Terms and Conditions for the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network
Part I: General Website Terms of Use
1. Introduction and Acceptance of Terms
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of the website operated by the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network (“we,” “us,” “our”).
By accessing, browsing, or using this Site in any manner, you (“you,” “your,” “user”) acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by these Terms and all other policies referenced herein, including our Privacy Policy (Part IV).
If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must cease using this Site immediately.
These Terms were last updated on 1 July 2025.
2. Permitted and Prohibited Use of the Website
You are granted a non-exclusive, revocable licence to access and use this Site strictly for personal, non-commercial purposes, including learning about our work, purchasing products from our online store, and making donations through the provided facilities.
You are expressly prohibited from engaging in or attempting to do anything that is prohibited by law applicable to this Site, including but not limited to:
- Posting or transmitting any material that is defamatory, abusive, obscene, harassing, or discriminatory.
- Tampering with or modifying the site, including by introducing any viruses, Trojan horses, worms, or other malicious or technologically harmful software to the Site.
- Attempting to gain unauthorised access to the Site, the server on which the Site is stored, or any server, computer, or database connected to our Site.
- Using the Site to send unsolicited emails
- Engaging in data scraping, data mining, data harvesting, or any other similar activity in relation to this Site.
- Anything that would constitute a breach of an individual’s privacy (including uploading private or personal information without an individual’s consent) or any other legal rights
- Using the Site for any commercial purpose or to compete with out activities, including advertising, revenue generation or soliciting business, without our express prior written consent.1
Engaging in prohibited use constitutes a breach of these Terms and may result in the immediate termination of your access to the Site and potential legal action.1
3. Intellectual Property (IP) Rights
All content published and made available on our Site, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, audio clips, digital downloads, data compilations, and software (“Content”), is the property of the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network or its content suppliers and is protected by Australian and international copyright and trademark laws.6
They must not be copied, reproduced, or used in any way that is likely to cause confusion among the public or in any manner that disparages or discredits the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network, without our express prior written permission.
Unless otherwise stated, all rights to the Content on this Site are reserved. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store, or transmit any of the content on our Site without our prior written consent. This clause serves to protect our most valuable intangible assets: our brand identity and the educational materials we create.5
For any inquiries regarding the use or licensing of our intellectual property, please contact us at ip@macedonrangeswildlifenetwork.org.au.
4. User-Generated Content (Comments and Reviews)
This Site may permit you to post comments, reviews, or other content (“User Content”). Should you choose to submit User Content, you acknowledge and agree to the following:
- You are solely responsible for the User Content you post. You warrant that you own or otherwise control all of the rights to the content that you post; that the content is accurate; that use of the content you supply does not violate these Terms and will not cause injury to any person or entity.
- You must not post any User Content that is illegal, obscene, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, infringing of intellectual property rights, or otherwise injurious to third parties or objectionable.
- By posting User Content, you grant the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, and fully sublicensable right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, and display such content throughout the world in any media. This allows us to use positive feedback in our promotional materials.
- We reserve the right, but not the obligation, to monitor, edit, or remove any User Content at our sole discretion and without notice.1 This is a necessary measure to protect the Network from potential liability arising from harmful or illegal content posted by users on our platform.
5. Third-Party Website Links
Our Site may contain links to websites owned and operated by third parties. These links are provided for your convenience and for informational purposes only. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement, approval, or control by the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network of the third-party site or its content.7
We are not responsible for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services. We strongly advise you to read the terms and conditions and privacy policies of any third-party websites that you visit, as your interaction with them is at your own risk.6
6. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
This Site and all information, content, materials, and products included on or otherwise made available to you through this Site are provided by the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network on an “as is” and “as available” basis.
To the fullest extent permissible by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied. We do not warrant that this Site, its servers, or email sent from us are free of viruses or other harmful components.7 While we exercise due care and skill in preparing the content on this Site, we do not warrant that the information is free from errors or omissions.
Our liability for any breach of a condition or warranty implied by law and which cannot be excluded is limited, to the extent possible and at our option, to:
a) the supply of the goods or services again;
b) the repair of the goods; or
c) the payment of the cost of having the goods or services supplied again or repaired.
