The Happy Thoughts Co.

Last updated: April 2026

Geelong, Victoria, Australia | happythoughts.au

This privacy policy describes how The Happy Thoughts Co. (referred to as “we”, “us”, or “I”) collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information when you use our website and services. We are committed to handling your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

By using our website or engaging our services, you agree to the terms of this privacy policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us, such as when you book a session, make a purchase, or contact us. This may include:

  • Your name and age
  • Email address, phone number, and mailing address
  • Payment information (processed securely through our payment provider)
  • Health-related information relevant to your sessions
  • Next of kin or medical professional contact details (where relevant)
  • Session notes

We also automatically collect certain information when you visit our website, including your IP address, browser type, and pages visited, through cookies and analytics tools (see Section 7).

2. How We Use Your Information On This Site

We use the information we collect to:

  • Book and manage your sessions
  • Process payments and send booking confirmations
  • Respond to your enquiries and provide support
  • Maintain session notes and client records
  • Send you relevant updates or marketing communications (with your consent)
  • Improve our website and services
  • Meet our professional and legal obligations

3. What Data Do I Keep Collected During a Session And Why Do I Need It?

As a health and wellbeing practitioner, I collect and retain certain information specifically to provide you with appropriate care. Here is what I keep and why:

Name and age — basic information that helps me understand and support you.

Contact details — used to communicate with you about your sessions. I will primarily use the method you first contacted me on.

Next of kin or medical professional details — retained in case I have a concern about your safety or wellbeing. I will inform you before contacting anyone on your behalf.

Session notes — brief notes kept in a secure, locked file. These are retained for three years from your last session, after which they are securely destroyed.

Website and booking data — information submitted through our website forms and booking system is retained for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected, or as required by law.

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. Your information may be shared only in the following limited circumstances:

  • Service providers — third-party tools that help us operate our website and business (such as our booking system, payment processor, or email platform). These providers are required to keep your information confidential and may not use it for any other purpose.
  • Professional supervision — I may discuss your case during clinical supervision as part of my professional obligations. Only your first name is used; no identifying information is shared.
  • Legal obligations — if required by law, such as a court subpoena, or if there is a genuine concern for your safety or the safety of another person, I may be required to disclose certain information.

In all other circumstances, your information remains confidential.

5. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Physical session notes are kept in a locked filing cabinet. Digital information is stored securely with access limited to authorised personnel only. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure; however, we are committed to implementing appropriate safeguards.

6. Your Rights Under Australian Privacy Law

Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you
  • Request corrections to any inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Request that we delete your information, where it is no longer required
  • Opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time
  • Make a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been breached

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 10. If you are not satisfied with our response to a privacy complaint, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

7. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We may use:

  • Essential cookies — required for the website to function correctly.
  • Analytics cookies — tools such as Google Analytics help us understand how visitors use our site so we can improve it. This data is anonymised and aggregated.

You can disable cookies through your browser settings at any time, though this may affect certain website functionality.

8. Third-Party Tools and Platforms

We use third-party platforms to operate our business. Each has its own privacy policy governing the data they process on our behalf:

  • Booking system (e.g. Calendly, Halaxy, or similar) — used to manage session bookings
  • Payment processor (e.g. Stripe) — used to process payments securely
  • Email marketing platform — used to send newsletters and updates (with your consent)
  • Google Analytics — used for website traffic analysis

9. Comments and Testimonials

When visitors leave comments on our website, we collect the information shown in the comments form, along with the visitor’s IP address and browser details, to assist with spam detection.

Testimonials displayed on our website will only include a client’s first name and general location. No identifying information will be displayed without your explicit consent.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. When we do, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, wish to access or correct your personal information, or wish to make a privacy complaint, please contact:

Melanie du Plessis

The Happy Thoughts Co.

Email: melanie@happythoughts.au

Website: happythoughts.au

Location: Geelong, Victoria, Australia