General Policies and Terms of Use

The following policies outline the terms and conditions under which all individuals - hereinafter referred to as “Participants,” “Parents,” “Guardians,” “Users,” or “You” - access and engage with the facilities, services, programs, and events provided by Node Motherhood Centre (hereinafter referred to as “Node,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). These terms apply whether you are accessing our physical space located in Ballarat, Victoria, or participating in programs or content delivered under the Node brand. By entering the premises or accessing our services, you acknowledge and agree to the terms and policies outlined herein.

1. Parental and Guardian Responsibility

At all times while on the premises of the Node Motherhood Centre, full and sole responsibility for the care, supervision, and conduct of any accompanying child(ren) remains with the parent, legal guardian, or attending adult. Node is not a registered childcare provider and does not offer formal childcare or supervision services under any circumstances.

By attending any event, class, group session, or visiting the Node facility, you expressly acknowledge that:

• You are solely responsible for the safety, wellbeing, and behaviour of your child(ren) at all times.

• Node facilitators, employees, representatives, or affiliated personnel are not responsible for monitoring, supervising, or otherwise attending to your child(ren).

• You agree to remain in close proximity to your child(ren) while at the Node premises, and to take appropriate action to ensure their conduct is safe, respectful, and non-disruptive to other attendees and to the physical space.

In the event that Node staff, facilitators, or participants deem a situation unsafe or unsuitable, you may be asked to remove your child(ren) from a session or the premises. This request may be made at the sole discretion of Node personnel and is not subject to dispute or refund.

2. Collection and Use of Personal Information

In order to operate effectively and safely, Node may collect limited personal information from Participants, including but not limited to names, contact details, email addresses, emergency contact information, child’s first name and age.

This information is collected for the following purposes:

• To facilitate enrolment in programs and ensure suitability of content

• To communicate important updates, changes to events, or emergency notices

• To meet our legal obligations regarding health and safety

Node acknowledges the importance of safeguarding your privacy. Accordingly:

• All personal information is stored securely and handled in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) as outlined in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

• Node does not sell, distribute, lease, or otherwise disclose your personal data to any third party for marketing, profiling, or commercial purposes.

• Access to personal information is strictly limited to authorised personnel who require such access in order to deliver or administer Node’s services.

You may request access to, or correction of, your personal information at any time by contacting us in writing.

3. Health and Safety in the Node Centre

To maintain a safe, welcoming, and hygienic environment for all visitors, the following guidelines apply to anyone entering the Node Motherhood Centre:

• Participants agree not to attend if they, or their child(ren), are experiencing symptoms of illness or have been exposed to a known communicable disease.

• Parents are required to manage any food brought into the space and take full responsibility for potential allergy exposures, mess, or related hazards.

• Hot drinks and small objects must be stored or consumed in a safe manner, with full awareness of their potential danger to crawling babies and young children.

• Any accidents, breakages, or concerns must be reported to a facilitator or staff member immediately.

Node reserves the right to refuse entry to any individual or ask a Participant to leave the premises if it is deemed that their presence presents a risk to others or is in breach of these policies.

4. Use of Facilities

The Node space, including its furnishings, play materials, kitchen facilities, and any additional equipment provided during sessions, is to be treated with respect and care at all times.

• Participants are responsible for any damage caused by themselves or their child(ren).

• Please return used items, including toys and resources, to their appropriate location after use.

• Where applicable, any spills or messes should be cleaned with materials provided, or brought to the attention of a staff member.

5. Conduct and Community Values

Node Motherhood Centre is committed to cultivating a respectful, inclusive, and non-judgemental community of mothers and caregivers. We ask that all Participants engage with one another and with staff and facilitators with kindness, empathy, and open-mindedness.

The following behaviours will not be tolerated and may result in immediate removal from the premises:

• Harassment, discrimination, or bullying of any kind

• Aggressive or disruptive conduct

• Use of offensive language or inappropriate discussion

• Any conduct that undermines the safety or wellbeing of others

6. Changes to Policies

Node reserves the right to modify or amend these policies at any time without prior notice. Updates will be published to our website. Continued use of our services and facilities constitutes acceptance of any changes.

7. Liability Waiver

To the extent permitted by law, Node Motherhood Centre and its officers, facilitators, staff, volunteers, contractors, and affiliates shall not be held liable for:

• Injury (including physical, mental, or emotional harm)

• Loss or damage to personal property

• Incidents resulting from failure to supervise your child(ren)

• Outcomes related to advice, discussion, or peer-sharing that occurs within our sessions

By participating in any Node program or event, you agree to indemnify and release Node from any claims arising from your attendance, including those involving your child(ren) or guests.