Queer Love Lounge

Privacy Policy

Your privacy — and the trust it takes to talk about your relationship — matters to us. Here's exactly how we handle your information.

Last updated: 9 August 2026

Queer Love Lounge respects your privacy. This policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use and protect it, and the choices you have. We handle personal and health information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). Because we provide a health service and hold health information, the Privacy Act applies to us regardless of our size — the small-business exemption does not apply.

1. Who we are

Queer Love Lounge provides online couples and relationship therapy for LGBTQIA+ people across Australia. It is part of Body Belonging Clinic and led by Lauren Lynch, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW, AASW). Care is provided by an AASW-accredited social worker and is bound by the AASW Code of Ethics and practice standards. In this policy, "we", "us" and "our" refer to Queer Love Lounge / Body Belonging Clinic.

For anything to do with your privacy, contact us at lovelounge@bodybelongingclinic.com.au or 0493 117 185.

2. Information we collect

We only collect what we need to provide safe, effective care and to run the practice. Depending on how you interact with us, this may include:

We do not require you to be "out" to work with us, and we never share your identity or relationship details with anyone without your consent, except where the law requires it (see section 11).

3. How we use your information

We use your information to: provide and coordinate your care; schedule and manage appointments; process payments; keep accurate and secure clinical records; communicate with you (for example, appointment reminders); meet our legal, professional and record-keeping obligations; and, if you consent, understand how people find and use our website so we can improve it.

4. Website, cookies & analytics

Our website uses a small number of cookies and analytics tools — but only if you agree. When you first visit, you'll see a consent banner. Nothing that tracks you loads until you choose Accept. If you choose Decline, no analytics or advertising tools are loaded at all.

If you consent, we use:

We store your choice in a cookie named qll_consent so we don't have to ask again for about a year. You can change your mind at any time by clearing your browser cookies for this site (the banner will reappear), or by using your browser's privacy settings to block cookies. You can also install Google's Analytics opt-out add-on.

We do not use website analytics or advertising cookies to identify you personally, and we never combine website analytics with your clinical records.

5. Telehealth & how sessions are delivered

Sessions are delivered online by secure video, Australia-wide. Video calls run through Zoom, integrated with our practice management system (Zanda). A private, unique link is generated for each appointment.

6. Booking & payments

Bookings are made through our client portal, powered by Zanda (our practice management system). A deposit and session fees are processed securely by Stripe, our payment provider. Your full card details are entered directly with the payment provider and are not stored by us. Couples and relationship therapy is a private service and is not claimed through Medicare.

7. Who we share your information with

We do not sell your information. We share it only as needed to provide our service or where required by law, including with:

8. Storage & security

Your clinical records are held in our practice management system (Zanda), which stores Australian client data in Australia on ISO 27001-certified infrastructure (AWS), encrypted in transit and at rest, with strict access controls. We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect your information from misuse, loss, and unauthorised access or disclosure — including restricted access and strong authentication. If a data breach occurred that was likely to result in serious harm, we would act in line with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme, including notifying you and the OAIC where required.

9. Overseas processing

Your clinical records are stored in Australia. Some limited overseas access or processing can occur — for example, after-hours technical support for our practice system, our payment processor (Stripe), our video provider (Zoom), and, only if you consent, website analytics (Google, Meta). Where information is handled outside Australia, we take reasonable steps to ensure it is treated consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles (APP 8).

10. How long we keep records

We keep clinical records for as long as required by law and professional standards, including AASW guidance — generally 7 years from your last appointment for adults, and, for anyone seen while under 18, until they turn 25. After that, records are securely destroyed or de-identified. Some jurisdictions may set longer minimums, which we follow where they apply.

11. Confidentiality & its limits

What you share in therapy is confidential, and we won't disclose it to a third party without your written consent. There are a small number of situations where we may be legally or ethically required to share information without your consent, including:

Wherever possible, we will talk with you first about what needs to be shared and why.

A note for couples. Because relationship therapy involves more than one person, we will not release information about your sessions — to anyone outside the room, or to one partner about the other — without the written consent of everyone involved, except where the law requires disclosure.

12. Accessing & correcting your information

You have the right to ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, and to ask us to correct anything that is inaccurate or out of date. Contact us at lovelounge@bodybelongingclinic.com.au. We may need to verify your identity, and in limited circumstances we may not be able to provide access (for example, where doing so would risk someone's safety) — if so, we'll explain why.

13. Complaints

If you're concerned about how we've handled your information, please tell us first — email lovelounge@bodybelongingclinic.com.au and we'll take it seriously and respond promptly. If you're not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992.

14. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The current version is always available on this page, with the effective date below.

15. Contact us

Queer Love Lounge (Body Belonging Clinic)
Email: lovelounge@bodybelongingclinic.com.au
Phone: 0493 117 185

Effective date: 9 August 2026.