Terms of Service for Tutoring

OVERVIEW

This website and the tutoring services described on it are operated by Stellar Study Tutoring (“Stellar Study”, “we”, “us”, “our”).

By visiting our site and/or booking, paying for, or receiving tutoring services from Stellar Study, you engage in our “Service” and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”), including any policies referenced within them (such as our Privacy Policy) and any additional terms provided for specific programs (e.g., small-group tutoring).

Please read these Terms carefully. If you do not agree, you must not book or use our Services.

We may update these Terms from time to time by publishing an updated version on our website. Your continued use of our Services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

SECTION 1 — Your Free First Lesson

1. One per family

New families are entitled to one free introductory one-on-one lesson. The offer applies once per family, for new students only, and cannot be claimed again for a sibling, a different subject, or after a period away.

2. Account setup

Before the free lesson takes place, we set up your account in TeachWorks, our parent hub. Creating that account requires a valid credit or debit card to be stored.

3. Nothing is charged

No charge is made for the free first lesson. If you decide not to continue afterwards, no further charge is made and your card is removed from our systems.

4. Cancellation of the free lesson

The notice requirements in Section 3 apply to the free lesson. A free lesson cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or not attended without notice, is treated as used and is not re-offered.

SECTION 2 — Billing & Payments

1. Payment method

We accept payment via credit/debit card only. A valid card must be stored on your account before tutoring commences.

2. Stored card details

Your card details are stored securely within our payment platform to enable automated billing. Card details are deleted once tutoring has ceased (subject to payment provider processes and legal retention requirements).

3. Records & receipts

Lesson records, invoices and payment records are available via your TeachWorks account.

4. PAYG billing cycle (weekly)

For PAYG, all lessons that occurred during the previous week are automatically charged to the card on file every Monday morning. If Monday falls on a public holiday or a system issue occurs, processing may occur on the next business day. The billing cycle remains weekly.

5. Prepaid packages

For Prepaid Packages, you pay upfront and lesson credit is applied once paid in full. Credit is used against your weekly lessons.

6. No automatic renewal

Prepaid packages do not auto-renew. When your remaining credit is low, we will contact you to discuss a further package. No further charge is made without your agreement.

7. Lesson length

Standard lessons are one hour. Longer lessons are charged proportionally at the applicable hourly rate.

8. Fees & rate changes

Current rates are provided to you before tutoring commences and are published in our information booklet. We may vary our rates from time to time and will give you reasonable notice before a change takes effect. Credit already purchased under a prepaid package is not affected by a rate change.

9. Failed payments

If a card charge fails, you must update payment details promptly. Continued non-payment may result in suspension or termination of tutoring and recovery of outstanding amounts as permitted by law.

SECTION 3 — Lessons, Rescheduling & Cancellations

1. Where lessons happen

One-on-one lessons are delivered in person, either in the student’s home or at a local library, at a time agreed with you. We do not offer online one-on-one lessons.

2. Weekly expectation

We provide the best outcomes when tutoring is consistent. Students are scheduled on a weekly basis and you agree to make reasonable efforts to maintain consistent weekly lessons.

3. How to reschedule/cancel

Every family has a WhatsApp group chat that includes your tutor and the Stellar Study team. All lesson changes, cancellations and reschedules must be requested in that group chat. Requests made only to your tutor privately, by phone, or by any other channel may not be actioned, and the lesson may still be charged.

4. Notice period

Lessons may be rescheduled or cancelled with at least 24 hours’ notice given in your group chat.

5. Late cancellations & no-shows

• Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice are charged in full.
• No-shows (failure to attend without notice) are charged in full.

6. Tutor cancellations

If your tutor is unwell or otherwise unable to attend, we will reschedule the lesson at no extra cost to you, or arrange a replacement tutor where practical.

7. Safe & suitable environment

You agree to provide a safe, appropriate and reasonably quiet space for lessons held in your home, and to ensure an adult is contactable during the lesson where the student is under 18.

SECTION 4 — Ending Tutoring

1. Ending tutoring (Client termination)

You may end tutoring at any time by notifying Stellar Study Directly. A minimum of 1 week’s notice is required.

2. Pausing

You may pause tutoring for school holidays, exam periods or other reasons by arrangement in your group chat. We will hold your weekly time where we reasonably can, but cannot guarantee the same time or tutor after an extended break.

