These are the Terms and Conditions on which Little Gatherings, operated by Sofia Botana, will provide services to you. By making a booking with Little Gatherings, you are accepting these Terms and Conditions.

1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 Australian Consumer Law

Australian Consumer Law means Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), together with any applicable state or territory legislation.

1.2 Fees

Fees means the amount payable for each Little Gatherings session, event, private gathering, birthday party or other service as stated at the time of booking.

1.3 Services

Services means the provision of creative, nature-based and play experiences, including regular sessions, workshops, private events and birthday parties for babies, toddlers and young children.

1.4 You

You means the person making the booking, the parent or guardian of a child participating in the Services, or any other adult attending a Little Gatherings session or event.

1.5 Child

Child means any baby, toddler or young child participating in the Services under the supervision of their parent, guardian or accompanying adult.

2. PROVISION OF SERVICES

2.1

Little Gatherings will provide the Services on the date, at the time and at the location stated at the time of booking.

2.2

Little Gatherings sessions may include:

• creative and art activities

• painting and craft

• playdough

• taste-safe and food-based play materials

• sensory-style play and loose materials

• water play

• nature-based activities

• books and quiet play

• natural and recycled materials

• other activities relating to the theme of the session.

2.3

Materials and activities may vary between sessions depending on the theme, age of participants, weather, location and availability of materials.

2.4

Where reasonably possible, Little Gatherings aims to use child-friendly, taste-safe and environmentally conscious materials.

Taste-safe does not mean that materials are intended to be eaten.

2.5

Little Gatherings sessions are generally conducted outdoors and may involve:

• uneven or natural surfaces

• grass, dirt, sand, mud or other outdoor elements

• exposure to sun, wind or rain

• water

• natural materials

• interaction with other children and families

• movement and active play.

2.6

Little Gatherings is a parent/carer-supervised experience and is not a childcare or drop-off service.

Parents and carers remain responsible for their child at all times.

3. FEES AND PAYMENTS

3.1

Fees are payable at the time of booking unless otherwise agreed in writing.

3.2

A booking is confirmed once payment has been received.

3.3

Private events and birthday parties may have different payment terms, which will be communicated at the time of booking.

3.4

Little Gatherings reserves the right to update its prices from time to time. Any updated prices will apply to future bookings only.

3.5

No refunds will be provided for change of mind, except where otherwise required by Australian Consumer Law or agreed by Little Gatherings.

4. CANCELLATION AND RESCHEDULING

4.1

If your child is unwell, please do not attend the session.

4.2 Individual Sessions

If you are unable to attend a booked session, please contact Little Gatherings as soon as possible.

Where possible, Little Gatherings may offer a transfer of your booking to another available session.

Any credit or refund will be subject to availability and the circumstances of the cancellation.

4.3

Rescheduling is subject to availability.

4.4

Late arrival does not extend the scheduled session time.

4.5

If Little Gatherings needs to cancel or postpone a session due to illness, weather, venue circumstances or other unforeseen circumstances, families will be notified as soon as reasonably possible.

4.6

Where a session is postponed due to weather, your booking can generally be transferred as a credit to another suitable upcoming session.

If you are unable to attend an alternative date, please contact Little Gatherings and a refund may be arranged.

4.7

Due to the outdoor nature of Little Gatherings, sessions may be postponed, relocated or cancelled where weather conditions make it unsuitable or impractical to safely and comfortably run the session.

4.8

Little Gatherings may occasionally need to cancel a session where there are insufficient bookings to make the session viable. In this circumstance, affected families will be offered a credit or refund.

5. MONTHLY PASSES

5.1

Monthly passes provide access to the number of sessions specified at the time of purchase and are subject to the applicable validity period.

5.2

If a session is cancelled or postponed by Little Gatherings due to weather or other circumstances outside the participant's control, the monthly pass will generally be extended by one week so that the missed session is not lost.

5.3

Monthly passes are not transferable unless otherwise agreed by Little Gatherings.

5.4

Unused sessions cannot be exchanged for cash or transferred beyond the applicable pass period, except where otherwise agreed or required by law.

6. YOUR OBLIGATIONS

6.1

You are responsible for supervising your child at all times during the Services.

6.2

Little Gatherings does not provide childcare, babysitting or individual supervision.

6.3

You must follow all reasonable instructions provided by Little Gatherings for the safety and wellbeing of your child and other participants.

6.4

You should dress your child in clothing suitable for outdoor and creative play. Paint, water, playdough, natural materials and other activities may result in clothing or belongings becoming dirty or damaged.

