VECCI Terms and Conditions of Services to Members

These terms and conditions set out the terms and conditions upon which VECCI agrees to provide to members services of a commercial nature.

Rules

1. VECCI is an employer membership organisation registered under the Workplace Relations Act 1996. It operates subject to the Rules of the organisation registered with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission ("the Rules"). The Rules are available at www.airc.gov.au.
2. The Rules bind both VECCI and members of VECCI and are hereby incorporated into this agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between these terms and conditions and the Rules, the Rules prevail over these terms and conditions.
3. The Rules contain provisions regarding:
1. VECCI's objects as an organisation are set out in the Rules.
2. Applications for membership;
3. Unfinancial members;
4. Resignation and termination of membership;
5. Member representatives;
6. Eligibility for office;
7. Election of the Executive Council, Regional Chairpersons, General Councillors
8. Annual General Meeting;
9. Notices to members.

Award coverage

1. Members who joined VECCI prior to 26 March 2006 may be bound by a Federal Award to which VECCI is a Respondent under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 by virtue of membership of VECCI. The Awards to which VECCI is a Respondent are available on our website at http://www.vecci.org.au/.
2. Members may be bound by a Federal Award in respect of operations in Victoria by virtue of the Common Rule application of those Awards in Victoria. Members that have operations outside of Victoria may become bound by a Federal Award by virtue of membership of VECCI.
3. VECCI does not make any representation as to award coverage of any member. VECCI expressly recommends that a member or potential member seeks its own legal or industrial advice as to the effect of membership of VECCI on the member with regard to obligations under any Award or industrial instrument.
4. If after becoming a member of VECCI you require advice as to which Award may apply to your organisation you should contact the VECCI Information Centre on 03 8662 5222.

Duration of membership or subscription

1. Membership of VECCI is for a period of 12 months. Each renewal of membership is for a further period of 12 months.

Membership fees and subscription fees

1. VECCI's gold membership fee is calculated according to the number of full time equivalent employees at the time of joining VECCI or renewal of your membership.
2. You agree to tell us the current number of full time equivalent employees employed by you at the time of renewal every year.
3. Any change to the number of full time equivalent employees at the time of renewal will result in a change to the annual membership fee or subscription fee for the forthcoming year.
4. If the information provided to VECCI at the time of joining or renewal as to the number of full time equivalent employees is inaccurate VECCI has the right to issue an additional membership fee invoice or an amended renewal notice or an additional renewal notice. In such situation any payment already made will be considered a part payment of the total fee payable.
5. You agree to pay the amount due and payable on any additional membership fee invoice or amended renewal notice within 14 days of such notice.
6. Membership fees or subscription fees are not refundable.
7. Membership fees will be reviewed annually and may be subject to increase at VECCI's discretion. You will be given written notice of any change to the membership fees at least 7 days prior to date for renewal. You are deemed to have accepted such change unless you give written notice of cancellation of your membership within 7 days of notice of the change to the membership fees.

VECCI Business Club and Networking Events Subscription

By purchasing a VECCI Business Club Service or Networking Event Subscription (including VECCI Fast Forward, Business Leaders Luncheon, Women in Business and Human Resource Breakfast you acknowledge and agree:

1. The VECCI Business Club or Networking Event Subscription is not a class or category of financial or other membership of the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (“VECCI”);
2. The VECCI Business Club or Networking Event Subscription is an arms length relationship established by VECCI to give people involved business and other aspects of the community in Victoria the opportunity to network and to have input into the policy and advocacy undertaken by VECCI on behalf of Victorian business and the Victorian community;
3. That you become a VECCI Business Club Supporter or Networking Event Subscriber in your capacity as an individual; That you are not an employer of labour in your own right as an individual nor are you otherwise eligible to be a member of VECCI;
4. That you are not subject to any of the obligations, nor you do have any of the rights of financial or other members of VECCI, including without limitation, the obligation to contribute to the assets of VECCI in the event of a winding up, the right to vote at meetings or in elections of VECCI, or to stand for or hold any office within VECCI.

Renewal, suspension and cancellation of services

1. Prior to the renewal date for your membership each year a renewal of membership form will be sent to you at the last address you provided to us.
2. If your membership is not renewed by payment of the membership fees within 14 days of the due date on the renewal notice VECCI will suspend the provision of all services to you. If your membership is not renewed by payment of the membership fees within 60 days VECCI will cancel the provision of all services to you. If you have not paid any membership fees within three months of the due date for payment your membership of VECCI may also be cancelled.
3. If you resign your membership of VECCI any membership fees paid are not refundable. VECCI will cease to provide all services to you upon receipt of your resignation as a member.
4. Any unpaid membership fees that were due and payable at the time of resignation of your VECCI membership in relation to a period before your resignation remain due and payable to VECCI as a debt due.
5. Should you resign your membership after the due date for renewal of your membership the full amount of fees for the 12 month period remains due and payable as a debt due to VECCI.
6. Written notice of resignation of your membership should be sent to VECCI Member Services GPO Box 4352 Melbourne Vic 3001.

