Terms of Service

1. About These Terms

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of the Tutor Marketplace website and platform located at tutor-marketplace.com (“Platform”), operated by Tutor Marketplace (“we”, “us”, “our”).

By creating an account or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform.

If you are under 18 years of age, you must have a parent or legal guardian review and agree to these Terms on your behalf before using the Platform. Parents or guardians who create accounts on behalf of minors are responsible for all activity under that account.

2. What Tutor Marketplace Is

Tutor Marketplace is an online platform that connects students (and their parents or guardians) with independent tutors for private tutoring sessions.

We are a marketplace and intermediary. We are not a tutoring provider, educational institution, or employer of tutors. Tutors are independent service providers who offer their services through the Platform.

We do not guarantee the quality, suitability, or outcomes of any tutoring session. We do provide tools, trust features, and moderation systems to support safe and productive tutoring relationships.

3. Accounts and Eligibility

3.1 Account Types

The Platform offers the following account types:

• Student accounts — for individuals seeking tutoring (or parents/guardians booking on behalf of a minor)
• Tutor accounts — for individuals offering tutoring services

3.2 Eligibility

To create a Student account, you must be at least 13 years of age, or have a parent or legal guardian create and manage the account on your behalf. Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising their child's use of the Platform.

To create a Tutor account, you must be at least 18 years of age and legally permitted to provide tutoring services in Australia.

3.3 Account Accuracy

You must provide accurate, current, and complete information when creating your account. You must keep your account information up to date. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your account.

3.4 Account Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time if you breach these Terms, engage in misconduct, or if we reasonably believe your continued use of the Platform poses a risk to other users or to the Platform's integrity.

4. How the Platform Works

4.1 Tutor Listings

Tutors create profiles describing their qualifications, subjects, and availability. Session rates are fixed by tier (Foundation $60/hr, Advanced $90/hr, Elite $120/hr) and cannot be set by individual tutors. All tutor profiles are manually reviewed and approved by Tutor Marketplace before they become publicly visible. Approval does not constitute an endorsement of the tutor's qualifications or ability.

4.2 Tutor Tiers

Tutor Marketplace operates a three-tier system: Foundation ($60/hr), Advanced ($90/hr), and Elite ($120/hr). All tutors enter at Foundation tier. Tutors may apply for higher tiers based on academic credentials, tutoring experience, references, and performance in a video interview or teaching demonstration. Tier placement is determined by Tutor Marketplace at its sole discretion and may be changed at any time. Tutors may be demoted to a lower tier or removed from the Platform if they receive complaints, excessive cancellations, or violate Platform policies.

4.3 Tutor Vetting

Every tutor on Tutor Marketplace is required to complete document verification, a Working With Children Check (WWCC), and a personal video interview before being approved. Tutors must provide documentary proof of their academic credentials. All claims made in tutor profiles are cross-referenced against uploaded documents. Tutor Marketplace reserves the right to request additional documentation at any time.

4.4 Session Summaries & Study Plans

Advanced and Elite tier tutors may provide session summaries after lessons. These summaries are shared with the student and/or parent. Elite tier tutors may create study plans for their students. Study plans are visible to the student and/or parent. Session summaries and study plans are provided as a service and do not constitute professional academic advice.

4.5 Booking Flow

The booking process works as follows:

1. A student (or parent/guardian) submits a booking request to a tutor, selecting a preferred date, time, and duration.
2. When a booking request is made, the session rate (determined by the tutor's tier) is locked in as a pricing snapshot. This rate cannot be changed for that booking.
3. The tutor reviews and either accepts or rejects the request.
4. If accepted, the student is invited to pay the session fee through the Platform's payment system.
5. Payment is only collected after the tutor accepts. Students are never charged for rejected or pending requests.
6. Once paid, both parties receive confirmation and session details.

4.3 Lessons

Lessons take place online using the Platform's integrated video conferencing system, powered by our self-hosted Jitsi Meet infrastructure. Each booking includes access to a Lesson Room with video calling, shared notes, file sharing, and a text chat. All lesson interactions occur within the Platform's secure environment. All sessions are recorded as described in Section 4.4 below.

4.4 Session Recording

All tutoring sessions conducted through the Tutor Marketplace lesson room — including paid lessons and free trial lessons — are automatically recorded for safety, quality assurance, and child protection purposes. By using the Platform, you consent to the recording of your video, audio, and whiteboard activity during sessions.

Recordings are stored securely for 90 days and are accessible only to Tutor Marketplace administrators for the purposes of:

• Investigating complaints or disputes between tutors and students
• Ensuring compliance with our child safety policies
• Monitoring session quality
• Responding to support requests

Recordings are not shared with tutors, students, parents, or any third parties unless required by law. After 90 days, recordings are automatically and permanently deleted.

5. Payments, Fees, and Refunds

5.1 Payment Processing

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. The Platform does not store credit card numbers or sensitive payment information.

Students pay the full session fee at the time of checkout. The Platform collects this payment on behalf of the tutor.

5.2 Platform Commission

The Platform charges a commission on each completed session, determined by the tutor's tier: Foundation (30%), Advanced (20%), Elite (20%). This fee is deducted from the tutor's payout. Students pay the listed session price with no additional platform fees.

For example, at Foundation tier ($60/hour), the student pays $60 and the tutor receives $42 after the 30% platform commission. At Advanced tier ($90/hour), the commission is 20% and the tutor receives $72.

Commission rates vary by tier: Foundation (30%), Advanced (20%), Elite (20%). We reserve the right to change commission rates with reasonable notice to tutors.

5.3 Tutor Payouts

Tutors receive payouts through Stripe Connect. Payout timing is subject to Stripe's processing schedule and the tutor's Stripe account configuration.

To receive payouts, tutors must complete Stripe onboarding, including identity verification and bank account details. We are not responsible for delays caused by incomplete Stripe setup or Stripe's processing times.

5.4 Cancellation and Refund Policy

Single sessions:

• If a student cancels a paid booking more than 24 hours before the scheduled start time, they receive a full refund.
• If a student cancels a paid booking less than 24 hours before the scheduled start time, no automatic refund is provided. Students may contact support for case-by-case review.
• Unpaid bookings (pending or accepted but not yet paid) can be cancelled at any time without charge.
• If a tutor cancels a paid booking, the student receives a full refund regardless of timing.

Recurring sessions:

• Individual sessions: 24 hours notice required to skip without charge.
• Full series: may be cancelled at any time. All future sessions are cancelled immediately. Past completed sessions are not affected.

Bundles:

• Active bundles may be refunded for unused sessions at any time before expiry (see Session Bundles section).
• Cancelling a bundle also cancels any linked recurring schedule and all future bookings from that bundle.

Refund processing:

Refunds are processed through Stripe and may take 5–10 business days to appear in the student's account. Refund amounts and processing are handled by Stripe's refund system.

5.5 Free Trial Lesson

Every Student is entitled to one free 30-minute trial lesson per Tutor. Trial lessons help Students and parents assess the Tutor's teaching style, the Platform's classroom features, and overall fit before committing to paid sessions.

Trial lesson terms:

• One free trial lesson per Student-Tutor pairing.
• Trial lessons are 30 minutes in duration.
• The Tutor must accept the trial lesson booking.
• Trial lessons use the full classroom environment including video, whiteboard, notes, files, and chat.
• No payment is required.
• Trial lessons are recorded for quality and safety purposes per our Privacy Policy.
• Students and parents may leave a review after a trial lesson.
• Trial lessons do not count toward session bundles or recurring lesson schedules.

The free trial lesson replaces any previous “First Lesson Guarantee” or refund policy for first sessions. No refund mechanism applies to trial lessons as no payment is collected.

