Policies Page

QIBN Policies

Terms and Conditions

As a Member, your commitment and our responsibilities are outlined in these Terms and Conditions.

These clauses form the agreement between you and QIBN, covering everything from your membership benefits and responsibilities to our privacy practices.

To make it easier to read and navigate, you can click on each heading to expand the section and view the full details of a specific clause, allowing you to focus on the information most relevant to you. We encourage you to review all sections thoroughly to ensure you are familiar with the guidelines that govern your membership.

Definitions

In these terms and conditions:

  • Aggregate Data has the meaning given in clause 23.1.
  • Application Materials has the meaning given in clause 4.4.
  • Benefits means the goods, services and benefits to QIBN membership that are available to you in connection with your membership as set out in your membership welcome pack provided to you by us on the commencement of your membership and includes, but is not limited to:

(a)          procurement and partnership opportunities;

(b)         networking, publicity and increased visibility;

(c)          mentoring and professional development programs;

(d)         business support and resources; and

(e)         access to the Indigenous Business Gateway platform,

which may in certain circumstances be tailored to the member’s needs.

  • Confidential Information of a party means any information:

(a)          about the business and affairs of that party;

(b)         about the customers, clients, employees, sub contractors or other persons doing business with that party;

(c)          which is by its nature confidential;

(d)         which is designated as confidential by that party; or

(e)         which the other party knows or ought to know, is confidential,

and all trade secrets, knowhow, financial information and other commercially valuable information of that party, and in the case of the applicant, includes the Application Materials.

  • Consequential Loss means any indirect, special or consequential loss (being a loss that does not arise naturally, that is, according to the ordinary course of things, whether or not the parties were aware of the possibility of such loss), or any loss of revenues, loss or corruption of data, loss of reputation, loss of profits, loss of bargain, loss of actual or anticipated savings, or lost opportunities (including opportunities to enter into arrangements with third parties).
  • GST Act means A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth).
  • GST Act Supplier means the entity making the Supply.
  • ICIP means the intangible and tangible aspects of the whole body of cultural practices, resources, and knowledge systems that have been developed, nurtured, and refined (and continue to be developed, nurtured, and refined) by, and passed on by, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as part of expressing their cultural identity, including:

(a)          literary, performing and artistic works (including music, dance, song, ceremonies, symbols and designs, narratives and poetry);

(b)         languages;

(c)          traditional scientific, agricultural, technical and ecological knowledge (including cultigens, medicines and sustainable use of flora and fauna);

(d)         spiritual knowledge;

(e)         all items of moveable cultural property (including arts, crafts, ceramics, jewellery, weapons, tools, musical instruments, visual arts, photographs, textiles, contemporary art practices, burial artefacts); and

(f)          documentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s heritage in all forms of media (including scientific, ethnographic research reports, papers, books, films and sound recordings).

  • ICIP Community means the relevant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community in which all rights in the Underlying ICIP are communally vested.
  • Indigenous Business has the meaning given in clause 3.1.
  • Indigenous Business Gateway means the digital platform which seeks to increase the visibility and accessibility of Indigenous Business in Queensland for public and private procurement and which is provided as a membership Benefit.
  • Initial Period means the period commencing on the date on which we notify you that your membership application has been approved in accordance with clause 7 and ending on the day before your next Renewal Date.
  • Intellectual Property Rights means all industrial and intellectual property rights, both in Australia and throughout the world, and includes any copyright, patent, registered or unregistered trade mark, registered or unregistered design, registered or unregistered plant breeder’s right, trade secret, knowhow, right in relation to semiconductors and circuit layouts, trade or business or company name, indication or source or appellation of origin or other proprietary right, or right of registration of those rights.
  • Membership Term means the Initial Period and each Renewal Period.
  • Progressive or Periodic Supply means a Taxable Supply that satisfies the requirements of section 156-5 GST Act.
  • Renewal Date means 1 July each year.
  • Renewal Period has the meaning given in clause 10.
  • Underlying ICIP means any ICIP owned by the ICIP Community that may be contained or incorporated in any Application Materials or other materials provided by you to QIBN in connection with these terms and conditions.
  • QIBN Member Logo means the member logo owned by QIBN and licensed to you for use in accordance with clause 12.5.
  • QIBN Materials means any materials and content provided to you in connection with your membership or the Benefits (excluding the QIBN Member Logo).

1.1 In these terms and conditions, the expressions we, us, our and QIBN are a reference to Queensland Indigenous Business Network Ltd ACN 668 413 821. The following membership terms and conditions apply to all current and prospective QIBN members.  Please take the time to read and understand these terms and conditions before proceeding with your application.

1.2 By applying for, maintaining or renewing your QIBN membership, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, all QIBN policies and procedures notified to you from time to time and any other applicable laws or regulations.

1.3 We reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions from time to time. Amendments will be effective immediately upon notification on the QIBN website and, if you are a current QIBN Member, via your nominated email address.  Your continued application to become a Member of QIBN, or continued membership with QIBN, following such notification will represent an agreement by you to be bound by the terms and conditions as amended.

1.4 If you do not accept these terms and conditions, you must not apply for QIBN membership. If you are a current QIBN Member and you do not agree with any amendments to these terms and conditions, you may cancel your QIBN membership in accordance with clause 16.1.

2.1 The purpose of QIBN is to provide a representative voice, a channel to connect, and a range of support services to support Indigenous businesses in Queensland to grow, collaborate and succeed. QIBN’s services are delivered in collaboration, and have been developed in consultation, with government, industry and the local business community stakeholders.

Eligibility Criteria

3.1 To be eligible for QIBN membership, you must be an Indigenous Business. A business will be an ‘Indigenous Business’ for the purposes of QIBN membership if it is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander enterprise that is owned, managed and operated in Queensland.  There are two categories of Indigenous Business, namely:

(a) ‘Majority Indigenous Ownership’ – an Indigenous Business in which Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals or entities hold a 51% or more majority interest and control. This includes sole traders, partnerships, companies (including joint ventures), trusts, incorporated associations and not for profit organisations; or

(b) ‘Family Partnership’ – an Indigenous Business in which Indigenous and non-Indigenous family members hold equal shares of ownership where there is demonstrated cultural connection and active involvement of the Indigenous partner in the daily operations and decision making of the business.

