Terms of Use

Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using the smooth-timber website and services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you may not use our services.

Services Description

smooth-timber provides professional consultation and guidance services for Australian social benefit and disability support applications. Our services include:

Eligibility assessment for government benefit programs
Application preparation and documentation assistance
Strategic guidance for NDIS planning and reviews
Support with pension, Centrelink, and disability support applications

What We Do NOT Provide

Our services are advisory and consultative. We do not:

Submit applications on your behalf (you retain control of submission)
Provide legal advice or representation
Guarantee approval of any benefit application
Act as registered agents with Services Australia or NDIA
Provide medical advice or diagnoses

Eligibility to Use Services

You must be:

At least 18 years of age, or acting with parental/guardian consent
Legally capable of entering into binding agreements
Providing accurate and truthful information

User Responsibilities

Information Accuracy

You agree to:

Provide complete, accurate, and truthful information
Update information if your circumstances change during our engagement
Notify us immediately if you become aware of inaccuracies in information provided
Understand that false or misleading information can result in application rejection or legal consequences

Cooperation

You agree to:

Respond to our requests for information or documentation in a timely manner
Attend scheduled consultations or notify us in advance if unable to attend
Review documents we prepare before you submit them to government agencies
Take ultimate responsibility for the accuracy of submitted applications

Payment Terms

Fees

Service fees are displayed on our website and are payable in Australian dollars including GST. Payment is required after initial consultation and before we begin detailed application work.

Refund Policy

Refunds are available under the following conditions:

Full refund: If we determine after initial consultation that you are not eligible for the benefit you're seeking
Partial refund: If you cancel within 48 hours of payment, minus any work already completed
No refund: If you cancel after we have completed more than 50% of the service, or if the application is rejected due to inaccurate information you provided

Refund requests must be submitted in writing to [email protected] within 7 days of the event giving rise to the request.

Disputed Charges

If you dispute a charge, contact us first before initiating a chargeback with your financial institution. We will work to resolve billing disputes directly.

Intellectual Property

All content on the smooth-timber website, including text, graphics, logos, and software, is the property of smooth-timber or its licensors and is protected by Australian and international copyright laws.

You may not:

Reproduce, distribute, or publicly display our content without written permission
Use our materials for commercial purposes
Modify or create derivative works based on our content

Documents we prepare for your specific application become your property once you have paid for the service.

Confidentiality

We maintain strict confidentiality regarding your personal information and application details as outlined in our Privacy Policy. You agree that:

We may use de-identified, aggregated data for statistical purposes
We may use anonymized case examples for educational purposes or marketing (with all identifying details removed)
We may disclose information if legally required or to prevent fraud

Disclaimer of Warranties

Our services are provided on an "as is" basis. While we strive for excellence, we make no warranties regarding:

Approval of benefit applications (decisions are made by government agencies)
Timeframes for application processing (these are controlled by Services Australia/NDIA)
Changes to eligibility criteria or government policies
Uninterrupted access to our website or services

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by Australian law:

Our total liability for any claim is limited to the amount you paid for the specific service
We are not liable for indirect, consequential, or punitive damages
We are not liable for application rejections based on government agency decisions
We are not liable for losses resulting from information you provided being inaccurate or incomplete

This limitation does not exclude liability that cannot be excluded under Australian Consumer Law.

Australian Consumer Law

Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any guarantee, warranty, term, or condition implied by the Australian Consumer Law that cannot be lawfully excluded. Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under Australian Consumer Law, including that services will be provided with due care and skill.

Termination

By You

You may terminate our engagement at any time by written notice. Fees for completed work remain payable.

By Us

We may terminate our services if:

You provide false or misleading information
You fail to cooperate or respond to reasonable requests
You engage in abusive or threatening behavior toward our staff
Payment is not received within agreed timeframes

We will provide written notice and a refund for any prepaid services not yet delivered.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless smooth-timber, its staff, and contractors from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from:

Your breach of these terms
False or misleading information you provide
Your misuse of documents or advice we provide
Your violation of any laws or third-party rights

Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises:

Direct negotiation: Contact us at [email protected] to discuss the issue. We'll respond within 5 business days.
Mediation: If negotiation fails, we agree to attempt mediation through an independent mediator before pursuing legal action.
Legal proceedings: Any legal proceedings must be brought in the courts of Victoria, Australia.

Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia. You irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria.

Severability

If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force.

Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms of Use from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated via email to active clients. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

Entire Agreement

These Terms of Use, together with our Privacy Policy and any service-specific agreements, constitute the entire agreement between you and smooth-timber regarding the use of our services.

No Agency Relationship

These terms do not create any agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship. We are not your legal representatives or registered agents with any government body.

Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Use, contact:

smooth-timber
Email: [email protected]
Address: Level 8, 142 Victoria Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia