Terms and Conditions

1About these Terms

1.1 TeachME (“TeachME”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is a tutoring marketplace application operated by Amit Gilbert, an individual trading as a sole trader under ABN 74 521 348 276 (“the Operator”).

1.2 These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the TeachME mobile and web application and related services (together, the “Platform”). By creating an account, or otherwise accessing or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1.3 These Terms should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which forms part of them.

1.4 We may update these Terms from time to time (see section 22). Your continued use of the Platform after a change takes effect means you accept the updated Terms.

2Definitions

• Parent — an adult (18+) who creates and controls a parent account, sets up Child Profiles, and books and pays for tutoring.
• Child Profile — a profile created by a Parent for a child aged 5 or over, on whose behalf the Parent books tutoring.
• Student Account — an optional, restricted account a Parent may link to a Child Profile so the child can view their timetable, homework and materials, and (if the Parent allows) message their Tutor.
• Tutor — an independent contractor approved by us to offer tutoring through the Platform.
• User, you — any person who uses the Platform, whether a Parent, Student or Tutor.
• Lesson — a tutoring session booked through the Platform.
• Lesson Credit — prepaid entitlement to one Lesson with a particular Tutor for a particular subject.

3Eligibility and accounts

3.1 Parents. You must be at least 18 years old to create a Parent account. By creating Child Profiles you confirm you are the parent or legal guardian of each child, or are otherwise authorised to make decisions for them.

3.2 Students. A Student Account is only ever created and controlled by a Parent, for a child aged 5 or over. Students cannot find tutors, make bookings, reschedule, or make payments — those actions belong to the Parent.

3.3 Tutors. To offer tutoring you must be at least 18, be legally entitled to work in Australia as an independent contractor, hold a valid ABN and a current Working With Children Check (WWCC), and be approved by us.

3.4 Account information. You must provide accurate, current and complete information and are responsible for all activity under your account.

3.5 One person, one role. You must not misrepresent your identity, age, qualifications or eligibility.

4Our role — a marketplace, not a party to the tutoring

4.1 TeachME is a marketplace and booking platform that connects Parents and Students with independent Tutors. We are not a tutoring provider, school, employment agency, or the employer of any Tutor.

4.2 The tutoring services are provided by the Tutor directly to the Student/Parent. Any contract for tutoring is between the Parent and the Tutor. We are not a party to that contract and are not responsible for the quality, safety, legality or outcome of any Lesson, except to the extent required by law (see section 20).

4.3 We do not guarantee that any Tutor will be available, that any booking will be accepted, or that any particular result will be achieved.

4.4 Physical, in-person service. TeachME facilitates the booking and payment of in-person tutoring delivered in the physical world — Lessons take place face-to-face at the Student's home, a public library, or (for adult students) the Tutor's home. TeachME does not sell digital content, digital goods, or online/in-app services, and does not currently offer online or virtual tutoring. All payments made through the Platform are payments for these real-world, in-person tutoring services and the associated booking service, and are processed by our third-party payment provider (Stripe).

5Parent accounts and responsibilities

5.1 The Parent is the account holder responsible for all bookings, payments, cancellations and communications relating to their Child Profiles, and remains responsible for the conduct of any linked Student Account.

5.2 The Parent is responsible for supervising their child's participation in Lessons, including ensuring an appropriate and safe environment, and being present or available as required for any Lesson held at the child's home (see section 12).

5.3 The Parent consents to us collecting and handling limited personal information about their child as described in our Privacy Policy.

6Student accounts

6.1 A Student Account is a restricted, view-mostly account. Depending on the Parent's settings, a Student may view their timetable, view homework and materials, and message their Tutor. A Student may also raise a safety concern about a Tutor.

6.2 A Student must not attempt to make bookings or payments, share personal contact details, or arrange lessons or payments outside the Platform.

7Tutors — independent contractor terms

7.1 Independent contractor. Each Tutor engages with the Platform as an independent contractor. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, partnership, agency or joint-venture relationship between a Tutor and us. Tutors set their own hours, choose which bookings to accept, decide how they teach, may work elsewhere, and use their own ABN.

7.2 Tutor responsibilities. A Tutor must:

• (a) hold and maintain a current WWCC and a valid ABN, and provide accurate details of both;
• (b) hold any qualifications, registrations or insurances appropriate to the tutoring they offer;
• (c) provide services with due care and skill and in a safe and lawful manner;
• (d) comply with all applicable laws, including child-safety and tax laws; and
• (e) be solely responsible for their own tax (including income tax) and superannuation.

7.3 Verification. We may collect, and require verification of, a Tutor's ABN (via the Australian Business Register) and WWCC before approval.

7.4 Tax. As a marketplace paying independent contractors, we may be required to report payments made to Tutors to the ATO (for example via a Taxable Payments Annual Report). Each Tutor is responsible for their own tax affairs.

8Bookings, Lesson Credits and payments

8.1 Booking. Parents book Lessons with a Tutor for a Child Profile. A booking is confirmed when both the Parent and Tutor have agreed the day, time, duration and location through the Platform.

8.2 Prices. The price of a Lesson depends on the Student's year level, the subject and the Tutor's rate tier, as displayed in the Platform at the time of booking. We are not currently registered for GST; prices do not include a GST component.

8.3 Platform fee. For each Lesson, we retain a platform fee (currently $3.00 plus 5% of the Lesson price) from the amount paid by the Parent. The remainder is payable to the Tutor.

8.4 Prepayment and Lesson Credits. Lessons are prepaid. When a Parent pays, they purchase Lesson Credits for a specific Tutor and subject, processed by Stripe (see section 11).