3.2 In assessing your eligibility for QIBN membership, we will consider the following factors:

(a) the interest and control of the business held by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals or entities;

(b) evidence of your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island identity;

(c) the extent to which your business is operating, registered and active in Queensland;

(d) the ownership and structure of your business;

(e) governance roles which reflect Indigenous leadership;

(f) the extent to which your business operations are aligned with your declared business sector or industry; and

(g) community connections and contributions, including your nominated referee/s.

Application Forms

4.1 To apply for QIBN membership, you must complete and submit:

(a)          an expression of interest (EOI) form; and

(b)         a membership application form, with all relevant supporting documentation and evidence attached,

(together, the application forms).

Nominee Referral

4.2 In order to ensure the QIBN Member network is supported by accountability and cultural integrity, and to protect the network against black cladding, your application must be supported by a nomination from two verified referees.  A ‘verified referee’ for the purposes of the application process means either:

(a)          a QIBN Board Member; or

(b)         an existing QIBN Member.

4.3 If your application form is not supported by two verified referees, we reserve the right to not consider your application.

Supporting Documents and Evidence

4.4 In order to verify your eligibility for QIBN membership, you must provide supporting evidence for our review, which may include any of the following documents or evidence:

(a)          evidence of your business owner or owners, their cultural identity and their percentage of ownership, including documents issued from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) or the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC), share register and trust deeds;

(b)         evidence of confirmation of Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander identity, including a letter from a Traditional Owner, prescribed Body Corporate, relevant Lands Council, community organisation or other culturally appropriate documentation;

(c)          evidence that your business is operating, registered and active in Queensland, including ABN registration certificate, documents issued from ASIC or ORIC, and recent utility bills, lease documents, insurance documents or bank statements;

(d)         evidence of your business structure, operations, and governance roles which reflect Indigenous leadership, including organisation charts, business plans, business turnover, company constitution, and capability statements; and

(e)         evidence of your business’ connection and contributions to the community, including letters of support, certificates of approval and testimonials,

(together, the Application Materials).

4.5 Any Application Materials you provide us will be your Confidential Information for the purpose of these terms and conditions and will only be used by QIBN in accordance with clause 22.

5.1 When applying for membership, you represent and warrant that:

(a)          you have obtained all necessary rights, licences and consents, and made all required disclosures and notifications, to provide the Application Material (including in respect of any personal information, Confidential Information, Intellectual Property Rights, Moral Rights and/or Underlying ICIP contained within any Application Material) to QIBN in connection with these terms and conditions;

(b)         the Application Material is accurate and is not, whether by omission of information or otherwise, misleading;

(c)          you have the authority to enter into these terms and conditions and legally bind the applying entity to these terms and conditions;

(d)         you will promptly notify QIBN in writing if you become aware that any Application Material is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading;

(e)         use of the Application Material by QIBN in accordance with these terms and conditions and otherwise as notified to you at the time such Application Material is provided to us will not infringe the Intellectual Property Rights, Moral Rights or other rights of a third party; and

(f)          you have not withheld from QIBN any document, information or other fact material to the decision of QIBN to approve your membership.

5.2 You acknowledge that QIBN is relying on the representations and warranties under clause 5.1 in reviewing your membership application.

5.3 The representations made and warranties given in clause 5.1 are regarded as repeated each day during the Membership Term with respect to the facts and circumstances then subsisting.

Preliminary Review

6.1 Once submitted, we will undertake an initial review of your application to confirm whether your application forms and Application Materials adequately demonstrate compliance with all eligibility criteria.  If we require additional information to satisfy the eligibility criteria, you will be contacted via the phone number or email address you provide at the time of submitting your application.

6.2 In addition to considering your application forms and Application Materials, QIBN may also review other publicly available sources to verify any representations made in your application, which may include, but is not limited to:

(a)          your website, your social media, ABN lookup or ASIC business search;

(b)         information available through the ordinary course of business, such as knowledge about your business if you were previously a member of QIBN;

(c)          information about you, your business or your application from peak bodies or Commonwealth, State, Territory or local government agencies whether or not you referred to them in your membership application.  This may include consulting with relevant government agencies and programs relating to Queensland businesses or Indigenous affairs and consulting with government bodies that administer relevant schemes;

(d)         information about you, your business, or your application from other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses you have, or have had, a commercial relationship with; and

(e)         advice from our professional advisors.

Membership Committee Review

6.3 Once all the required information is received, the QIBN Membership Committee will conduct a detailed assessment of all the ascertained information relevant to your application and make a recommendation to the QIBN Board as to whether membership should be granted.

6.4 By submitting your application, you acknowledge and accept that the Membership Committee may:

(a)         take into account any information it reasonably considers relevant to the decision of whether to grant your membership, whether included in your Application Materials or otherwise; and

(b)         recommend your application be accepted or rejected in its absolute discretion, provided it acts in good faith in exercising such discretion.

QIBN Board Review

6.5 On receipt of the Membership Committee’s recommendation, the QIBN Board will consider and decide whether or not to grant your membership in its absolute discretion, provided it acts in good faith in exercising such discretion. 

Membership Application Outcomes

6.6 We will notify you about the outcome of your membership application via the phone number or email address you provide at the time of submitting your application. 

6.7 If your membership application is successful, you will also be sent a tax invoice for the applicable membership fee in accordance with the below clause 8. 

6.8 If your membership application is unsuccessful, you may request further information or to appeal this decision, provided you do so in accordance with our disputes and appeals policy.  Requests or appeals not made in accordance with this policy will not be considered.

7.1 Your membership commences on the date on which we notify you that your membership application has been approved and continues for the Initial Period and each applicable Renewal Period, unless terminated or cancelled earlier in accordance with these terms and conditions.

8.1 You must pay the applicable QIBN membership fee within 30 days of our notice approving your membership application and by each Renewal Date until your membership is terminated or cancelled in accordance with these terms and conditions.

8.2 In respect of the Initial Period, the QIBN membership fees will be charged on a pro rata basis up to the next Renewal Date.

8.3 The QIBN membership fees are based on a tiered structure and your applicable annual membership fee will be determined based your business’s annual turnover for the financial year preceding the date of your membership application or the applicable Renewal Date.  Please refer to the QIBN website for the current annual membership fees.

8.4 Membership fees are in Australian dollars and are exclusive of GST.

8.5 The QIBN membership fees are non-refundable, unless you are entitled to a refund under clause 18.2(b) or the Australian Consumer Law.

8.6 We reserve the right, in our absolute discretion, to vary the membership fees on an annual basis.  Any variation to your applicable membership fee will be effective from the date your membership is renewed.  If you do not accept any varied membership fee, you may cancel your membership in accordance with clause 10.3.

9.1 Unless you notify us otherwise, the person whose details you enter under the ‘Owner Details’ section of the application form will be nominated as the primary point of contact (Primary Contact) for your membership.  You warrant that the Primary Contact has the authority to nominate communicate with us on behalf of the business.  The Primary Contact may authorise additional contacts by written notice to us (Authorised Contacts).

9.2 You acknowledge and agree that the Primary Contact and any Authorised Contacts may provide QIBN with directions and instructions with respect to any aspect of these terms and conditions, including payment directions and all rights and entitlements under these terms and conditions, and that QIBN may rely on those directions and instructions from the Primary Contact and any Authorised Contacts without the need to validate, check or otherwise make enquiries with respect to those directions and instructions.

9.3 You acknowledge and agree that only the Primary Contact may vary the Primary Contact details by giving notice to QIBN in writing unless that Primary Contact:

(a)          resigns or is removed from the business;

(b)         dies; or

(c)          no longer has capacity (in our reasonable opinion).

9.4 You must notify us immediately if you become aware of any unauthorised access or use of your membership or of your Primary Contact or Authorised Contacts details.

10.1 Your membership will automatically renew on each Renewal Date for a further 12-month period (Renewal Period) unless you cancel your membership in accordance with clause 10.3 or 10.4.

10.2 On or around 1 May of each membership year, QIBN will:

(a)          notify you in writing that your membership will automatically renew on the Renewal Date; and

(b)         send you a renewal survey seeking written confirmation as to:

(i)          whether any circumstances that may affect your eligibility for QIBN membership have changed; and

(ii)         your annual turnover for the preceding financial year.

10.3 Subject to clause 10.4, if you do not wish to renew your membership, you must give us written notice by no later than 31 May, in which case your membership will end on 30 June of that year. 

10.4 Following completion of the renewal survey, QIBN will confirm the membership fee applicable to your next Renewal Period. If your membership fee has increased because of an increase in your business’s turnover and you do not wish to pay the increased membership fee, you may cancel your membership by providing QIBN with written notice provided you do so before the Renewal Date.

10.5 If you do not complete the renewal survey by the deadline communicated to you, you acknowledge and agree that:

(a)          QIBN may be unable to determine whether there has been a change in your business’s turnover prior to the Renewal Date;

(b)         you may be charged a QIBN membership fee for the Renewal Period based on your business’s turnover last reported to QIBN; and

(c)          if it is subsequently determined that your turnover has increased, you must pay to QIBN any difference between the membership fee paid for the Renewal Period and the membership fee that should have been paid for the Renewal Period based on your increased turnover.

10.6 You acknowledge that the renewal of your QIBN membership is subject to your ongoing compliance with the eligibility criteria and these terms and conditions, all notified QIBN policies and procedures and any other applicable laws or regulations.

10.7 QIBN reserves the right to require, and you must promptly provide, reasonable additional evidence in order to:

(a)          verify your ongoing eligibility; and

(b)         determine the applicable membership tier for the renewal period.

10.8 The representations and warranties in clause 5 apply to any information or materials you provide to QIBN through the renewal survey or otherwise in support of your ongoing membership.

11.1 QIBN provides a range of Benefits to Members, regardless of their membership tier. 

11.2 QIBN makes no representation or promise that the Benefits offered at the time of granting or renewing your membership will continue to be provided for the duration of your membership.  The provision of the Benefits may be subject to expiry dates or change, variation, revocation or cancellation at any time.

11.3 We will use reasonable efforts give you at least 30 days’ notice before any material change, variation, revocation or cancellation of the Benefits takes effect.  Whether a change to the Benefits is material will be assessed reasonably by us, having regard to the nature and extent of the change and its impact on your use of your membership.

11.4 You acknowledge that additional terms and conditions may apply to your access and use of certain membership Benefits, such as your access to the Indigenous Business Gateway, or your attendance and participation in certain events.  Where additional terms and conditions apply to a particular Benefit, you must accept those additional terms and conditions before accessing and using that Benefit.  If you do not accept those additional terms and conditions, you must not access and use that Benefit. 

12.1 Each party (or its licensors, as applicable) owns all Intellectual Property Rights in any materials shared with the other party in connection with these terms and conditions, and nothing in these terms and conditions is intended to grant a party any Intellectual Property Rights in the other party’s materials unless otherwise agreed in writing.

12.2 Upon your acceptance as a Member, we grant you a non-exclusive, royalty-free, revocable, non-transferrable, non-sublicensable licence for the Membership Term to access and use any QIBN Material provided in connection with your membership and the Benefits for the sole purpose of you gaining the benefit of your membership and the Benefits, subject to your compliance with clause 19.

12.3 You grant us a non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, non-transferrable, sublicensable, worldwide licence to exercise the Intellectual Property Rights in:

(a)          the Application Materials, for the purpose of assessing your membership application (or renewal application), facilitating your membership (including the applicable membership tier) and ascertaining insights about the Indigenous Business sector in Queensland;

(b)         any trade marks or logos you provide to us for the purpose of publicising your membership in accordance with clause 13; and

(c)          any other materials provided or created by you in the course of your membership, including feedback, testimonials and social media posts about your experience as a QIBN member, for the purpose of facilitating your membership, providing the Benefits and publicising, promoting, improving and advocating for government and philanthropic support for QIBN’s activities.

Underlying ICIP

12.4 To the extent that any materials licensed by one party to another under these terms and conditions contains any Underlying ICIP:

(a)          the parties agree to be respectful in the use of any such materials and to comply with any reasonable directions in connection with such use (including in acknowledging the Underlying ICIP and the ICIP Community); and

(b)         nothing in these terms and conditions is intended to grant the other party any Intellectual Property Rights or other rights in any Underlying ICIP.

QIBN Member Logo

12.5 You acknowledge and agree that QIBN owns all Intellectual Property Rights in and to the QIBN Member Logo and nothing in these terms and conditions grants to you any Intellectual Property Rights in the QIBN Member Logo.

12.6 Upon receipt of payment of your membership fee, we grant you a non-exclusive, revocable, royalty-free, non-transferrable and non-sublicensable licence during the Membership Term to display the QIBN Member Logo for the sole purpose of promoting your QIBN membership.

