Last updated:
Resource Therapy International Inc.
Victorian Incorporated Association A0061197E
ABN 88 532 064 882
Effective date: 16 July 2026
Drafted by President RTI Philipa Thornton
1. Purpose of this policy
This policy explains how Resource Therapy International Inc. (RTI) manages refund and cancellation requests for payments made directly to RTI, including:
- annual membership fees;
- registrations for conferences, workshops and other RTI events;
- digital resources or other products sold directly by RTI; and
- duplicate or incorrect payments.
This policy must be read together with the RTI Membership Terms, the terms provided for a particular event or purchase, and the Rules of Resource Therapy International Inc.
2. Your rights under Australian law
Nothing in this policy excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable legislation.
Where the Australian Consumer Law applies, services must be provided with due care and skill, be reasonably fit for their disclosed purpose and be supplied within a reasonable time when no time has been agreed.
If a service has a major problem, the purchaser may be entitled to cancel the service and receive a refund for the portion that was not properly provided. If a problem is minor, RTI will be given a reasonable opportunity to remedy it.
Purchases made voluntarily through a website do not ordinarily have an automatic cooling-off period under Australian law. RTI is therefore not generally required to provide a refund solely because a purchaser changes their mind. This does not affect any rights that apply when there is a problem with the service.
3. Membership fees
RTI membership is provided for 12 months from the member’s joining or renewal date, subject to approval and continued eligibility.
Applications that are not approved
If RTI declines a membership application and has already received payment, RTI will provide a full refund.
If an applicant withdraws their application before it has been approved and the membership has been activated, RTI will ordinarily provide a full refund.
Change of mind or resignation
Once membership has been approved and activated, RTI does not ordinarily provide:
- change-of-mind refunds;
- partial or pro-rata refunds because a member has not used their membership benefits; or
- refunds when a member resigns before the end of their membership period.
Membership fees contribute to RTI’s governance, professional activities, administration and international work, as well as the benefits made available to individual members.
Members may resign in accordance with the RTI Rules and Membership Terms. Resignation ends future membership rights but does not automatically create an entitlement to a refund.
Suspension or termination
Refund eligibility following the suspension or termination of membership will be considered according to:
- the RTI Rules and Membership Terms;
- the reason for the suspension or termination;
- the membership services already provided; and
- applicable law.
Suspension or termination does not automatically create an entitlement to a refund. RTI will not, however, exclude any refund or remedy required by law.
Renewal
RTI membership does not renew automatically. Members will receive a reminder before their membership expires but must actively renew and make a new payment.
Membership renewal fees are ordinarily non-refundable after the renewed membership period has commenced, except where required by law or where there has been a duplicate or incorrect payment.
4. Conferences, workshops and events
RTI event registrations may be subject to event-specific cancellation terms displayed or provided before registration. Those terms form part of the registration agreement and should be read before payment.
Cancellation by the participant
If a participant can no longer attend, any refund, credit or transfer will be determined under the cancellation terms for that event.
Where no event-specific cancellation terms were provided, RTI will consider the request reasonably, taking into account:
- how much notice was provided;
- costs RTI has already incurred or committed;
- whether the registration can be transferred to another person;
- whether an alternative event or credit can be offered; and
- any exceptional circumstances.
- transfer to another party may be possible
A change-of-mind refund is not guaranteed.
Failure to attend an event without notice does not ordinarily entitle the participant to a refund.
Cancellation by RTI
If RTI cancels an event for reasons within its control and does not provide a suitable rescheduled or equivalent event, participants will be offered a refund of the registration fee paid directly to RTI.
RTI is not responsible for independently booked travel, accommodation, insurance, visa expenses or other personal costs unless liability cannot lawfully be excluded. Participants are encouraged to purchase appropriate travel insurance.
Postponement or material changes
If RTI postpones an event or makes a material change to an important feature of the event, RTI will notify registered participants as soon as reasonably practicable.
Depending on the circumstances, participants may be offered:
- transfer to the rescheduled event;
- a credit towards another RTI event; or
- a full or partial refund.
A change of presenter, timetable, room, session order or another minor programme detail will not ordinarily create an entitlement to a refund, provided the essential nature and value of the event remain substantially the same.
Circumstances beyond RTI’s control
If an event cannot proceed because of circumstances beyond RTI’s reasonable control, refund rights will be determined under the applicable event terms and relevant law.
Where permitted by law, RTI may deduct reasonable costs already incurred that cannot be recovered. RTI will explain any deduction applied.
5. Digital resources
RTI does not ordinarily provide change-of-mind refunds after a digital resource has been downloaded, accessed or supplied.
This does not affect a purchaser’s rights if the resource:
- cannot be accessed because of a problem within RTI’s control;
- is materially different from its description;
- is defective; or
- otherwise fails to meet an applicable consumer guarantee.
RTI may first offer to correct the problem, replace the resource or restore access where that is an appropriate remedy.
6. Training provided by independent trainers
Resource Therapy training may be delivered by independent trainers and training organisations recognised by RTI.
Unless the payment was made directly to RTI as the provider or seller, RTI does not receive or control the training fee and cannot issue a refund. Refund and cancellation requests must be directed to the trainer or training organisation that received the payment.
Recognition, listing or approval of a trainer by RTI does not make RTI a party to the financial agreement between the participant and the independent provider.
7. Duplicate, incorrect or unauthorised payments
Please contact RTI promptly if:
- the same payment has been processed more than once;
- an incorrect amount has been charged;
- a payment has been made against the wrong membership or event; or
- you believe a transaction was unauthorised.
Verified duplicate or incorrect amounts will be refunded.
Suspected unauthorised transactions may also need to be reported promptly to the cardholder’s bank or payment provider.
8. How to request a refund
Refund requests must be submitted to:
Please include:
- your full name;
- the email address used for the payment;
- the payment date and amount;
- the membership, event or resource purchased;
- the reason for the request; and
- any relevant supporting information.
RTI aims to acknowledge requests within five business days and to advise the outcome within ten business days. More complex requests may take longer, particularly where additional information is required.
9. Approved refunds
Approved refunds will ordinarily be returned to the original payment method.
Once RTI has processed a refund, the time taken for the money to appear in the purchaser’s account will depend on the relevant bank or payment provider.
Where the law requires a full refund, RTI will refund the full amount required by law. Any deduction from a discretionary refund will be reasonable, lawful and explained to the purchaser.
RTI is not responsible for differences caused solely by international exchange-rate movements or charges imposed independently by a purchaser’s bank, card provider or currency-conversion service.
10. International purchasers
RTI operates from Australia and this policy has been prepared with reference to Australian law.
Purchasers located outside Australia may have additional rights under mandatory consumer laws applying in their country. Nothing in this policy is intended to exclude rights that cannot legally be excluded.
11. Concerns and complaints
If you disagree with a refund decision, you may ask RTI to review it by our contact form and providing any additional relevant information.
Complaints will be managed under the RTI Complaints and Feedback Policy.
You may also contact Consumer Affairs Victoria or the consumer protection authority in your state, territory or country.
12. Changes to this policy
RTI may update this policy when its services, payment arrangements or legal obligations change.
The policy applying at the time of a purchase will ordinarily govern that purchase. RTI will not use a later change to remove rights that have already arisen.
Approved by President RTI Philipa Thornton