Little Gatherings is not responsible for damage to clothing or personal belongings, except where liability cannot legally be excluded.

6.5

You must inform Little Gatherings before participation of any relevant:

• allergies

• medical conditions

• sensitivities

• developmental considerations

• other circumstances that may affect your child's participation.

6.6

Parents and carers are responsible for deciding whether a particular activity is suitable for their child.

6.7

Parents and carers should prevent their child from eating materials that are not intended for consumption.

6.8

You agree to respect the venue, environment, materials, equipment, Little Gatherings staff and other participating families.

7. ALLERGIES AND MATERIALS

7.1

Little Gatherings aims to use child-friendly and, where appropriate, taste-safe materials.

7.2

Little Gatherings does not represent or guarantee that its sessions or materials are completely free from allergens.

7.3

Some activities may involve food-based ingredients, flour, grains, seeds, natural materials, paint, playdough or other substances that may cause an allergic reaction or sensitivity.

7.4

Parents and carers are responsible for determining whether their child should participate in an activity and for providing any necessary medical treatment or medication for their child.

7.5

If your child has a severe allergy or medical condition, please contact Little Gatherings before booking so that we can discuss whether the session is suitable.

8. SAFETY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

8.1

Little Gatherings takes reasonable care when preparing activities and setting up the session environment.

8.2

You acknowledge that participation in creative, play and outdoor activities involves ordinary and inherent risks, which may include:

• slips, trips and falls

• bumps and minor injuries

• contact with natural outdoor surfaces

• exposure to weather conditions

• getting wet or dirty

• contact with paint, playdough or other materials

• accidental contact with other children

• choking or ingestion of materials

• allergic reactions or sensitivities

• risks associated with a child's own behaviour, development or individual circumstances.

8.3

You acknowledge that you remain responsible for supervising your child and for deciding whether your child should participate in a particular activity.

8.4

To the extent permitted by law, you agree that Little Gatherings will not be responsible for loss, injury or damage arising from risks that are inherent in or ordinarily associated with participation in the Services.

8.5

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes, restricts or modifies any rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable legislation.

9. PHOTOGRAPHY AND MARKETING

9.1

Little Gatherings may take photographs or videos during sessions for its website, social media and promotional materials.

9.2

Photography consent is optional.

9.3

When booking, you will be given the option to consent or not consent to photographs or videos of your child being used for Little Gatherings' promotional purposes.

9.4

If you do not consent to photography or video of your child, please select the relevant option when booking or notify Little Gatherings before the session.

9.5

Parents and carers may photograph or record their own child, provided that they respect the privacy of other families and do not photograph or record other children without permission.

10. PERSONAL BELONGINGS

10.1

You are responsible for your own belongings and your child's belongings while attending Little Gatherings.

10.2

Little Gatherings is not responsible for personal items that are lost, damaged or left unattended, except where liability cannot legally be excluded.

11. CHANGES TO SERVICES

11.1

Little Gatherings may make reasonable changes to activities, materials, locations or session arrangements where necessary due to weather, safety, venue requirements, availability or other circumstances.

11.2

Little Gatherings will aim to maintain the overall nature and value of the experience wherever reasonably possible.

12. GENERAL

12.1

These Terms and Conditions may be updated from time to time. Updated Terms and Conditions will apply to future bookings.

12.2

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.

12.3

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the state or territory in which the relevant Little Gatherings Services are provided, together with applicable Australian law.

12.4

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to limit your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

PARENT/CARER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & WAIVER

By booking a Little Gatherings session, I acknowledge that:

• I am the parent, guardian or authorised accompanying adult for the child/children attending.

• I understand that Little Gatherings is not a childcare or drop-off service.

• I will remain responsible for supervising my child/children throughout the session.

• I understand that outdoor, creative and play activities involve some ordinary risks.

• I understand that materials may be touched or mouthed by young children and that I am responsible for preventing my child from eating materials that are not intended for consumption.

• I have informed Little Gatherings of any relevant allergies, medical conditions or sensitivities affecting my child.

• I understand that Little Gatherings cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.

• I will follow reasonable safety instructions provided by Little Gatherings.

• I have considered whether the activities are suitable for my child.

• I voluntarily choose for my child/children to participate in the Services.

To the extent permitted by law, I accept the ordinary risks associated with participation in Little Gatherings and release Little Gatherings from liability for loss, injury or damage arising from risks that are inherent in or ordinarily associated with the Services.

Nothing in this acknowledgement excludes or limits any rights or remedies that cannot legally be excluded or limited.