12.7 You must only use the QIBN Member Logo:

(a)          in the form; and

(b)         in accordance with any reasonable written instructions,

provided by QIBN.

12.8 You must not:

(a)          edit or modify the QIBN Member Logo in any way;

(b)         use the QIBN Member Logo for any other purpose except promoting your QIBN membership; or

(c)          allow any other party to use the QIBN Member Logo,

without QIBN’s prior written consent.

12.9 You must not:

(a)          take any steps which may affect our rights (including registrability or the validity) in respect of the QIBN Member Logo or any related mark;

(b)         apply for or seek to register any mark which is substantially identical to or deceptively similar to the QIBN Member Logo.

12.10 You must immediately stop using the QIBN Member Logo on expiry of the Membership Term (including by removing the QIBN Member Logo from any promotional material).

12.11 You must immediately notify us if you reasonably suspect any infringement of the QIBN Member Logo, or non-compliance with clauses 12.5 to 12.10, by you or any other person.

13.1 By applying for QIBN membership, you consent to us advertising and making public comment concerning your QIBN membership, including:

(a)          issuing any information, publication, document or article for publication or media release; and

(b)         publishing your logo and any testimonials you may make about your QIBN membership and use of the Benefits on any of our public channels.

14.1 Subject to clauses 14.3 and 14.6 and to the extent permitted by law, our liability for loss or damage however caused (including by our negligence), suffered by you in connection with these terms and conditions is limited to the Membership Fees paid by you in the 12 months before you first suffered loss or damage in connection with these terms and conditions.

14.2 The limitation set out in clause 14.1 is an aggregate limit for all claims, whenever made.

14.3 Subject to clause 14.6 and to the extent permitted by law, neither party is liable for any Consequential Loss however caused (including by negligence), suffered or incurred by the other party in connection with this Agreement.

14.4 The limitations and exclusions of liability in clauses 14.1 and 14.3 do not apply to liability the subject of an indemnity under this agreement.

14.5 Except as contemplated by clause 14.6, nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit any of your rights under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).

14.6 If the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) or any other legislation states that there is a guarantee in relation to any goods or services supplied by us in connection with these terms and conditions and our liability for failing to comply with that guarantee cannot be excluded but may be limited, then clauses 14.1 and 14.3 do not apply to that liability.  Instead, our liability for that failure is limited to (at our election):

(a)          in the case of a supply of goods, replacing the goods or supplying equivalent goods, repairing the goods, paying the cost of replacing the goods or of acquiring equivalent goods, or paying the cost of having the goods repaired; or 

(b)         in the case of a supply of services, supplying the services again or paying the cost of having the services supplied again.

15.1 You are liable for and indemnify us from and against all loss or damage (including reasonable legal costs) incurred or suffered by us, however caused, in connection with any breach of clauses 5.1, 19 or 22.

15.2 Each indemnity in these terms and conditions is a continuing obligation notwithstanding:

(a)         any settlement of account; or

(b)         the occurrence of any other thing,

and it is not necessary for QIBN to incur expense or make payment before enforcing or making a claim under an indemnity.

16.1 If you wish to cancel your membership, you can do so at any time by giving at least 30 days’ written notice to QIBN (Cancellation Notice). 

16.2 If you cancel your membership before the end of your Membership Term, you will not be entitled to a refund for any partial membership period unless you are entitled to a refund under the Australian Consumer Law, however your access to the Benefits will continue until the end of the then-current membership period.

17.1 We may suspend or terminate your membership by written notice to you with immediate effect if:

(a)          you do not comply with the eligibility criteria set out in these terms and conditions;

(b)         you fail to make any payment to us when it is due and you do not make payment within 21 days of our notifying you that payment is overdue;

(c)          you fail to complete the renewal survey by the deadline communicated to you and do not complete the renewal survey within 14 days of receiving a reminder notice from QIBN requiring you to do so;

(d)         you are in breach of these terms and conditions or any QIBN policies notified to you (including but not limited to the QIBN Membership Code of Conduct) and fail to remedy that breach within 14 days of receiving notice from QIBN requiring you to so remedy;

(e)         you do not comply with any additional terms and conditions that may apply to particular Benefits, as outlined in clause 11.4 and fail to remedy that breach within 14 days of receiving notice from QIBN requiring you to so remedy;

(f)          we suspect, acting reasonably, that there has been fraudulent, dishonest, abusive, illegal or malicious activity in connection with your membership;

(g)         an Insolvency Event occurs in relation to your business;  or

(h)         you use the membership Benefits improperly or unreasonably.

17.2 We may terminate your membership for any other reason, acting reasonably, by providing you with at least 30 days’ written notice to the email address provided at the time of your application.

18.1 On termination, cancellation or expiry of your membership:

(a)          accrued rights or remedies of a party are not affected;

(b)         you must immediately cease:

(i)          representing yourself as a QIBN Member;

(ii)         use of the QIBN Member Logo (including removing the QIBN Member Logo from any material, information and content, including your branding, website, social media pages, business development material, business correspondence and corporate communication); and

(iii)        your licence to access and use the QIBN Materials under clause 12.2 will automatically terminate.

18.2 If we terminate your membership under:

(a)          clause 17.1, you will not be entitled to a refund for any partial membership period; and

(b)         clause 17.2, we will refund you, on a pro rata basis, an amount equal to the membership fees paid by you for any portion of the Membership Term remaining as at the effective date of termination.

18.3 Termination or expiry of this agreement will not affect clauses 5, 12, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23 or any other provision of these terms and conditions which is expressly or by implication intended to come into force or continue on or after termination or expiry.

19.1 You acknowledge and agree that any QIBN Materials provided to you in connection with your membership and the Benefits is provided for your (and your business’) sole use, unless otherwise agreed in writing with us. 

19.2 You must not:

(a)          use any QIBN Materials for commercial resale; or

(b)         copy, reproduce, assign, commercialise, transfer, on-sell or otherwise make any part of the QIBN Materials available to a third party.

19.3 You must, and must ensure your personnel, use all reasonable endeavours to not:

(a)          engage in any conduct that is reasonably likely to harm QIBN’s reputation, products or services or may bring QIBN’s into disrepute;

(b)         act prejudicially to the interests of QIBN; or

(c)          make or purport to make any representation on behalf of QIBN, its partners, sponsors or its members without the prior written approval of QIBN.