5.6 Session Bundles

Students may purchase session bundles (4-session or 8-session packages) with individual tutors at a discounted rate:

• 4-session bundle: 5% discount on the per-session rate
• 8-session bundle: 10% discount on the per-session rate

Bundle terms:

• Bundles are paid in full at the time of purchase.
• Bundle sessions are valid for 6 months from the date of purchase.
• Unused sessions after the 6-month validity period are forfeited unless a refund is requested before expiry.
• Bundle sessions are for use with the specific tutor they were purchased for and are not transferable to other tutors.
• If a tutor leaves the platform or becomes unavailable, unused bundle sessions will be refunded in full.

Bundle refunds:

• Students may request a refund for unused bundle sessions at any time before the bundle expires.
• The refund amount is calculated as: number of unused sessions multiplied by the per-session rate paid (discounted rate, not the standard rate).
• Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 5–10 business days.
• Used sessions are not refundable.

5.7 Recurring Lessons

Students may set up recurring lesson schedules with tutors on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Recurring lessons create automatic bookings at the agreed day and time.

• Either the student or tutor may cancel individual sessions with at least 24 hours notice.
• Either party may cancel the entire recurring series at any time.
• Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours notice may be charged at the full session rate (or consume a bundle session credit).
• No-shows without cancellation: the session is considered delivered and no refund is provided. If the session is from a bundle, the session credit is consumed.

Recurring lessons from a bundle:

• Sessions are deducted from the bundle balance as they are scheduled.
• If the bundle balance reaches zero, the recurring schedule is paused and the student is notified.
• The student may purchase a new bundle to resume the recurring schedule.

Recurring lessons without a bundle:

• Each session is charged individually at the tutor's current tier rate.
• The rate may change if the tutor is promoted to a different tier between sessions.

6. Tutor Responsibilities

As a tutor on the Platform, you agree to:

• Provide accurate information about your qualifications, experience, and subjects
• Honour accepted booking requests and attend scheduled sessions on time
• Accept the fixed session rate determined by your tier assignment
• Respond to booking requests in a timely manner
• Comply with all applicable Australian laws, including child safety requirements
• Hold a valid Working With Children Check (or equivalent) if tutoring students under 18
• Not solicit students to move off-platform to avoid paying the platform commission
• Not engage in any behaviour that is abusive, discriminatory, or inappropriate, particularly when working with minors

6.1 Online-Only Tutoring Requirement

All tutoring sessions arranged through Tutor Marketplace must be conducted online using the Platform's built-in video classroom. Tutors and students must not use the Platform to arrange in-person meetings, off-platform lessons, or any tutoring that takes place outside of the Tutor Marketplace lesson room.

Tutors must not advertise in-person rates, physical locations, or external contact details (such as personal phone numbers, email addresses, or social media handles) in their profile, bio, or any communication through the Platform.

6.2 Off-Platform Transactions

Tutors and students must not arrange or conduct tutoring sessions outside of the Platform to circumvent Tutor Marketplace's payment system. All bookings and payments must be processed through Tutor Marketplace. Attempting to take transactions off-platform, solicit direct payment, or encourage students to book lessons outside the Platform is a violation of these Terms and may result in suspension or permanent removal of your account.

6.3 Working With Children Check

All tutors on Tutor Marketplace who teach students under 18 years of age must hold a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC), Blue Card, Ochre Card, or equivalent state/territory screening clearance before they can accept bookings.

Tutors must provide their WWCC details during registration. These details are verified by our team before the tutor's profile is made publicly visible. Tutors with a verified WWCC will display a “WWCC Verified” badge on their profile.

Tutors are solely responsible for:

• Obtaining and maintaining a valid WWCC in their state or territory
• Renewing their WWCC before it expires (typically valid for 5 years)
• Notifying Tutor Marketplace immediately if their WWCC is revoked, suspended, or subject to investigation
• Complying with all child safety laws applicable in their jurisdiction

Providing false or misleading WWCC information, or continuing to tutor after a WWCC has been revoked or suspended, will result in immediate account termination and may be reported to relevant authorities.