3. Ending tutoring (Stellar Study termination)

We may end tutoring (or pause scheduling) if, for example:

• Fees are unpaid or charge attempts repeatedly fail;
• Lessons are repeatedly missed without communication;
• There is unreasonable, unsafe, or inappropriate behaviour; or
• Ongoing weekly commitment is not being maintained.

SECTION 5 — Refunds & Switching Billing Options

1. Prepaid packages

Where tutoring is ended, remaining unused prepaid credit is refunded minus a one-lesson administrative fee. Refunds are processed within 10 business days to the original payment method.

2. PAYG

Any outstanding balance for completed lessons will be charged in the usual Monday billing run (or as soon as reasonably practicable).

3. Switching billing options

You may switch from PAYG to Prepaid, or from Prepaid to PAYG, at any time. Let us know in your group chat and we will update your account.

SECTION 6 — Referral & Sibling Offers

1. Referral reward

If you refer a family who becomes a client, you receive a $100 gift card (Coles or Myer, your choice) or $150 credit against your own tutoring, at your election.

2. Referred family benefit

The family you refer receives $150 off their first prepaid package, or $150 of lesson credit if they proceed on PAYG. Their free first lesson is in addition to this.

3. When the reward is paid

A referral reward is paid once the referred family has had their free first lesson and has commenced a prepaid package or ongoing weekly lessons. Rewards are issued within 10 business days of that point.

4. Claiming

The referred family must name the referring family at the time of their enquiry or first lesson. Referrals cannot be claimed retrospectively once tutoring has commenced.

5. Sibling discount

Where two siblings are enrolled, the second child receives $150 off their first prepaid package.

6. Limits

There is no cap on the number of families you may refer. Referral and sibling offers cannot be combined with each other or with any other offer on the same package. If the referred family ends tutoring before the reward is issued, no reward is payable. We may vary or withdraw these offers at any time; a change does not affect a reward already earned.

SECTION 7 — Small-Group Programs

1. Separate terms

We run small-group programs at external venues on a term basis. These are separate from one-on-one tutoring and are subject to the specific terms, dates, pricing and venue arrangements provided in the program materials for that term. Where those program terms conflict with these Terms, the program terms apply to that program.

2. Enrolment & payment

Group program places are confirmed on payment for the term unless we state otherwise. Fees are for the term as a whole.

3. Missed sessions

Group sessions missed by a student are not refunded or rescheduled, as the session runs regardless. If we cancel a session, we will run a replacement session or refund that session’s pro-rata fee.

4. Supervision at venues

Parents and guardians remain responsible for their child’s travel to and from the venue, and for supervision outside session times.

SECTION 8 — Students Under 18 & Supervision

If the student is under 18, the parent/legal guardian must accept these Terms on the student’s behalf and is responsible for appropriate supervision arrangements during lessons.

SECTION 9 — Our Tutors

1. Tutor vetting

Every tutor engaged by Stellar Study holds a current Working with Children Check and is interviewed by us before being matched with a family.

2. Changing tutors

If you would like to change tutors for any reason, contact us in your group chat and we will arrange an alternative, subject to availability. There is no charge for changing tutors.

3. Direct engagement

You agree not to engage any tutor introduced to you by Stellar Study for private tutoring outside our Services while they are engaged by us and for six months afterwards.

4. Photographs & marketing

We do not use images of students in our marketing without the written consent of a parent or guardian.

SECTION 10 — No Guaranteed Outcomes

Tutoring is educational support and does not guarantee academic outcomes, grades, ATAR results, or performance in exams, tests, or assignments.

SECTION 11 — Intellectual Property

Any materials, resources, lesson plans or content provided or developed by Stellar Study remain our intellectual property unless otherwise agreed in writing. You must not reproduce or distribute them without permission.

SECTION 12 — Privacy & Confidentiality

We handle personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Session information is treated as confidential, except where disclosure is required by law (including child safety obligations).

SECTION 13 — Australian Consumer Law

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any right or remedy you may have under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable legislation that cannot legally be excluded.

SECTION 14 — Disputes

If a dispute arises, both parties agree to attempt to resolve it in good faith through informal discussion first. If unresolved, either party may propose mediation before commencing formal proceedings (except where urgent relief is required).

SECTION 15 — Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of South Australia, Australia.