20.1 Any disputes in connection with your application, your membership, or these terms and conditions shall be handled in accordance with the QIBN Disputes and Appeals Policy.

21.1 We collect, use and disclose any personal information in connection with your membership application and ongoing membership in accordance with our privacy policy and privacy collection statement, copies of which you acknowledge having received, reviewed and accepted prior to submitting your application.

22.1 Each party agrees to keep confidential, and not to use or disclose, other than for the purpose for which it was provided or as otherwise permitted by these terms and conditions, any Confidential Information of the other party provided to or obtained by that party before or after entry into these terms and conditions.

22.2 The obligations of confidence in clause 22.1 do not apply to Confidential Information:

(a)          that is required to be disclosed by applicable law, or under compulsion of law by a court or government agency or by the rules of any relevant stock exchange or regulator, as long as the disclosing party:

(i)          discloses the minimum amount of Confidential Information required to satisfy the law or rules; and

(ii)         before disclosing any information, gives a reasonable amount of written notice to the other party and takes all reasonable steps (whether required by the other party or not) to maintain that Confidential Information in confidence;

(b)         that is in the public domain except as a result of a breach of this document or other obligation of confidence; or

(c)          that is already known by, or rightfully received, or independently developed, by the recipient of that Confidential Information free of any obligation of confidence.

22.3 Subject to clause 22.1, each party may use and disclose Confidential Information of the other party only:

(a)          with the prior written consent of the other party; or

(b)         to that party’s directors, agents, professional advisors, employees, contractors and permitted sub contractors solely for the exercise of rights or the performance of obligations under this document.

22.4 If either party discloses Confidential Information under clause 22.3, that party must ensure that the information is kept confidential by the person to whom it is disclosed and is only used in accordance with this clause 22.

23.1 Notwithstanding clause 22:

(a)          you acknowledge that QIBN may aggregate insights and other information derived from your Application Material and the material of other Applicants for the purpose of illustrating trends within, and deriving insights about, the Queensland Indigenous business sector (Aggregate Data); and

(b)         subject to QIBN using reasonable efforts to de-identify and anonymise any Aggregate Data, you consent to QIBN using and disclosing such Aggregate Data for the purposes of:

(i)          improving our services and Benefits;

(ii)         creating and distributing reports relating to the Queensland Indigenous business sector, including to establish a benchmark for the economic value of the Queensland Indigenous business sector;

(iii)        identifying key opportunities for support and the development of new initiatives, programs and benefits; and

(iv)         advocating for commercial, governmental and philanthropic support of QIBN’s activities and Members.

24.1 Any words capitalised in this clause 24 and not defined in clause 26 have the same meaning given to those terms in the GST Act.

24.2 Except under this clause 24, the consideration for a Supply made under or in connection with these terms and conditions does not include GST.

24.3 If a Supply made under or in connection with these terms and conditions is a Taxable Supply, then at or before the time any part of the consideration for the Supply is payable:

(a)          the Recipient must pay the GST Act Supplier an amount equal to the total GST for the Supply, in addition to and in the same manner as the consideration otherwise payable under this document for that Supply; and

(b)         the GST Act Supplier must give the Recipient a Tax Invoice for the Supply.

24.4 For clarity, the GST payable under clause 24.3 s correspondingly increased or decreased by any subsequent adjustment to the amount of GST for the Supply for which the GST Act Supplier is liable, however caused.

24.5 If either party has the right under these terms and conditions to be reimbursed or indemnified by another party for a cost incurred in connection with this document, that reimbursement or indemnity excludes any GST component of that cost for which an Input Tax Credit may be claimed by the party being reimbursed or indemnified, or by its Representative Member, Joint Venture Operator or other similar person entitled to the Input Tax Credit (if any).

24.6 Where a Tax Invoice is given by the GST Act Supplier, the GST Act Supplier warrants that the Supply to which the Tax Invoice relates is a Taxable Supply and that it will remit the GST (as stated on the Tax Invoice) to the Australian Taxation Office.

24.7 Where a Supply made under or in connection with this document is a Progressive or Periodic Supply, clause 24.3 applies to each component of the Progressive or Periodic Supply as if it were a separate Supply.

Entire Agreement

25.1 These terms and conditions supersede all previous agreements about its subject matter. 

Severability

25.2 A clause or part of a clause of these terms and conditions that is illegal or unenforceable may be severed from these terms and conditions and the remaining clauses or parts of the clause of these terms and conditions continue in force.

Governing Law

25.3 The laws of Queensland govern these terms and conditions.

25.4 Each party irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland and courts competent to hear appeals from those courts.

Absolute Discretion

25.5 Where we may exercise any right or discretion or make any decision under these terms and conditions, we may do so in our absolute discretion, conditionally or unconditionally, and without being required to give reasons or act reasonably.  This clause applies unless these terms and conditions expressly requires otherwise.

Assignment

25.6 You must not assign, in whole or in part, or novate your rights and obligations under these terms and conditions without the prior written consent of us.

25.7 We may assign its interest under these terms and conditions.

Member and Cultural Charter

Introduction

The Queensland Indigenous Business Network (QIBN) exists to support, connect, and empower Indigenous businesses across Queensland.

QIBN recognises that sustainable Indigenous business success is intrinsically linked to strong cultural foundations and connection to Country. Our network operates at the intersection of commercial excellence and cultural wisdom, understanding that economic empowerment must flow from and strengthen our cultural heritage.

This Member and Cultural Charter reflects QIBN’s commitment to upholding cultural integrity, advancing Indigenous governance principles, and fostering genuine relationships based on respect, trust, and shared vision. It serves as both a guiding document and a living embodiment of our commitment to walking together in business and culture.

Purpose

The Member and Cultural Charter sets out the principles, cultural values and code of conduct for our QIBN network and members and outlines consequences for non-compliance. Thereby providing opportunities for growth, verification, collaboration, and capacity-building while safeguarding cultural protocols and promoting self-determination.

