Sir Bertram Stevens Institute Limited

ABN 61 689 577 400

Membership Terms and Conditions

By purchasing, renewing or holding a membership with Sir Bertram Stevens Institute Limited ABN 61 689 577 400 (the Company), you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Membership Terms and Conditions (the Terms), as amended from time to time. The Company is a company limited by guarantee.

1. Definitions and interpretation

  1. In these Terms, unless the context requires otherwise:
    1. Board means the board of directors of the Company from time to time.
    2. Code of Conduct means any code of conduct, rules, policies or standards adopted by the Board from time to time that apply to Members.
    3. Company means Sir Bertram Stevens Institute Limited ABN 61 689 577 400.
    4. Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), as amended or replaced.
    5. Member means a person who has purchased a Membership and whose Membership has not lapsed, been cancelled or suspended in accordance with these Terms.
    6. Membership means a subscription, whether described as a “membership” or otherwise, purchased from the Company that provides access to certain Benefits for a specified period, and includes any category or tier of membership offered by the Company from time to time.
    7. Benefits means any products, services, discounts, privileges, access rights, events, materials or other benefits offered by the Company to Members, as determined by the Board from time to time.
    8. Website means any website or online platform operated by or on behalf of the Company in connection with Membership.
  2. Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. The singular includes the plural and vice versa.

2. Nature of Membership

  1. Membership constitutes a contractual arrangement between the Member and the Company under these Terms. It is a subscription-based entitlement to receive Benefits, subject to these Terms, and does not constitute:
    1. an interest in the share capital or guarantee of the Company;
    2. a membership of the Company for the purposes of the Corporations Act;
    3. a partnership, joint venture, agency or employment relationship with the Company; or
    4. any fiduciary relationship between the Company (or any director or officer) and the Member.
  2. Membership is a personal right. It does not create any proprietary or equitable interest in the Company, its business, its assets, its goodwill or its intellectual property.

3. No rights under the Corporations Act

  1. Membership is not, and is not intended to be, membership in the Company for the purposes of the Corporations Act.
  2. Without limiting clause 3.1, by purchasing or holding Membership, you acknowledge and agree that you:
    1. are not a “member” of the Company within the meaning of section 9 of the Corporations Act;
    2. have no rights under the Corporations Act in relation to the Company, including (without limitation) any rights to:
      1. receive notice of, attend or vote at any general meeting of the Company;
      2. appoint a proxy, attorney or representative for any meeting of the Company;
      3. inspect or obtain copies of the Company’s register of members, minutes, financial records, constitution or other corporate documents;
      4. propose or requisition resolutions, meetings or other corporate action;
      5. participate in the appointment, election or removal of directors or auditors; or
      6. receive any distribution, surplus or property of the Company on winding up or otherwise, except as the Board may expressly determine in its absolute discretion.
  3. Any rights or entitlements you have arise solely under these Terms (as a contract between you and the Company) and not under the Corporations Act or the Company’s constitution.

4. Membership categories, fees and term

  1. The Board may from time to time determine, create, vary or discontinue any Membership category or tier, including associated Benefits, eligibility criteria, fees and terms.
  2. Membership fees, payment methods and billing cycles will be specified on the Website or in any relevant communication issued by the Company. The Board may vary Membership fees at any time, in its absolute discretion.
  3. Unless otherwise stated, Membership is for a fixed term (for example, 12 months) commencing on the date of payment confirmation. The Company may, but is not obliged to, offer auto-renewal, renewal options or grace periods.
  4. The Board may refuse, cancel or decline to process any application or renewal for Membership in its absolute discretion, with or without giving reasons.

5. Benefits

  1. The Board has complete discretion as to the nature, extent, timing and availability of any Benefits and may, at any time, without notice and without liability to any Member:
    1. introduce, vary, suspend or withdraw any Benefit;
    2. set limits, quotas, conditions or eligibility requirements for accessing any Benefit;
    3. substitute any Benefit for a different or equivalent benefit; or
    4. restrict access to Benefits, including to particular Membership categories or tiers.
  2. Any descriptions of Benefits in marketing, promotional or other materials are indicative only. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company does not warrant that any particular Benefit will continue to be available for any minimum period.

6. Codes of Conduct and additional terms

  1. By applying for, purchasing, renewing or holding Membership, you agree to comply with:
    1. these Terms;
    2. any Code of Conduct; and
    3. any additional or supplemental terms and conditions, policies, rules or procedures that the Board may adopt or publish from time to time in relation to Membership, events, online platforms or other activities (collectively, Supplemental Terms).
  2. The Board may at any time adopt new Codes of Conduct or Supplemental Terms, or amend, replace or revoke any existing Codes of Conduct or Supplemental Terms, in its absolute discretion.
  3. You agree that any Codes of Conduct and Supplemental Terms are incorporated by reference into these Terms and form part of the contractual arrangements between you and the Company.
  4. If there is any inconsistency between these Terms and any Code of Conduct or Supplemental Terms, these Terms prevail to the extent of the inconsistency, unless the Board expressly states otherwise.

