Privacy Policy
Last Updated: June 2026
Who We Are
Stable & Nook is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly.
Our website address is:
We provide counselling, equine-assisted therapy, grief counselling, wellbeing retreats, accommodation, and related services.
We comply with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), applicable Victorian Health Records legislation, and the ethical standards and record-keeping requirements of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
What Personal Information We Collect
Depending on your interaction with us, we may collect:
- Name
- Postal address
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Emergency contact details
- Booking information
- Referral information
- Health and wellbeing information
- Counselling intake information
- Session notes and clinical records
- Information provided through contact forms, referral forms and enquiries
We only collect information that is reasonably necessary to provide our services.
Contact Forms and Referral Forms
When you complete a contact form, booking enquiry, referral form or counselling intake form, we collect the information you provide so that we can:
- Respond to your enquiry
- Assess suitability for services
- Provide counselling and wellbeing services
- Manage bookings and appointments
- Meet legal, ethical and professional obligations
Some forms may collect sensitive information relating to your physical or mental health. This information receives additional protections and is handled confidentially.
Comments
When visitors leave comments on the website, we collect:
- Information shown in the comments form
- IP address
- Browser user agent string
This information helps detect spam and maintain website security.
An anonymised string created from your email address (known as a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to determine whether you use that service.
The Gravatar privacy policy can be viewed at:
After approval of a comment, your profile picture may be visible publicly alongside your comment.
Media Uploads
If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images containing embedded location data (EXIF GPS).
Visitors may be able to download and extract location information from publicly available images.
Cookies
Our website uses cookies to improve user experience and website functionality.
Comment Cookies
If you leave a comment, you may choose to save your:
- Name
- Email address
- Website
These cookies are for convenience and last for one year.
Login Cookies
When you visit our login page, a temporary cookie is used to determine whether your browser accepts cookies.
When you log in:
- Login cookies last for two days
- Screen preference cookies last for one year
- “Remember Me” cookies remain active for two weeks
Logging out removes login cookies.
Publishing Cookies
If you edit or publish content, a cookie may be stored containing the article ID. This cookie contains no personal information and expires after one day.
Embedded Content from Other Websites
Pages and articles on this website may include embedded content such as:
- Videos
- Images
- Maps
- Social media content
- Articles
Embedded content behaves exactly as though you had visited the external website directly.
Third-party websites may:
- Collect information about you
- Use cookies
- Track interactions
- Monitor your engagement with embedded content
We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party websites you interact with.
Analytics
We may use analytics services, including Google Analytics and similar tools, to understand how visitors use our website.
Analytics data may include:
- Device type
- Browser information
- Pages visited
- Time spent on pages
- General geographic location
- Referral sources
Analytics information is generally aggregated and does not personally identify visitors.
How We Use Your Information
We use personal information to:
- Provide counselling and wellbeing services
- Manage bookings and enquiries
- Communicate with clients and guests
- Maintain professional records
- Meet legal and ethical obligations
- Improve website performance
- Send information you have requested
Counselling Records
As a PACFA-registered counsellor, client records are maintained in accordance with:
- PACFA Ethical Guidelines
- Australian Privacy Principles
- Relevant Health Records legislation
- Professional record-keeping requirements
Clinical records are stored securely and retained for the period required by law and professional standards.
Who We Share Your Information With
We do not sell, rent or trade personal information.
Information may be shared:
- With your consent
- With healthcare providers involved in your care
- With NDIS representatives where authorised
- With trusted service providers assisting with business operations
- Where required or authorised by law
Examples may include:
- Serious and imminent risk of harm
- Child protection concerns
- Court orders
- Mandatory legal reporting obligations
Where appropriate and practical, we will discuss disclosures with you.
How Long We Retain Information
Comments and associated metadata may be retained indefinitely.
Counselling and client records are retained in accordance with legal, ethical and professional requirements.
Website user account information (where applicable) is retained while accounts remain active and as required for administrative purposes.
Your Rights
You may request:
- Access to personal information we hold about you
- Correction of inaccurate information
- A copy of personal information held about you
- Deletion of information where legally permissible
Please note that some records may need to be retained to meet legal, professional, insurance or regulatory obligations.
Where Your Information Is Sent
Visitor comments may be checked through automated spam detection services.
Some website hosting, email and software providers may store information on secure servers located outside Australia.
Where overseas providers are used, we take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate privacy protections are in place.
How We Protect Your Information
We take reasonable steps to safeguard personal information through:
- Password-protected systems
- Secure cloud-based practice management software
- Encryption where available
- Secure website hosting
- Restricted access to records
- Staff and contractor confidentiality obligations
Data Breach Procedures
In the event of a suspected data breach, we will:
- Investigate the incident promptly
- Contain and assess risks
- Notify affected individuals where required
- Comply with obligations under the Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme
Automated Decision Making
We do not use personal information for automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects.
Third-Party Information
We may receive information from:
- Referring practitioners
- Healthcare providers
- Support coordinators
- NDIS representatives
- Family members or carers (where authorised)
Industry Regulatory Requirements
As a counselling and wellbeing service, we are bound by professional and ethical obligations relating to confidentiality, privacy and record keeping.
Our services operate in accordance with:
- PACFA Code of Ethics
- Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
- Australian Privacy Principles
- Applicable Victorian Health Records legislation
Complaints
If you have concerns regarding the handling of your personal information, please contact us first.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
Contact Us
Stable & Nook
South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia
Email: enquire@gippslandequine.com