Principles

  1. Cultural Integrity: We honour and embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural knowledge, practices, and protocols in all activities. Cultural integrity serves as the foundation for all network operations and member interactions.
  2. Self-Determination: We partner and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to lead and make decisions that shape their future through member-driven policy development, strategic planning participation, and support for Indigenous innovation that draws on traditional knowledge systems.
  3. Collaboration: We foster partnerships and networks that uphold mutual respect and shared benefits, ensuring that collaboration strengthens rather than diminishes cultural values and community connections.
  4. Transparency: We maintain open communication and accountability with members, stakeholders, and Traditional Owners through regular reporting and inclusive decision-making processes.
  5. Sustainability: We support business growth in ways that respect people, Country, and future generations, recognising that true sustainability must balance economic, cultural, and environmental considerations.
  6. Inclusion: We embrace and support diversity within Indigenous businesses, ensuring representation of urban, regional, and remote communities while recognising the unique cultural contexts of each.

Member Code of Conduct

Members of QIBN commit to conducting business in a manner that strengthens cultural integrity while pursuing commercial success. This includes:

  1. Cultural Respect: Actively honour and respect the cultural practices and protocols of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
  2. Ethical Practices: Conduct your business with integrity, honesty, and accountability.
  3. Collaboration and Support: Contribute to a supportive and inclusive environment for other QIBN members.
  4. Community Engagement: QIBN members actively support and strengthen local Indigenous communities through business practices, employment, and partnership opportunities.
  5. Professional Development: Members pursue continuous improvement in both business capability and cultural knowledge, seeking opportunities to grow knowledge, skills, and capacity

Cultural Charter

The Cultural Charter provides guidance on embedding and safeguarding cultural values within QIBN operations and member activities.

Cultural Protocols

  1. Members are encouraged to work with or develop relationships with Traditional Owners of the lands they operate on, respecting local cultural heritage and practices.
  2. Use of Indigenous cultural knowledge, designs, and intellectual property must be done with informed consent and in adherence to ICIP (Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property) principles.
  3. Members are to uphold cultural protocols, act with integrity and respect for culture and wherever possible contribute to cultural strengthening initiatives

Cultural Safety

  1. Create spaces that are culturally safe and free from discrimination, ensuring all voices are heard and respected.
  2. Uphold practices that support the wellbeing and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  3. Zero tolerance on racism and lateral violence

Cultural Leadership

  1. Promote Indigenous governance principles that empower leadership within the network.
  2. Engage Elders and knowledge holders in advisory roles to guide culturally aligned decision-making processes.
  3. Recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Queensland.

Membership Rights and Responsibilities

Member Rights

  1. Access to QIBN’s programs, events, and capacity-building opportunities.
  2. Inclusion in the QIBN directory and other promotional initiatives.
  3. Opportunity to contribute to QIBN’s advocacy and governance processes.
  4. Support from QIBN to verify identity as an Indigenous business and enhance market credibility.

Member Responsibilities

  1. Adhere to the principles outlined in this Charter.
  2. Actively participate in QIBN initiatives and meetings.
  3. Maintain verification requirements annually to ensure ongoing membership.
  4. Collaborate with other members in ways that align with the values of respect, integrity, and reciprocity.
  5. Notify QIBN of any material changes in Ownership or control within 10 business days.

Breach and Sanctions

This section sets out how QIBN responds when the Charter is allegedly breached. It balances cultural safety, procedural fairness and the need to uphold our shared values.

To provide a clear, culturally-appropriate pathway for:

  • Reporting suspected breaches;
  • Investigating and determining the facts;
  • Deciding on proportionate outcomes; and
  • Appealing any decision.

Reporting a Breach

  1. Who may report – Any member, employee, contractor, volunteer or community stakeholder.
  2. How to report – In writing to the CEO at complaint@qibn.org.au or via the confidential online form.
  3. Acknowledgement – The complainant will receive written confirmation within five (5) business days.
  4. Cultural sensitivities – Where the matter involves cultural knowledge, the reporter may request that an Elder or trusted cultural advisor be present at all stages.

Investigation Process

Decision-Making

This section sets out how QIBN responds when the Charter is allegedly breached. It balances cultural safety, procedural fairness and the need to uphold our shared values.

To provide a clear, culturally-appropriate pathway for:

  • Reporting suspected breaches;
  • Investigating and determining the facts;
  • Deciding on proportionate outcomes; and
  • Appealing any decision.

Reporting a Breach

  1. Who may report – Any member, employee, contractor, volunteer or community stakeholder.
  2. How to report – In writing to the CEO at complaint@qibn.org.au or via the confidential online form.
  3. Acknowledgement – The complainant will receive written confirmation within five (5) business days.
  4. Cultural sensitivities – Where the matter involves cultural knowledge, the reporter may request that an Elder or trusted cultural advisor be present at all stages.
Possible Sanctions
Sanctions are progressive and proportionate to the severity and impact of the breach:

Appeal

The respondent may lodge a written appeal within fourteen (14) days on the grounds of:

  1. Procedural error;
  2. New evidence not reasonably available; or
  3. Disproportionate sanction.

Appeals are reviewed by an independent panel appointed by the Board and its decision is final.


Record-Keeping and Confidentiality

  • All documentation is stored securely in QIBN’s governance records for seven (7) years.
  • Identities and cultural information are kept confidential except where disclosure is required by law or necessary to enforce sanctions

Privacy Policy

We understand that your privacy is important, and we are committed to protecting your personal information. 

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your data as a Member of our organisation. 

To make it easier to read and navigate, you can click on each heading to expand the section and view the full details of a specific clause, allowing you to focus on the information most relevant to you, such as what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your information. We encourage you to take the time to read through each section so you can feel confident in our commitment to your privacy.

General

Queensland Indigenous Business Network Ltd ACN 668 413 821 (referred to in this document as we, us, our or QIBN) recognises that your privacy is important and we are committed to protecting the personal information we collect from you in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).  This policy sets out how we collect, use, disclose and otherwise manage your personal information.

We may, from time to time, review and update this policy to take account of new laws and technology, and changes to our operations and practices.  We will make any updated privacy policy available on our website.

Types of Information Collected

We may collect and hold personal information about you, that is, information that can identify you and is relevant to our engagement or the services you are seeking.

The kinds of personal information we typically collect will depend on our relationship with you, but may include name, gender, date of birth, address, phone number and email address.