7. Variation of Terms

  1. The Board may amend, supplement or replace these Terms at any time, in its absolute discretion, to the maximum extent permitted by law.
  2. The Company may give notice of any changes to these Terms by any reasonable means, including by publishing the updated Terms on the Website or by email or other communication to Members.
  3. To the extent permitted by law, continued holding or use of Membership, or continued access to or use of any Benefits, after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

8. Conduct and use of Membership

  1. As a Member, you must:
    1. act honestly, lawfully and in good faith towards the Company, its directors, officers, employees, contractors and other Members;
    2. comply with any reasonable directions given by or on behalf of the Board in connection with Membership, Benefits or events;
    3. not engage in conduct which, in the opinion of the Board, may bring the Company, its directors or Members into disrepute, or which is otherwise inconsistent with the objects, reputation or interests of the Company; and
    4. not misuse Membership or any Benefit for any unlawful, misleading or unethical purpose.
  2. The Board’s determination as to whether conduct breaches this clause 8, any Code of Conduct, or any Supplemental Terms is final and binding.

9. Suspension and cancellation by the Company

  1. The Board may, in its absolute discretion and at any time, suspend or cancel your Membership (in whole or in part), with or without cause, and with or without prior notice, including but not limited to where:
    1. you breach these Terms, any Code of Conduct or any Supplemental Terms;
    2. you engage in conduct that, in the opinion of the Board, may damage the interests, reputation or operations of the Company or its directors, officers, employees, contractors or Members;
    3. the Board considers, acting in good faith, that it is not in the best interests of the Company for your Membership to continue; or
    4. any information you provided in connection with your Membership is or becomes false, misleading or incomplete in a material respect.
  2. The Company is not obliged to provide reasons for any decision to suspend or cancel Membership, but may do so at its discretion.
  3. To the maximum extent permitted by law, where your Membership is suspended or cancelled under this clause 9:
    1. you are not entitled to any refund or credit of Membership fees (whether in whole or in part); and
    2. all Benefits cease immediately, except to the extent the Board expressly determines otherwise.

10. Cancellation by the Member

  1. You may request to cancel your Membership by providing written notice to the Company in the manner specified on the Website or in any Membership communication.
  2. Unless otherwise required by law or expressly agreed by the Company in writing, the Company is under no obligation to provide any refund or credit of Membership fees upon cancellation by you before the expiry of the Membership term.

11. No warranties; limitation of liability

  1. To the maximum extent permitted by law, all express or implied guarantees, warranties, representations or conditions relating to Membership or any Benefits (other than those expressly set out in these Terms) are excluded.
  2. Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any rights, remedies or guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or any other applicable law.
  3. To the extent permitted by law, the Company’s liability in respect of any claim arising out of or in connection with Membership, these Terms or any Benefits, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), statute or otherwise, is limited, at the Company’s option, to:
    1. supplying the relevant services again; or
    2. payment of the cost of having the relevant services supplied again.
  4. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company is not liable for any indirect, consequential, special or punitive loss or damage, or any loss of opportunity, profit, goodwill or business, arising out of or in connection with Membership, these Terms or any Benefits.

12. Privacy and communications

  1. The Company may collect, use, store and disclose your personal information in connection with your Membership in accordance with its privacy policy as amended from time to time.
  2. You consent to receiving communications from the Company in connection with your Membership, including by email, SMS, telephone, post or via the Website or other digital platforms.

13. General

  1. If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that provision will be severed, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
  2. The failure of the Company to enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.
  3. These Terms, together with any Codes of Conduct and Supplemental Terms, constitute the entire agreement between you and the Company in relation to Membership and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings, agreements or communications (whether oral or written) relating to Membership.
  4. These Terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. You submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales and the courts competent to hear appeals from them.
  5. To the maximum extent permitted by law, you as a Member indemnify the Company, its directors, officers, employees and contractors against any loss, liability, cost or expense arising from your breach of these Terms, any Code of Conduct or Supplemental Terms, or from any unlawful or improper use of your Membership or Benefits.
  6. The Company may refuse entry to, or require the removal of, any Member from any event or activity where the Member’s conduct, in the opinion of the Company, is inappropriate, unsafe or inconsistent with these Terms, any Code of Conduct or the interests of the Company.