8.5 Escrow. Money paid by a Parent is held by us and is not released to the Tutor at the time of payment. A Tutor's share is only transferred after the relevant Lesson has taken place and been confirmed (see section 10).

8.6 Automatic charging of upcoming Lessons. If a confirmed Lesson is due within approximately 24 hours and has not been prepaid, you authorise us to automatically charge the Parent's saved payment method for that Lesson. If that charge cannot be completed, the Lesson may be automatically skipped and both parties notified.

8.7 Saved payment methods. By saving a card, you authorise us and Stripe to store it and to charge it for Lessons in accordance with these Terms, including automatic charges under clause 8.6.

9Cancellations, rescheduling and refunds

9.1 Rescheduling. Rescheduling is done by the Parent or the Tutor through the Platform. A Student cannot reschedule.

9.2 Cancellations. A Lesson that is cancelled before it takes place is not charged; any Lesson Credit is retained on the Parent's account for future use.

9.3 Refunds. Unused Lesson Credits may be refunded on request by contacting us at teachmeappadmin@gmail.com. Nothing in this clause limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law (see section 20).

9.4 No-shows and issues. If a Lesson does not take place as booked, the Parent may decline to confirm it and/or raise a dispute (see section 10).

10Lesson confirmation, disputes and payment to Tutors

10.1 Confirmation flow. After a Lesson's scheduled end time, the Tutor is asked to confirm the Lesson took place. Once the Tutor confirms, the Parent is asked to confirm. When both confirm, the Tutor's share is released.

10.2 Automatic confirmation. If the Parent does not respond within approximately 24 hours of the Tutor's confirmation, the Lesson may be automatically treated as confirmed and the Tutor paid.

10.3 Disputes. A Parent who believes a Lesson did not take place, or was materially inadequate, may raise a dispute. While disputed, no payment is made and the Lesson Credit is preserved. We review disputes and decide whether the Tutor should be paid or the dispute upheld.

10.4 Payment to Tutors. Tutor payments are made via Stripe Connect to the Tutor's connected account.

11Payments and Stripe

11.1 Payments are processed by Stripe Payments Australia Pty Ltd and its affiliates (“Stripe”). By making or receiving payments through the Platform, you agree to Stripe's applicable terms.

11.2 We do not store your full card details — those are collected and processed by Stripe.

11.3 You must not use the Platform to process fraudulent, unauthorised or unlawful payments.

12Location and safety

12.1 Lessons currently take place at the Student's home, a public library, or (for adult students only) the Tutor's home. TeachME does not currently offer online tutoring.

12.2 Home lessons. A parent or guardian must be present at the home for the duration of the Lesson.

12.3 Public spaces. The Parent is responsible for appropriate arrangements and awareness of the Lesson.

12.4 Child safety. Tutors must hold a current WWCC and must never arrange to meet or communicate with a Student outside the Platform.

13Acceptable use and conduct

13.1 You must not:

• (a) use the Platform for any unlawful, harmful, fraudulent or abusive purpose;
• (b) harass, threaten, abuse, discriminate against or endanger any other person;
• (c) circumvent the Platform to arrange or pay for tutoring off-platform to avoid fees;
• (d) share another person's personal information without authority, or a child's contact details;
• (e) upload or transmit unlawful, obscene, defamatory, or harmful content;
• (f) attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Platform or other accounts; or
• (g) use the Platform to send spam or unsolicited marketing.

13.2 We may investigate suspected breaches and cooperate with law-enforcement authorities.

14Content and messaging

14.1 Users may exchange messages and upload content through the Platform.

14.2 Moderation. We may review, moderate, remove content, and suspend or ban Users where reasonably necessary — for example to protect child safety or enforce these Terms.

14.3 Your responsibility for content. You warrant that you have the right to provide content you upload.

14.4 Licence to us. You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host and display content you provide, solely to operate the Platform.

15Intellectual property

15.1 The Platform and its software, design and materials are owned by or licensed to us. You're granted a limited, revocable licence to use it for its intended purpose.

15.2 AI-generated worksheets are provided for personal educational use only; we do not warrant their accuracy or completeness.

16Child safety

16.1 Protecting children is fundamental to TeachME. We require Tutors to hold a current WWCC, screen certain content, and provide reporting tools.

16.2 Any User may report a safety concern through the Platform or by emailing teachmeappadmin@gmail.com.

16.3 Approval of a Tutor by us is a screening step only, not a guarantee of their suitability or conduct.

17Suspension and termination

17.1 You may stop using the Platform and request deletion of your account at any time.

17.2 We may suspend, restrict, ban or terminate your access if you breach these Terms or where necessary to protect Users, particularly children.

17.3 Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including 4, 7.4, 8.3, 11, 15, 18, 19 and 20) do so.

17.4 We may retain certain records after termination where required by law (e.g. tax records).

18Disclaimers

18.1 Subject to section 20, the Platform is provided “as is”, and we do not warrant it will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that any Lesson will meet your expectations.

18.2 We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of Tutors, Parents or Students.

19Limitation of liability and indemnity

19.1 Consumer guarantees preserved. Nothing here excludes guarantees you have under the Australian Consumer Law (see section 20).

19.2 Limitation. Subject to 19.1, our liability is limited, at our option, to re-supplying the service or refunding fees paid for it; we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss.

19.3 Indemnity. You indemnify us against claims arising from your breach of these Terms or unlawful conduct.

20Australian Consumer Law

20.1 Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. Nothing in these Terms excludes those guarantees.

21Privacy

21.1 We handle personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

22Changes to these Terms

22.1 We may amend these Terms from time to time; material changes will be notified within the Platform.

23Governing law

23.1 These Terms are governed by the laws of Western Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia.

24Contact