Crucially, this limitation of liability does not attempt to exclude or limit any rights or guarantees you may have under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), as such an exclusion would be legally void.1 The purpose of this clause is to limit our liability only to the maximum extent permitted by that law. The Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network, its officers, employees, and volunteers will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages arising from your use of this Site or from any information or products procured from it, except where such liability cannot be excluded by law.4
7. Indemnity
Except where prohibited by law, by using this Site you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network and our directors, officers, agents, employees, and volunteers from and against any and all actions, claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of your use of our Site or your violation of these Terms.6
Part II: Terms of Sale (Online Store)
8. Product Information and Availability
We strive to ensure that all descriptions, photographs, and pricing of products on the Site are as accurate as possible. However, we do not warrant that product descriptions or other content on the Site are complete, reliable, current, or error-free.8 The images of the products on our website are for illustrative purposes only.
All products are offered subject to availability. We reserve the right to discontinue any product at any time. We also reserve the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies, or omissions and to change or update information or cancel orders if any information on the Site is inaccurate at any time without prior notice (including after you have submitted your order).
9. Pricing, GST, and Payment
All prices displayed on the Site are in Australian Dollars (AUD) and, where applicable, are inclusive of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The Network will confirm its GST registration status and ensure pricing is displayed accordingly.
Payment for all orders must be made by credit or debit card or through PayPal at the time of placing the order.8 We accept payments through secure third-party payment gateways, including PayPal. When processing payments, some of your data will be passed to the payment gateway, including information required to process or support the payment, such as the purchase total and your billing information. By providing your payment details, you consent to this data transfer and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the relevant payment provider. For more details, please see the PayPal Privacy Policy.
10. Order Placement and Contract Formation
The display of products on our Site constitutes an “invitation to treat,” not a legally binding offer to sell. When you place an order through our Site, you are making an offer to purchase the selected product(s) in accordance with these Terms.12
A legally binding contract between you and the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network is formed only when we have:
a) received your offer to purchase;
b) processed your payment; and
c) sent you an order confirmation email.
This legal distinction is crucial. It protects the Network from being bound to fulfil orders based on, for example, a significant pricing error on the website. By defining your order as the “offer,” we retain the right to accept or reject that offer before a contract is formed.2 We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order at our discretion, including but not limited to, instances of product unavailability, errors in pricing or product information, or if we suspect fraudulent activity.
11. Shipping and Delivery Policy
We currently ship products to addresses within Australia only.10
Any delivery timeframes provided on the Site are estimates only. While we will make every effort to deliver your order within the estimated timeframe, we are not liable for any loss or damage resulting from delays in delivery.10
We use third-party delivery services, such as Australia Post, to deliver your order. Risk and title in the products pass to you upon the delivery of the goods to the address you specified in your order. “Delivery” is deemed to have occurred when the delivery service records the item as having been delivered to the nominated address. We are not liable for any loss or theft of a product after it has been delivered to your nominated address.10 If your order is damaged in transit, please contact us immediately so we may investigate the matter with our delivery partner.
12. Australian Consumer Law (ACL) Guarantees, Returns, and Refunds
Our goods and services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude, restrict, or modify any of your rights under the ACL.10
Under the ACL, goods must be of acceptable quality, be fit for their intended purpose, and match the description provided.10 If a product you purchase from us fails to meet a consumer guarantee, you are entitled to a remedy. The type of remedy depends on whether the failure is “major” or “minor.”
- Major Failure: A failure is considered major if the product is unsafe, is substantially unfit for its common purpose and cannot easily be fixed within a reasonable time, or is significantly different from the sample or description. For a major failure, you are entitled to choose between a full refund or a replacement product. You may also be entitled to compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage resulting from the failure.11
- Minor Failure: If the failure is not major and can be repaired within a reasonable time, it is considered a minor failure. For a minor failure, we reserve the right to choose whether to offer a repair, provide a replacement, or give a refund.
- Change of Mind Returns: Please choose your products carefully. The Australian Consumer Law does not require us to provide a refund or replacement if you change your mind.10 We do not offer refunds or exchanges for change of mind purchases. This policy is essential for managing stock and resources for a small non-profit organisation.
To initiate a return for a faulty product, please contact us at orders@macedonrangeswildlifenetwork.org.au within a reasonable time, providing your order number, a description of the issue, and proof of purchase.