Member benefits

1. VECCI provides its members with a range of services and benefits as part of its membership. The provision of such services and benefits is at all times at the absolute discretion of VECCI and is subject to change, variation or cancellation at any time. Details of VECCI's membership packages and the services and benefits offered by VECCI are provided on our website at www.vecci.org.au and are subject to change. VECCI makes no representation or promise that the services offered at the time of joining or renewal of membership will continue to be provided to members.
2. Business saver offers to VECCI members are an offer by a third party provider to VECCI members of a possible discount on the goods or services of a third party provider. VECCI makes no representation warranty or promise that the member will be given such discount by the third party provider. Access to such discount is at all times subject to change or variation and to the terms and conditions of the third party provider. VECCI is not liable to the member for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of any refusal of a third party provider to provide a discount to a member or for any change to or withdrawal of such business saver offer or any change to the terms and conditions of a third party provider.
3. If VECCI suspends the provision of services to you or cancels the provision of services to you as described in clause 18 above it will notify its third party providers of the suspension or cancellation of VECCI services to you and you may lose access to the benefits offered to VECCI members with that provider, in accordance with the arrangements you have in place with that provider. 
4. Silver members are limited to one hour of advice through the Industrial Relations – Workplace Relations Helpline per year.  One call to the Helpline is defined as ten minutes to allow for additional research and written response time.  Therefore Silver Members are entitled to six calls within their annual renewal period.  Silver members who reach their annual limit may upgrade to Gold Membership at a membership rate based on company employee numbers, charged pro-rata to the end of the membership period. 

Fair use of information and advice

1. You agree that any information or advice provided to you by VECCI is provided for the use of the member only. You agree not to use the information or advice for commercial resale or gain. You agree not to provide such information or advice to any third party for the use or benefit of the third party.
2. You agree not to use your access to VECCI information and advice to obtain information or advice for the use of a third party (including any subsidiaries or related companies that are not members if VECCI).
3. In the event that information or advice provided to you by VECCI is provided to any third party VECCI reserves the right to suspend or cancel the provision of further services to you until such time as it is satisfied that you have ceased to do so. No refund of any membership fee paid will be due. Any unpaid membership fee will remain due and payable as a debt due to VECCI.

Disclaimers

1. VECCI is not liable for any loss or damage caused to a member due to the non-provision of services to the member as a result of the suspension or cancellation of such services to the member as described in clause 18 or as a result of VECCI changing the services it provides or no longer offering services in the exercise of its discretion as described in clause 23.
2. Information provided by VECCI and its employees, officers and agents is of a general nature only and is not legal, accounting or other professional advice. While all reasonable endeavours are made to ensure the accuracy of information provided, VECCI accepts no liability for any action, or decision not to act, taken by you on the basis of the information provided to you, or for any error in or omission in the information provided by VECCI, or any loss or damage caused to you or any other person whether a member of VECCI or not, as a result of information provided by VECCI being inaccurate. Without limiting the generality of this disclaimer, no responsibility or liability is accepted by VECCI for any losses incurred in contract, tort, negligence, or any other cause of action, or for any consequential or other forms of loss. VECCI urges you to obtain advice from an appropriately qualified professional before acting, or deciding not to act, on the basis of the information provided by VECCI, its employees, officers and agents.
3. Any information or advice given by a VECCI employee in the nature of human resources or industrial advice whether over the telephone or in person or in writing is based on the facts and information provided to the VECCI employee by the member. If incomplete or inaccurate information or facts is provided by the member that may change the advice or information that would be given by the VECCI employee. VECCI accepts no liability for any action, or decision not to act, taken by you on the basis of the information or advice provided to you, or for any error in or omission in the information or advice provided by VECCI, or any loss or damage caused to you or any other person whether a member of VECCI or not, as a result of information or advice provided by VECCI being inaccurate. Without limiting the generality of this disclaimer, no responsibility or liability is accepted by VECCI for any losses incurred in contract, tort, negligence, or any other cause of action, or for any consequential or other forms of loss. VECCI urges you to obtain advice from an appropriately qualified professional before acting, or deciding not to act, on the basis of the information or advice provided by VECCI, its employees, officers and agents.
4. Any liability, including for consequential losses, in respect of any claim arising out of or in connection with the relationship established by your membership of VECCI shall not in any event (and whether or not such liability results from or involves negligence) exceed the amount of membership fees last paid by you.

Changes to VECCI's terms and conditions

1. You agree that VECCI may change these terms and conditions at any time. VECCI agrees to publish any change to its terms and conditions on its website. VECCI's terms and conditions as published on its website apply until the date of any change to the terms and conditions published on VECCI's website.

Notices

1. You agree that VECCI may send to you any notices with regard to your membership, membership fees, renewal or VECCI services to you by email at the email address you have provided us at the time of joining VECCI or renewing your membership.