VIPMate Terms of Service

1. What VIPMate is (and is not)

VIPMate is an online marketplace that connects people and businesses organising events ("Hosts") with independent hospitality and event professionals ("Talent"). We provide the technology to discover, book, communicate, pay and review — we facilitate; we do not supply the services themselves.

VIPMate is not a party to the contract between a Host and a Talent, is not an employer, labour-hire provider, recruiter or agent of any Host or Talent, and does not supervise, direct or control the services Talent provide.

• Talent are independent contractors running their own affairs. They are not employees, agents, partners or representatives of VIPMate.
• Hosts are not agents, partners or representatives of VIPMate.
• Talent are free to accept or decline any booking. Hosts are free to choose which Talent they book. VIPMate does not guarantee any Talent any amount of work or income, and does not guarantee any Host that Talent will be available.

2. The Host–Talent contract

When a Host books a Talent and the Talent accepts, a contract for the Talent's services ("Talent Services") is formed directly between that Host and that Talent on the terms shown in the booking (date, time, venue, role, price and any agreed extras), supplemented by these Terms.

The Talent Service Price shown at booking is a fixed, all-inclusive gross amount. It includes any GST the Talent is required to charge (if the Talent is GST-registered). Hosts will never be asked to pay more than the price shown at booking, other than extras they expressly approve.

3. Eligibility and accounts

• You must be at least 18 years old to use the Platform.
• You must provide accurate information and keep it up to date. One account per person; you are responsible for activity on your account.
• Talent must complete identity verification before accepting bookings (see section 9).
• You must have the right to work in Australia to provide Talent Services, and it is your responsibility to hold any licence, permit, qualification or insurance required for the services you offer.

4. Fees and pricing

All prices and fees on the Platform are shown in Australian dollars and are GST-inclusive.

• Joining VIPMate and applying for bookings is free for Talent. There are no subscription fees.
• Hosts pay a flat booking fee of A$35 per Talent per booking (GST-inclusive), in addition to the Talent Service Price.
• Talent pay VIPMate a service commission of 30% (GST-inclusive) of the Talent Service Price, deducted from the amount paid out. Commission applies only to work actually booked and paid through the Platform — never to joining, applying, or unpaid time.
• Tips are commission-free: 100% of any tip paid through the Platform goes to the Talent.
• The exact amounts (including the GST components) are itemised before a Host confirms a booking and in each Talent payout statement.

5. Payments, holds and payouts

Payments are processed by our payment providers (currently Stripe). When a Host confirms a booking, the Host pays the full booking amount, which is held until the booking is completed.

After the booking is completed (or otherwise resolved under section 6), the Talent Service Price less VIPMate's commission is released for payout to the Talent, and VIPMate's fees are retained by VIPMate.

• All payments for Talent Services booked through the Platform must be made through the Platform. Soliciting, offering or making off-platform payment for a booking made through VIPMate is a breach of these Terms and may result in suspension or termination.
• Payout timing depends on our payment providers. Talent must maintain accurate payout details.

6. Cancellations, no-shows, refunds and disputes

The cancellation policy applicable to a booking is shown at the time of booking; if it differs from the summary below, the policy shown at booking prevails. The current standard policy is:

• Host cancellation more than 48 hours before start: the Talent Service Price is refunded to the Host. The A$35 booking fee is not refunded.
• Host cancellation between 48 and 6 hours before start: 50% of the Talent Service Price is paid to the Talent as compensation; the remainder is refunded to the Host. The booking fee is not refunded.
• Host cancellation less than 6 hours before start, or Host no-show: 100% of the Talent Service Price is paid to the Talent. The booking fee is not refunded.
• Talent cancellation more than 72 hours before start: no penalty, but repeated cancellations attract warnings. The Host receives a full refund including the booking fee.
• Talent cancellation closer to the event, or Talent no-show: the Host receives a full refund including the booking fee, and the Talent may incur account penalties, temporary suspension, and cancellation charges as shown in the policy at booking.
• If a Talent does not attend (no-show), the amounts held for that booking are returned to the Host.

7. Dispute resolution between Hosts and Talent

If something goes wrong with a booking, raise it through the Platform promptly. VIPMate may (but is not obliged to) review evidence from both sides and direct held funds to the Host, the Talent, or split between them, acting reasonably. This process does not limit any rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law or your ability to pursue the other party directly — remembering the service contract is between Host and Talent.