We may also collect:

a) If you are a Member or prospective Member: financial information (such as payment card details) when a payment is made, any personal information you choose to share with us in connection with your membership (for example, in order to confirm your membership and to provide certain services, it may be necessary for us of collect details of your occupation, place and type of business, your organisation and details of directorships, shareholding, and other professional memberships, third party references and testimonials) and when you visit or interact with our communications or website, technical data (such as IP address, browser type, operating system or device ID) and information about how you interact with our communications and website (such as when you visited and what you viewed).

b) If you are an employee: personal information reasonably necessary to manage or administer our employment relationship with you, including your personal and emergency contact details, tax file number, superannuation details, background check information (such as criminal history), citizenship or residency status, employment and education history, qualifications, performance and training details.

c) If you are a candidate seeking employment with us: employment history, references, résumé, qualifications and other personal information that you choose to share with us during the recruitment process (which may include sensitive information, if you choose to share this with us).

d) If you are a contractor or a supplier: your personal and business contact details, name and type of business, ABN and payment details and details of your accreditation, licence or authorisation to provide the relevant services (if applicable).

We may also collect and hold sensitive information about you where it is reasonably necessary for our functions and activities.  For example, we may collect information about your racial or ethnic group, where you or your business apply to be a QIBN Member or credentialed as an Indigenous business on the Indigenous Business Gateway.

We will usually only collect your sensitive information if you consent to the collection of the information.  Consent may be implied by the circumstances existing at the time of collection.  However, some laws may require or allow us to collect your sensitive information without consent (such as in an emergency or other situations that are covered by exceptions under the APPs). 

We ask that you only share sensitive information with us if it is relevant to our relationship with you or the goods or services we are providing to you, and that you do not share sensitive information with us about another person unless you have their consent to do so.

Method of Collection

We will only collect information by lawful and fair means and generally directly from you, including when you apply for QIBN membership, use our services, subscribe to our communications, visit or use our digital channels (including our website and social media pages) or otherwise contact us (including in person, via email, over the phone or online).

There may, however, be some instances where personal information about you will be collected indirectly because it is unreasonable or impractical to collect personal information directly from you. This includes where we collect personal information about you from third parties acting on your behalf or supporting your application, such as when information about you is provided by your employer or a referee.

Purpose of Collection

We will collect and hold your personal information if it is reasonably necessary for or directly related to the performance of our functions and activities, which may include for the following purposes:

a) providing or making available our services and benefits to you or someone else you know;

b) responding to your enquiries, feedback and complaints;

c) providing you with promotional material and other information about goods and services that we and other organisations that we have affiliations with, offer that may be of interest to you, including by email, telephone and sms;

d) communicating with you after an interaction or service for feedback and to obtain testimonials;

e) providing you with information relevant to your type of business or other area of expertise or interest;

f) facilitating our internal business operations, including:

i) establishing our relationship with you, your business or someone that you know, including receiving and processing applications;

ii) verifying your QIBN membership eligibility or your eligibility for the ‘Indigenous business’ credential on the Indigenous Business Gateway;

iii) maintaining and managing our relationship with you and communicating with you in the ordinary course of that relationship (including responding to feedback or complaints);

iv) to detect, prevent, investigate and respond to suspicious, unlawful, malicious or dishonest activities or suspected breaches of our terms and conditions;

v) to fulfil any legal requirements, exercise our rights and protect our interests;

vi) quality assurance, training, audit and reporting purposes;

g) analysing our business operations, services and Member needs with a view to developing new or improved business operations, services, content and opportunities for Indigenous business; and

h) to identifying trends and benchmarks, and deriving insights relating to, the Queensland Indigenous business sector, supporting our advocacy activities and promoting the successes of the Indigenous business sector.

You can let us know at any time if you no longer wish to receive our direct promotional and marketing communications by contacting us using the contact details in this policy or using the unsubscribe facility in our communications.

Except as otherwise permitted by law, we only collect sensitive information about you if you consent to the collection of the information and if the information is reasonably necessary for the performance of our activities and functions, as set out above.

When you are applying for a job or other work opportunity with us

The purposes for which we use the personal information of job applicants, employees, volunteers and contractors include:

a) to assess your suitability, including for background and reference checks;

b) to enter into, and manage and end our relationship with you;

c) for insurance purposes;

d) for performance, remuneration and taxation purposes;

e) to exercise our rights and satisfy our legal obligations and risk management requirements; and

f) in some cases, to comply with Australian laws, including in respect of taxation, superannuation, certification and workplace health and safety.

Failure to Provide Information

If the personal information you provide to us is incomplete or inaccurate, we may be unable to:

a) provide you, or someone else you know, with the services you, or they, are seeking; or

b) if you are a job applicant, employee, volunteer or contractor, enter into or maintain our relationship with you.

However, if you contact us with a general enquiry, you can choose whether to provide your personal information.

Generally, we only use or disclose personal information about you for the purposes for which it was collected (as set out above). In some circumstances, the law may permit or require us to use or disclose personal information for other purposes (for instance where you would reasonably expect us to and the purpose is related to the purpose of collection or you have provided your consent). 

We may disclose personal information about you to:

a) our employees, agents, contractors and consultants and third party service providers (including advisors, auditors and technology service providers), who require this information to help us provide our services and carry out our functions and activities;

b) third parties to whom you have agreed we may disclose your information;

c) to our related entities and other organisations with whom we have affiliations so that those organisations may provide you with information about goods and services and various promotions;

d) if you are an employee, to the Australian Taxation Office and your superannuation fund;

e) if you are a contractor or supplier, your employer; and

f) to any other entity as otherwise permitted or required by law.

Sensitive information is only used and disclosed for the purpose for which it was collected, unless your further consent is obtained or otherwise as permitted or required by law.

We may anonymise or aggregate any of the information we collect and use and disclose it for the purposes of:

a) improving our services and benefits;

b) creating and distributing reports relating to the Queensland Indigenous business sector, including to establish a benchmark for the economic value of the Queensland Indigenous business sector;

c) identifying key opportunities for support and the development of new initiatives, programs and benefits; and

d) advocating for policy and legislative reform, as well as commercial, governmental and philanthropic support of QIBN’s activities and Members.

We will use reasonable efforts to ensure such information does not identify you individually.

Some of the third parties that we work with (including our technology service providers) are located outside of Australia or may need access to, store or transfer personal information outside of Australia.  The location of these third parties will depend on the circumstances, but may include New Zealand, United States of America, Ireland and Canada.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files that we may place on your device that store information in order to recognise your device each time you visit our website. Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to maintain user sessions, track the behaviour of website visitors, improve and personalise user experience and membership-related activities, help us deliver marketing and advertising relevant to your interests and analyse the performance of our website and campaigns. 

