1.1 This Policy sets out the terms and conditions under which Australian Christian Arts Ltd (AChA) will consider, assess, and process requests for the refund of moneys paid in connection with membership fees, event registrations, and other services.

1.2 This Policy applies to all Members, event attendees, participants, and any other person who has made a payment to AChA for goods or services.

1.3 Nothing in this Policy is intended to limit, restrict, or exclude any right or remedy available under the Australian Consumer Law or any other applicable legislation.

2.1 The Constitution of Australian Christian Arts Ltd is the supreme governing document of AChA. Where any provision of this Policy is inconsistent with the Constitution, the Constitution prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.

2.2 This Policy is a Board-approved policy made pursuant to the Constitution and may be amended, replaced, or revoked by resolution of the Board from time to time.

2.3 The hierarchy of governance is:

(a) the Constitution;

(b) policies approved by the Board (including this Policy); and

(c) operational procedures and guidelines adopted by management.

In this Policy, unless the context otherwise requires:

"AChA" means Australian Christian Arts Ltd, ACN/ABN as registered.

"Approved Refund" means a refund that has been assessed and approved in accordance with this Policy.

"Australian Consumer Law" means Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), as amended from time to time.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of AChA as constituted under the Constitution.

"Business Day" means a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday in New South Wales.

"Constitution" means the Constitution of Australian Christian Arts Ltd, as amended from time to time.

"Event" means any concert, performance, workshop, conference, tour, broadcast, rehearsal, recording session, or other activity organised or hosted by AChA for which a fee is charged.

"Exceptional Circumstances" means circumstances that are, in the reasonable opinion of AChA, extreme or extraordinary, including but not limited to serious illness or injury (supported by medical evidence), bereavement of an immediate family member, natural disaster, or government-mandated restrictions preventing attendance.

"Member" means a person who holds a current membership with AChA in accordance with the Constitution.

"Membership Fee" means the fee payable for membership of AChA, whether paid in a lump sum or under a Payment Plan.

"Original Payment Method" means the payment account, card, or method used by the applicant to make the original transaction with AChA.

"Payment Plan" means a pre-agreed schedule of non-refundable instalments for the payment of Membership Fees or Event registration fees, as distinct from a subscription service.

"Refund Request" means a formal written request for a refund submitted through the designated Refund Request Form.

"Refund Request Form" means the online form designated by AChA for the submission of Refund Requests, as published on the AChA website from time to time.

4.1 AChA is committed to:

(d) maintaining transparency and equity in all financial transactions;

(e) processing Refund Requests in a fair, consistent, and timely manner;

(f) ensuring compliance with the Australian Consumer Law and all applicable legislation; and

(g) communicating clearly the terms and conditions applicable to each transaction at the point of sale or registration.

5.1 Subject only to any non-excludable rights or remedies available under the Australian Consumer Law or any other applicable legislation, all fees charged by AChA are strictly non-refundable under any circumstances.

5.2 Without limitation, the following fees are all non-refundable:

(a) Membership Fees;

(b) Audition Fees; and

(c) any other fees charged by AChA.

5.3 AChA will not provide refunds for a change of mind, non-attendance, non-participation, non-use of membership benefits, or any other circumstance, except to the extent required by the Australian Consumer Law.

6.1 Where a Member elects to pay a Membership Fee by way of a Payment Plan, whether over 3 months, 4 months, or any other approved period, the Payment Plan is merely a method of paying the Membership Fee by instalments and is not a subscription service.

6.2 A Payment Plan is equivalent to purchasing a product on a deferred payment basis, including by way of a "Buy Now, Pay Later" or "Pay in 3/4" arrangement: once the Member commits to the Payment Plan, the full amount is owed and all instalments remain due and payable in accordance with the agreed schedule.

6.3 All instalments under a Payment Plan are legally binding obligations. Cancellation of membership, cessation of participation, or any decision not to continue using AChA services does not cancel, suspend, vary, or extinguish the Payment Plan obligation.

6.4 No refunds will be issued for any instalments already paid under a Payment Plan, except to the extent required by the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable legislation.

6.5 Outstanding instalments under a Payment Plan must still be paid in full, regardless of whether the Member continues to participate in AChA activities or cancels their membership.

6.6 A Member who ceases to be a Member, for whatever reason, remains liable for any outstanding instalments under a Payment Plan.

6.7 Failure to complete Payment Plan instalments may result in:

(h) suspension of membership privileges;

(i) referral of the outstanding balance to a debt recovery process; and

(j) such other action as the Board considers appropriate under the Constitution.

7.1 Refunds for Membership Fees may be considered in Exceptional Circumstances, subject to the discretion of the AChA Board, including but not limited to:

7.2 The applicant bears the onus of providing sufficient documentary evidence to substantiate the claim of Exceptional Circumstances, which may include:

(k) medical certificates or hospital records;

(l) death certificates or funeral notices;

(m) government emergency declarations; or

(n) other documentation reasonably requested by AChA.