8. Tax, GST and reporting

• You are responsible for your own tax affairs. Talent are responsible for their own income tax, GST registration and remittance (if required), superannuation, insurance and record-keeping arising from Talent Services.
• The Talent Service Price is a gross amount and includes any GST the Talent must charge. VIPMate collects and remits GST only on VIPMate's own fees (the host booking fee and the talent commission).
• Providing an ABN is optional for individual Talent working casually. If you supply an ABN we validate its format and may verify it.
• We never ask for your Tax File Number (TFN). Do not send it to us.
• As an electronic distribution platform, VIPMate is required to report seller transaction information to the Australian Taxation Office under the Sharing Economy Reporting Regime (SERR).

9. Identity verification and safety

Talent (and, where we consider it appropriate, Hosts) must complete identity verification. Our primary method is Stripe Identity: your identity document and selfie are processed by Stripe, and VIPMate stores only the verification result, reference and timestamp — not your document images. In limited fallback or dispute situations we may collect documents directly, handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Verification reduces risk but is not a guarantee. You remain responsible for your own judgement and safety. The Platform includes safety features (such as check-in and emergency escalation for Talent on bookings); these supplement, and do not replace, contacting emergency services (000) in an emergency.

10. Ratings and reviews

Hosts and Talent may rate and review each other after a booking. Reviews must be honest, relevant to the booking, and free of unlawful or abusive content. We may remove reviews that breach these Terms and may use ratings in ranking and trust decisions.

11. Communications

By using the Platform you agree to receive transactional and operational communications (booking updates, payment notices, verification, safety alerts, service messages) by push notification, email, SMS and WhatsApp on the contact details you provide. These are part of operating your account and bookings.

We send marketing communications only with your consent, and every marketing message includes a way to opt out. Opting out of marketing does not stop transactional messages.

12. Acceptable use and prohibited conduct

You must not, and must not attempt to:

• Offer, request, advertise or provide sexual services or any form of adult sexual content or services through the Platform. VIPMate is a hospitality and events marketplace; this is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate termination and, where appropriate, referral to authorities.
• Use the Platform for anything unlawful, unsafe, fraudulent or misleading, including bookings involving illegal drugs, weapons, or persons under 18 in age-restricted venues or roles.
• Harass, threaten, discriminate against, or abuse any user, or make unwelcome sexual advances.
• Circumvent the Platform — including taking bookings sourced through VIPMate off-platform, or soliciting or paying off-platform to avoid fees.
• Misrepresent your identity, qualifications, licences or work rights, or use another person's account or documents.
• Scrape, reverse engineer, interfere with or misuse the Platform, or introduce malicious code.

13. Content and intellectual property

You retain ownership of content you upload (profile photos, media, reviews) and grant VIPMate a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, display and use it to operate and promote the Platform. You must have the rights to any content you upload. The Platform and the VIPMate brand remain our property.

14. Suspension and termination

You may close your account at any time; obligations from existing bookings and accrued fees survive. We may suspend or terminate accounts that breach these Terms, create safety or fraud risk, or where required by law — acting reasonably and, where practicable, with notice. Where we terminate without cause we will give reasonable notice.

15. Australian Consumer Law

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy under the Australian Consumer Law or any other law that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified. Where our liability can be limited, we limit it as set out in section 16.

16. Liability and indemnity

To the extent permitted by law (and subject always to section 15):

• VIPMate provides the Platform "as is" and is not liable for the acts, omissions, conduct or services of any Host or Talent, or for any loss arising from the Host–Talent contract.
• For claims relating to the Platform itself, our aggregate liability is limited to re-supplying the relevant service or, at our election, the total VIPMate fees you paid in the 12 months before the claim.
• We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, revenue or opportunity.
• You indemnify VIPMate against loss arising from your breach of these Terms, your content, or your unlawful conduct, except to the extent we caused the loss.
• VIPMate Pty Ltd enters into these Terms only in its capacity as trustee of the VIPMate Trust, and any liability of VIPMate is limited to the assets of the VIPMate Trust out of which VIPMate is entitled to be indemnified.

17. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. For material changes we will give reasonable notice through the Platform or by email; continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance. The current version and effective date are always shown at the top.

18. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. You and we submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales and the Commonwealth of Australia.

19. Contact

Questions, complaints or notices: support@vipmate.app.