We may link information collected through cookies and similar technologies with personal information we hold about you. For example, this can happen when you submit a form on our website or click a link in a marketing email we have sent you. We use this personal information for the purposes set out in this privacy policy.

You can choose if and how your device accepts cookies by configuring the cookie settings in your browser. Most web browsers are set by default to accept cookies. If you do not wish to receive cookies you may set your browser to either prompt or refuse cookies. If you block all cookies, you may not be able to access and/or use all or parts of our website.

Links to External Sites

Our website may contain links to other websites.  We cannot control, and are not responsible for the privacy practices of linked websites and linked websites are not subject to our privacy policies and procedures.

Social Networking Services

We may use social networking services such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to communicate with the public about our work.  When you communicate with us using these services, we may collect your personal information (including your name, handle/username and contact information) but we will only use this information to communicate with you.  The social networking service will also handle your personal information for its own purposes in accordance with their own privacy policies and practices.  We are not responsible for the privacy practices of social networking sites and social networking sites are not subject to our privacy policies and procedures.

We store your personal information in different ways, including in paper and in electronic form.  We use third party service providers to store some personal information.

The security of your personal information is important to us.  We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from interference, misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure, including a range of physical, technical (hardware and software) and organisational measures such as:

a) limiting access to documents containing personal information and sensitive information to staff that require such access in order to undertake their duties;

b) securing access to documents and systems containing personal information through password protection; and

c) monitoring access of password protected files to protect against unauthorised access.

You may access the personal information we hold about you, upon making a written request.  We will respond to your request within a reasonable period.  We may charge you a reasonable fee for processing your request (but not for making the request for access).

We may decline a request for access to personal information if we are unable to confirm your identity or otherwise in circumstances prescribed by the Privacy Act, and if we do, we will give you a written notice that sets out the reasons for the refusal (unless it would be unreasonable to provide those reasons).  Personal information will not be provided over the phone unless we are certain that the enquirer is the individual to whom the personal information relates, or their legal or nominated representative.

If, upon receiving access to your personal information or at any other time, you believe the personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, please notify us immediately.  We will take reasonable steps to correct the information so that it is accurate, complete and up to date.

If we refuse to correct your personal information, we will give you a written notice that sets out our reasons for our refusal (unless it would be unreasonable to provide those reasons).

If you wish to make a complaint about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us using the details below and we will take reasonable steps to investigate the complaint and respond to you.

If after this process you are not satisfied with our response, you can submit a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.  To lodge a complaint, visit the ‘Complaints’ section of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s website, located at http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints.

If you have any queries or concerns about our privacy policy or the way we handle your personal information, please contact our privacy officer at:

Street address:        Queensland Indigenous Business Network, The Precinct, Level 2/315 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006

Email address:          info@qibn.com.au

Website:        qibn.com.au

For more information about privacy in general, you can visit the Office of the Information Commissioner’s website at www.oaic.gov.au.

Disputes and Appeals Policy

From time to time, disputes may arise, and we want to ensure you have a clear and fair process for addressing any membership-related concerns.

This policy outlines our procedures for managing disputes and appeals, ensuring that all Member issues are handled transparently and consistently.

To make it easier to read and navigate, you can click on each heading to expand the section and view the full details of a specific clause, allowing you to focus on the information most relevant to you, such as raising a dispute, the timeline for our response, and the process for appealing a decision. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with these procedures to understand how we resolve conflicts and uphold fairness within our community.

Purpose

This policy outlines the process by which QIBN Members and Ordinary Membership Applicants may raise concerns or appeal to decisions relating to membership applications, status, or conduct outcomes. QIBN is committed to ensuring that all disputes and appeals are handled fairly, respectfully, culturally safe, and in a timely manner.

This policy applies to: 

  • Applicants who have been declined membership.
  • Current Members disputing a decision related to membership status, conduct, or certification.
  • Any individual or entity raising a dispute regarding QIBN’s membership processes.

QIBN is committed to: 

  • Cultural safety and respect throughout the process.
  • Transparency and procedural fairness.
  • Timely and confidential resolution.
  • Avoiding conflicts of interest in decision-making.
  • Ensuring that all voices, including those who have disconnection to Country, are heard with care and sensitivity.
  • Dispute: An expression of dissatisfaction or disagreement regarding a decision or process.
  • Appeal: A formal request to review or overturn a decision made by QIBN.
  • Member: A person or entity whose application for membership has been approved by QIBN.
  • Appellant: The person or entity lodging the appeal.
Informal Resolution

Members and Applicants are encouraged to first resolve concerns informally by contacting the QIBN Membership Officer at memberships@qibn.com.au 

Lodging a Formal Dispute

If the matter cannot be resolved informally, the individual may submit a written dispute within 30 days of becoming aware of the issue. The written dispute must include: 

  • Name and contact details.
  • Description of the issue.
  • Relevant supporting documents.
     
    Email to: memberships@qibn.com.au 
    Subject line: Formal Dispute – QIBN Membership Officer  
Acknowledgement and Assessment
  • QIBN will acknowledge receipt within 5 business days.
  • The matter will be assessed by the Membership Committee or a delegated officer not involved in the original decision.
  • A response will be provided within 21 business days, or the appellant will be informed if further time is required.
Grounds for Appeal

Appeals may be lodged on the following grounds: 

  • New evidence not available at the time of the decision.
  • Procedural errors in the assessment process.
  • Perceived bias or conflict of interest.
Lodging an Appeal

Appeals must be submitted in writing within 30 days of receiving the original decision. Appeals should include: 

  • Full name and contact details.
  • Original decision being appealed.
  • Grounds for appeal and any new evidence.
  • Desired outcome.
     
    Email to: memberships@qibn.com.au 
    Subject line: Appeal – QIBN Membership Officer 
Appeal Review Panel
  • An independent Appeals Panel, including at least one QIBN Board Member and a committee will be convened.
  • The panel will consider all information and may request further clarification.
  • A final decision will be made within 30 business days, unless further time is reasonably required.
  • While decisions of the Appeals Panel are final and binding, Applicants are welcome to reapply, considering the feedback or outcome of the prior appeal.
  • Outcomes will be communicated in writing.
  • Any changes to membership status or certification will be updated promptly.
  • All disputes and appeals will be treated confidentially.
  • Records will be securely stored and retained in accordance with QIBN’s Privacy Policy.

This policy will be reviewed annually or following any significant appeal. Feedback from disputes and appeals will inform improvements to QIBN’s processes and practices.