7.3 No prorated refunds will be issued for partial membership periods, except where required by law.

8.1 The specific refund terms and conditions for each Event will be clearly stated at the time of registration and on the Event's promotional materials. These specific terms will override this general policy if there is a conflict.

8.2 AChA generally does not offer refunds for Event tickets or registrations due to a change of mind, inability to attend, or non-attendance.

9.1 If an Attendee cancels their registration a specified number of days prior to the Event (as per the specific Event terms), a partial refund or credit note may be offered, subject to an administrative fee.

9.2 Cancellations made after this specified period, or on the day of the Event, will generally not be eligible for a refund.

10.1 Attendees may be permitted to transfer their registration to another person, subject to prior written approval from AChA and payment of any applicable transfer fees.

10.2 Transfer requests must be made within a reasonable timeframe before the Event as specified in the Event terms.

11.1 If an Event is postponed by AChA, registered Attendees will have the option to:

(o) Retain their registration for the rescheduled Event.

(p) Receive a full refund of their registration fee.

11.2 If an Event is cancelled by AChA, all registered Attendees will receive a full refund of their registration fee.

11.3 AChA is not responsible for any ancillary costs incurred by Attendees (e.g., travel, accommodation) as a result of an Event postponement or cancellation.

12.1 AChA shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under an Event agreement where such failure or delay is caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, civil unrest, government restrictions, epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters, or other similar events ("Force Majeure Event"). In such cases, AChA reserves the right to postpone or cancel the Event without liability for ancillary costs, and refunds will be handled as per clause 11.

13.1 All Refund Requests must be submitted in writing using the designated AChA Refund Request Form.

13.2 The Refund Request Form can be accessed via the AChA website or by contacting AChA support.

(q) Full name of the Member/Attendee.

(r) Contact details (email, phone number).

(s) Date of transaction.

(t) Description of the service (e.g., "Annual Membership", "Event X Registration").

(u) Amount paid.

(v) Detailed reason for the refund request.

(w) Any supporting documentation relevant to the request (e.g., medical certificates, proof of administrative error).

15.1 Membership Fee Refund Requests must be submitted within thirty (30) days of the commencement of the membership period, as per clause 6(b).

15.2 Event registration Refund Requests must adhere to the specific timelines stipulated for the respective Event (refer to clause 9).

15.3 For any other services, Refund Requests must be submitted within a reasonable timeframe, generally no later than fourteen (14) days from the date of the transaction or provision of the service.

16.1 AChA will acknowledge receipt of a Refund Request within five (5) Business Days.

16.2 AChA will endeavour to process all Refund Requests within thirty (30) Business Days of receiving all necessary information and documentation.

16.3 The decision on a Refund Request will be communicated in writing to the applicant.

17.1 Approved Refunds will be processed via the Original Payment Method, where possible.

17.2 If the Original Payment Method is not available, an alternative method (e.g., bank transfer) will be arranged. AChA will not be responsible for any fees incurred by the applicant for receiving such payments.

18.1 AChA reserves the right to deduct reasonable administrative fees from any Approved Refund, particularly for Event cancellations as per clause 9, to cover processing costs.

19.1 Nothing in this Policy is intended to exclude, restrict or modify any rights or remedies which you may have under the Australian Consumer Law, which cannot be excluded, restricted, or modified by agreement.

19.2 If a service provided by AChA fails to meet a consumer guarantee under the Australian Consumer Law, you are entitled to a refund or other remedy as provided by law.

19.3 Further information about your rights under the Australian Consumer Law is available on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website.

20.1 If an applicant is dissatisfied with a refund decision, they may request a review by the AChA Board by submitting a written appeal within fourteen (14) days of receiving the initial decision. The appeal must outline the grounds for review and provide any additional supporting documentation.

21.1 The decision of the AChA Board following a review will be final and binding.

22.1 This Policy will be reviewed by the AChA Board at least every two (2) years, or more frequently if deemed necessary due to changes in legislation, operational procedures, or member feedback.

23.1 AChA reserves the right to amend this Policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on the AChA website and will become effective immediately upon publication.

24.1 For any questions regarding this Policy or to submit a refund request, please contact: Australian Christian Arts Ltd
Email: support@australianchristianarts.com
Website: australianchristianarts.com

25.1 Version: 1.0

25.2 Approval Date: 2024-05-20

25.3 Effective Date: 2024-05-20

26.1 AChA Terms and Conditions

26.2 AChA Privacy Policy

26.3 AChA Event Terms and Conditions

27.1 This Policy is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Members and Attendees are encouraged to seek independent legal advice if they have specific concerns regarding their rights.

28.1 AChA reserves the right to amend, replace, or withdraw policies from time to time in accordance with the Constitution.

28.2 Amended policies take effect upon publication unless otherwise stated.

28.3 Members agree to be bound by the most current version of all policies as a condition of ongoing membership and participation.

28.4 Failure to comply with updated policies may result in action under the Constitution.

29.1 Members acknowledge that AChA is a developing organisation and that policies may evolve to:

(x) Reflect legal requirements

(y) Improve safeguarding standards

(z) Support organisational growth