The following table summarises your key rights for returns in a clear and accessible format, enhancing transparency and helping to prevent disputes.
| Reason for Return | Your Entitlement under Australian Consumer Law | Our Policy |
| Product has a Major Failure | You are entitled to choose a refund or replacement. You may also be entitled to compensation for foreseeable loss. | We will honour your choice of a full refund or a direct replacement, upon assessment of the fault. |
| Product has a Minor Failure | We can choose to repair the item, provide a replacement, or offer a refund. | We will assess the fault and, at our discretion, offer a repair, replacement, or refund. |
| You changed your mind | Not covered by consumer guarantees. | Please choose carefully. We do not provide refunds or exchanges for change of mind. |
| Product damaged in transit | Covered by consumer guarantees. | Please contact us within 48 hours of receipt with photographic evidence so we can resolve the issue with our delivery partner. |
Part III: Terms of Donation
By donating to the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions including our refund and receipting policy
13. Processing Donations
The method of payment on the Site is by credit card or bank transfer. We do not capture or store your credit card details, only the authority from our bank that your payment details have been approved. If you authorise a recurring donation, your details are stored by our payment processor in accordance with payment card industry standards.
This Site utilises Donation Platform for WooCommerce, a plugin designed to facilitate online donations. All donations made through the Site are processed via secure third-party payment gateways, such as PayPal or Stripe. When you make a donation, your information will be passed to the relevant payment processor to securely facilitate the transaction.
By making a donation, you agree that the transaction is final and not disputable unless you can demonstrate a clear processing error or unauthorised use of your payment information.
All transactions are processed in Australian dollars.
We issue a receipt with a copy of the payment information received from our Bank for each donation
14. Use of Donated Funds
All donations received by the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network will be used to support our purpose, which is the rescue, care, rehabilitation, and advocacy for native wildlife in the Macedon Ranges region.
We are committed to ensuring that your contribution has the maximum impact. While we strive to direct funds towards the areas of greatest need within our wildlife operations, you acknowledge that a portion of all donations may be used to cover essential administration, including fundraising costs. These costs are necessary to sustain our organisation and continue our vital work for wildlife. This transparency is critical to ensure we do not mislead donors, in line with our obligations under applicable laws.15
15. Donor Recognition, Anonymity, and the Donor Wall
Our Site may feature a “donor wall” or leaderboard to acknowledge the generosity of our supporters. During the donation process, you will be given the option to specify how you would like your name to be displayed (e.g., your full name, first name only, or as “Anonymous”).
If you do not specify a preference, your donation may be listed as anonymous by default to protect your privacy. We will never display your personal contact details or the specific amount of your donation on the public donor wall without your explicit consent.
16. Donation Refund Policy
Donations are voluntary contributions to support our charitable work and are generally non-refundable. Unlike a commercial transaction for goods, a donation does not come with the same refund rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
We will consider providing a refund only in limited circumstances, such as if a genuine processing error has occurred (e.g., the donation amount was incorrectly entered, or the transaction was duplicated). If you believe a processing error has occurred, please contact us at donations@macedonrangeswildlifenetwork.org.au within 7 days of the transaction, providing full details and any supporting evidence for our review.
17. Compliance with Fundraising Regulations
We conduct all our fundraising activities in compliance with the relevant state and territory fundraising laws and regulations in Australia.15
Part IV: Privacy Policy
Expert’s Note: This Privacy Policy is a comprehensive statement that replaces and significantly expands upon the basic text provided by your e-commerce platform. It is structured to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) as set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).1 A compliant Privacy Policy is a legal necessity for any Australian organisation that collects personal information. This policy is designed to be transparent, informing users precisely what information is collected, why it is collected, how it is used, stored, and protected, and what rights individuals have regarding their personal data. Adhering to this policy is fundamental to legal compliance and to building the trust of your community.
18. Our Commitment to Your Privacy
The Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in an open and transparent way. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).1 This policy applies to all personal information collected by us through your use of the Site.
19. Information We Collect (What we collect and store)
We collect information about you in several ways when you interact with our Site. The information we collect falls into the following categories:
- Information You Voluntarily Provide: When you make a purchase, create an account, or make a donation, we will ask you to provide personal information. This includes your name, billing address, shipping address, email address, phone number, and optional account information like a username and password.
- Payment Information: When you make a payment, your credit card or other payment details are processed by our secure third-party payment gateways (e.g., PayPal). We do not store your full credit card details on our servers.
- Information Collected Automatically: While you visit our Site, we automatically track certain information for functional and analytical purposes. This includes:
- Location, IP address, and browser type: We use this for purposes like estimating taxes and shipping costs, and for improving website performance.
- Cookies: We use cookies to keep track of your shopping cart contents while you are browsing our Site.
- Communications: If you contact us via email or a contact form, we will keep a record of that correspondence.
- Comments and Reviews: We will store any comments or reviews you choose to leave on the Site.
