kept by us for a minimum of 7 years.
ACCESS TO YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
You may access the Personal Information we hold about you and to update and/or correct it, subject to certain exceptions. If you wish to access your Personal Information, please contact us in writing. We will not charge any fee for your access request, but may charge an administrative fee for providing a copy of your Personal Information.
In order to protect your Personal Information we may require identification from you before releasing the requested information.
MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
It is an important to us that your Personal Information is up to date. We will take reasonable steps to make sure that your Personal Information is accurate, complete and up-to-date. If you find that the information we have is not up to date or is inaccurate, please advise us as soon as practicable so we can update our records and ensure we can continue to provide quality services to you.
POLICY UPDATES
This Policy may change from time to time and is available on our website.
PRIVACY POLICY COMPLAINTS AND ENQUIRIES
If you have any queries or complaints about our Privacy Policy
please contact us at info@familycounsellingsupportnetwork.com
Join the FREE Newsletter
We welcome you to SIGN UP to receive our monthly newsletter where we share some really useful resources, tips and updates on our upcoming workshops.
Questions about our
Services?
Medicare rebate or private medical insurance claim for psychological services?
Most clients prefer to book directly with with our counsellors. No referral is required to access this counselling service.
During the first session, you can discuss the benefits of seeking a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP should you wish to pursue this path moving forward and you are booking with a registered psychologist. If you require a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) you will need to make a long appointment with your GP and they will make an assessment about whether you are eligible.
All of our registered psychologists are registered with Medicare and you will need a referral from a GP if you wish to claim Medicare rebates. Under the Better Access program you can receive a partial rebate for up to 10 individual sessions in a calendar year.
All our psychologists are registered with private health insurance providers in Australia. If you have private health insurance, you may be eligible to claim rebates for psychological sessions. The level of cover and any applicable waiting periods vary between providers and depends on your extras cover policy.
To find out if you are eligible and/or how much funding you are entitled to claim for psychological sessions, please contact your private health insurance.
Where applicable, some of our psychologists also see clients who are self-managed or plan-managed through NDIS at the current rate for NDIS.
Cancellation or missed sessions policy
Given the nature of our support services, last minute cancellations are costly, and it means that other clients may miss out on receiving the required support. For cancellations within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment there is a $65 part fee payment. For less than 24 hours cancellation notice or a non-show, the full session fee will need to be charged. These fees are refunded however if the session can be filled at the last minute.
How are your counselling and coaching sessions held?
We know our clients are time poor. For your convenience, all our counselling or coaching sessions are now available online via Zoom.
You can book your appointment online via this website.
Zoom allows us to connect with you via video and audio. It just requires you to click on a link to join. You can sign up to Zoom to create a FREE account and download the Zoom Client for Meetings. Zoom does require internet connections.
After you book you will be sent a reminder about the booking and emailed a link to connect at the booked time. You are also likely to be sent a client information form to complete prior to your initial consultation to enable our Counsellors and Coaches to be better prepared for your first meeting.
If you are unable to make any of the dates available, please email us to see if we can accommodate an alternate time for you: [email protected]
If you live in Brisbane or the Gold Coast, Queensland, we are available for face to face consultations. Please email us at [email protected] if you would like to arrange an in person appointment.
Webinars - how they are received, transcripts and worksheets
Our clients have requested webinars and programs for years that allow them to access excellent support and guidance and a toolkit they can use to move forward. Many of our clients are time poor so these webinars give them the chance to get the support and resources in their time. The webinars can be purchased on line. The link, transcript and workbooks/worksheets and videos (where applicable)are then sent with the email. Sign up to our email today to receive updates on all our webinars, programs and resources.
Catch up on our latest blogs
Could your previous spending be added back in the asset split?
Dividing assets – could your historical or current spend be added back?
When couples separate, dividing assets can be complex, especially when one party has used, disposed of, or hidden assets before a settlement being reached.
The legal concept of "add-backs" allows courts to account for those assets by "adding back" funds into the asset pool. The recent case of Boulton & Boulton and amendments to the Family Law Act, commencing June 2025, highlight the need to be aware of the changes for anyone currently involved in property settlements.
The current three main categories of add-backs are:
Where there has been a premature distribution of assets, and property that has been disposed of or used for the benefit of one party.
Property not disclosed or accounted for, including conduct designed to intentionally, recklessly, or negligently reduce the value of an asset; and
Money spent on legal fees.
In the recent case of Boulton & Boulton, the complexities of add-backs were highlighted. It showed that the parties may need to present evidence of spend, including historical spend, when seeking to add money back into the asset pool, or when opposing an add-back. The judge in that case noted that extensive use of add-backs can significantly affect the distribution of property and that the Family Law Act allows the court to take into account any fact or circumstance to ensure justice prevails.
Boulton Case facts
Over $3 million of add-backs proposed by the wife were disputed by the husband. The court eventually added back $1,256,400 to the asset pool, which included the following transactions:
$60,200 paid by the husband to his brother's company for what the court deemed to be an illegitimate invoice;
$596,000 from the sale of a property in 2017; and
$600,000 withdrawn by the husband from a joint account.
The judge in Boulton accepted some of the wife's proposed add-backs, including a significant add-back of $600,000, which the wife claimed the husband had withdrawn from a joint account in 2010, 11 years before they separated.
The husband claimed it was unfair and onerous for the Court to expect him to undertake a tracing exercise that far back. However, the Court held the husband did not provide a satisfactory explanation for the dissipation of $600,000, causing the judge to infer the husband had retained the benefit of the funds.
Legal Fee spend
We also note that in the case of Trevi & Trevi the court held that when legal fees are paid from property that would otherwise be included in the asset pool, those amounts are almost always added back.
June 2025 Amendments to the Family Law Act
The legislative amendments to the Family Law Act, coming into effect on 10 June 2025, may change the way the court addresses add-backs. Stay tuned and get advice on this more complex topic. Our panel of lawyers can assist you.
All information in this blog is of a general nature only and is not intended to be relied upon as, nor to be a substitute for, specific legal professional advice. No responsibility for the loss occasioned to any person acting on or refraining from action as a result of any material published can be accepted
We are committed to protecting your personal information and respecting your privacy. This website uses cookies to analyze website traffic and optimise your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.
DISCLAIMER: The material contained on this website is for general educational and information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, medical or psychological advice or care. While every care has been taken in the information provided, no legal responsibility or liability is accepted, warranted or implied by the authors or Family Counselling Support Network and any liability is hereby expressly disclaimed. For specific advice please contact us at [email protected]. All information contained on the website remains the intellectual property of Family Counselling Support Network and is for your personal educational use only. The information must not be reproduced or distributed without the express permission of Family Counselling Support Network.
We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible environment where people and communities of all identities and backgrounds are accepted, safe and celebrated.
Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions