Privacy Policy

Welcome to My Special Needs ('App,' 'we,' 'our,' or 'us'). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect information from individual therapists and healthcare professionals ('Therapists') who use our platform to provide therapy and connect with other professionals and clients.

We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and ensuring that your data is processed in compliance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

By joining My Special Needs as a Therapist or continuing to use our platform, you acknowledge and agree to this Privacy Policy along with our Terms and Conditions.

We collect personal and professional information to verify your profile, support your practice, and enable secure connections with clients and other professionals.

a. Information You Provide Directly:

Account Information: When creating a Therapist account, we collect your name, email address, phone number, password, and professional role.

Professional Credentials: We may collect your qualification certificates, AHPRA registration number (if applicable), NDIS provider number, and insurance details to verify your professional status.

Profile Information: You may provide details such as your biography, photo, areas of specialization, therapy methods, location, and availability schedule.

Network and Collaboration: If you choose to connect or collaborate with other therapy providers, we may collect related networking data such as connection requests and professional communication records within the platform.

Client-Related Data: Any information you upload, including therapy reports, session notes, and progress updates for clients, remains encrypted and shared only with authorized parties (such as the client, carer, or plan manager) based on consent.

Payment Details: We collect financial information (e.g., Stripe account details or bank information) to facilitate service payments and withdrawals.

Communications: Messages, support inquiries, and feedback sent to us are collected to provide assistance and service improvement.

b. Information Collected Automatically:

Usage Data: Includes app interactions, login activity, and feature usage statistics.

Device Information: Includes IP address, browser type, device model, operating system, and access timestamps.

Location Data: With your consent, we may use your business location to help clients find you and display your availability in local searches.

We use your data responsibly to enhance your professional experience and maintain platform security. This includes:

To Verify Identity and Credentials: Confirming your professional status, qualifications, and eligibility to offer therapy services.

To Facilitate Client Connections: Displaying verified profiles so that clients and carers can reach out to you securely.

To Support Therapy Sessions: Enabling scheduling, secure communication, report uploads, and progress tracking.

To Enhance Collaboration: Allowing therapists to connect, exchange knowledge, or form referral partnerships within the platform.

To Process Payments: Managing billing, payouts, and related financial operations via secure systems.

To Ensure Security and Compliance: Monitoring activity for fraud prevention and compliance with healthcare privacy standards.

To Improve Platform Functionality: Analyzing anonymized data to optimize user experience and develop better features.

We only share your data under the following controlled and lawful conditions:

Public Profile Display: Limited profile information (e.g., name, title, specialization, and location) is visible to users seeking therapy providers.

Client Relationships: When you work with a client, information may be shared as part of authorized communication and therapy management within the app.

Third-Party Service Providers: We use secure vendors (e.g., AWS, Stripe, and Google Analytics) to operate our platform. These partners have limited access and must comply with strict data security terms.

Professional Collaboration: If you choose to connect with other therapists or clinics, limited profile and communication data may be shared for collaboration purposes.

Legal Compliance: Data may be disclosed if required by law, court order, or governmental authority.

Business Transfers: If our platform is acquired or merged, your data may be transferred under equivalent privacy protections.

We employ advanced security technologies and organizational measures to protect your data:

Encryption: All stored and transmitted data is encrypted using TLS/SSL.

Access Restrictions: Personal and client information is accessible only to authorized users and verified partners.

Compliance Standards: Our systems align with ISO 27001 and HIPAA-equivalent standards for data privacy.

While we apply rigorous controls, no system can be entirely risk-free. We continuously monitor and upgrade our infrastructure to safeguard against unauthorized access or loss.

We retain your professional and personal data for as long as your account remains active or as required by law.

Upon request, you may delete your account and associated data by contacting support@myspecialneeds.com. Certain records may be kept to meet legal or financial compliance obligations.

Depending on your region, you may have the following rights:

Access: Request a copy of your stored personal or professional data.

Correction: Request that incorrect or incomplete information be updated.

Deletion: Request permanent deletion of your data, subject to retention requirements.

Restriction: Request limited data processing under specific conditions.

Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another organization or service.

Withdrawal of Consent: Revoke consent for optional data processing activities at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact support@myspecialneeds.com.

As a Therapist, you are responsible for maintaining confidentiality and obtaining consent when sharing client data or collaborating with other professionals.

You must comply with privacy regulations and professional standards, including the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and relevant healthcare confidentiality laws.

All client data shared within the platform must be handled securely and ethically.

Data may be processed and stored on servers located outside your country of residence. We ensure that any international data transfer meets the requirements of the GDPR and APPs for lawful cross-border data protection.

We use AI tools and analytics to provide insights such as therapy trends, performance tracking, and predictive recommendations.

AI-processed data is anonymized and never used to make automated decisions affecting your professional standing.

If you integrate third-party applications like CRM systems, telehealth platforms, or practice management software, data shared with those systems is subject to their respective privacy policies.

We recommend reviewing these policies carefully, as My Special Needs does not control their data practices.

Therapists providing services to minors or dependent individuals must obtain proper consent from a parent, guardian, or carer before any therapy begins.

You are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable child protection and privacy laws in your jurisdiction.

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in legal requirements or our practices.

The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised 'Effective Date.' We recommend reviewing it regularly.