20. How We Use and Store Your Information (Why we collect it)
We collect and use your personal information only for the purposes for which it was collected, as outlined below, which is a core requirement of the APPs.
- To Fulfil Our Contractual Obligations to You:
- To process your orders, donations, and payments.
- To send you information about your account.
- To respond to your requests, including processing refunds and handling complaints.
- To set up and manage your account.
- For Our Legitimate Operational Interests:
- To improve our store offerings and website functionality.
- To prevent fraud and enhance the security of our Site.
- To Comply with Our Legal Obligations:
- To maintain records for tax and accounting purposes. Under Australian law, we are required to keep order information (including your name, email address, billing, and shipping addresses) for a period of 7 years.
- With Your Explicit Consent:
- To send you marketing messages and newsletters, if you have actively chosen to receive them (opt-in).
- To display your name on a donor wall, if you have given us permission to do so.
We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse, interference, and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. Your data is stored on secure servers, and we use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to protect data transmitted to and from our Site.
21. Disclosure of Information to Third Parties (What we share with others)
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to others. We may share your information with trusted third parties who help us operate our website, conduct our business, or provide services to you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. These categories of third parties include:
- Payment Processors: We share transaction information with payment gateways like PayPal to process your payments.
- Website and IT Service Providers: Our website developers, hosting providers, and plugin providers (such as the “Donation Platform for WooCommerce”) may have access to backend data to maintain and improve our services.
- Government and Law Enforcement: We may disclose your information when we are required by law to do so, such as in response to a court order or a subpoena.
We only provide third parties with the minimum information necessary to perform their specific services.
22. Your Rights: Access, Correction, and Marketing Communications
Under the Australian Privacy Act, you have the right to:
- Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
- Request the correction of any personal information we hold about you that is inaccurate, out of date, or incomplete.
To make such a request, please contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@macedonrangeswildlifenetwork.org.au. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.
You also have the right to opt out of receiving marketing communications from us at any time. All marketing emails we send will include a clear and functional “unsubscribe” link, in compliance with the Spam Act 2003 (Cth).1
23. Cookie Policy
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our Site.
- Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the Site to function correctly. For example, we use cookies to remember who you are and to keep track of the items in your shopping cart.
- Performance and Analytics Cookies: These cookies collect anonymous information about how visitors use our Site, such as which pages are visited most often. This helps us to improve how our website works.
By using our Site, you consent to our use of cookies. You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings; however, please be aware that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of this Site, and you may not be able to use features such as the shopping cart.
Part V: General Legal Provisions
24. Dispute Resolution Process
We are committed to resolving any disputes that may arise in a timely and amicable manner. If you have a complaint or concern relating to the Site or these Terms, you agree to first notify us in writing at admin@macedonrangeswildlifenetwork.org.au and attempt to resolve the dispute with us directly and in good faith.3
If the dispute cannot be resolved through direct negotiation within 30 days, both parties agree to endeavour to settle the dispute by mediation administered by the Australian Disputes Centre (ADC) before resorting to litigation. This tiered approach is designed to provide a cost-effective and efficient pathway to resolution.12
25. Suspension or Termination of Access
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account and/or your access to the Site, without notice and at our sole discretion, if we believe you have breached these Terms or have engaged in any conduct that we deem to be unlawful, fraudulent, or otherwise inappropriate.1
26. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be deemed severed from these Terms, and the remainder of the Terms shall continue in full force and effect. This ensures that the entire agreement is not voided because of a single faulty clause.6
27. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms and any dispute arising out of or in connection with them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Victoria, Australia. You irrevocably agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria to resolve any legal matter arising from these Terms.2
28. Amendments to these Terms
We reserve the right to amend these Terms at any time and without notice. Any amendments will be effective immediately upon the posting of the revised Terms on this Site. We will indicate the date of the last revision at the top of the Terms.
You should ensure that you are aware of the current terms. Your continued use of the Site following the posting of any changes will constitute your acceptance of such changes.1
29. Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us.
Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network
Email (General Enquiries): admin@macedonrangeswildlifenetwork.org.au
Email (Privacy Officer): privacy@macedonrangeswildlifenetwork.org.au
Email (Donations): donations@macedonrangeswildlifenetwork.org.au
Email (Intellectual Property): ip@macedonrangeswildlifenetwork.org.au
Australian Business Number (ABN): 21 893 769 547
Address: P.O. BOX 548, Woodend, Victoria, 3442