While we verify WWCC details submitted by tutors, we do not conduct independent background checks beyond WWCC verification. Parents and guardians are encouraged to exercise their own judgement when selecting a tutor for their child.

6.4 Tax Obligations

Tutors are independent contractors, not employees of Tutor Marketplace. Tutors are solely responsible for their own tax obligations, including but not limited to income tax, GST (if applicable), and superannuation. The Platform does not withhold taxes from tutor payouts.

We recommend tutors consult a qualified accountant regarding their tax obligations.

6.5 Independent Contractor Status

Tutors using the Platform are independent contractors, not employees, agents, or representatives of Tutor Marketplace. The Platform does not control the manner, method, or means by which tutors provide their services.

Tutors are solely responsible for the content, quality, and delivery of their tutoring sessions. Tutor Marketplace does not supervise, direct, or evaluate individual tutoring sessions.

Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship between Tutor Marketplace and any tutor.

6.6 Academic Integrity

Tutors must not complete homework, assignments, essays, exams, or any assessed work on behalf of students. Tutoring should help students understand concepts and develop skills — not produce work intended for academic submission.

Tutors who are found to be completing student work may have their accounts suspended or terminated.

7. Student and Parent Responsibilities

As a student or parent/guardian on the Platform, you agree to:

• Provide accurate information about the student's age, year level, and learning needs
• Attend scheduled sessions on time or cancel in advance per the cancellation policy
• Treat tutors with respect and professionalism
• Supervise minors using the Platform as appropriate for their age
• Not share account credentials with others
• Report any concerns about tutor conduct through the Platform's reporting system

7.1 Parental Responsibility

If you are a parent or guardian booking tutoring for a minor, you are responsible for:

• Reviewing and agreeing to these Terms on behalf of the minor
• Supervising your child's use of the Platform as appropriate
• Ensuring your child behaves appropriately during sessions
• All payments made under the account

8. Conduct and Safety

8.1 Prohibited Conduct

The following conduct is prohibited on the Platform:

• Any form of harassment, abuse, discrimination, or threatening behaviour
• Any sexual, romantic, or otherwise inappropriate behaviour, particularly involving minors
• Providing false or misleading information in profiles or communications
• Attempting to circumvent the Platform's payment system
• Soliciting users to transact outside the Platform to avoid fees
• Creating fake accounts or reviews
• Uploading harmful, illegal, or inappropriate content to workspaces
• Using the Platform for any purpose other than legitimate tutoring

8.2 Reporting

Users can report misconduct through the Platform's reporting system. Reports are reviewed by our moderation team. We may take action including warnings, account suspension, or permanent removal based on the severity of the reported conduct.

We are not obligated to disclose the outcome of reports to the reporting party, though we will endeavour to keep users informed where appropriate.

8.3 Moderation

We reserve the right to moderate, review, or remove any content on the Platform, including tutor profiles, workspace files, and reviews. We may do so without prior notice if we believe content violates these Terms or poses a safety risk.

8.4 Child Safety

Tutor Marketplace is committed to the safety of all users, particularly children and young people.

All tutors teaching students under 18 must hold a verified Working With Children Check. Tutors are expected to maintain professional boundaries at all times during and outside of sessions.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to be present or within hearing range during tutoring sessions involving minors, particularly for younger students. The Platform's Lesson Room allows parents to observe sessions by being present with the student.

If any user suspects inappropriate behaviour or has a child safety concern, they should immediately report it through the Platform's reporting system at tutor-marketplace.com/report. Tutor Marketplace may be required by law to report child safety concerns to relevant authorities.

Users must not use the Platform to contact minors outside of the tutoring context, share inappropriate content, or engage in any behaviour that could endanger a child's safety or wellbeing.

9. Reviews and Ratings

Students may leave reviews and ratings for tutors after completed sessions. Reviews should be honest, fair, and based on the actual tutoring experience.

We reserve the right to remove reviews that contain abusive language, false statements, or content that violates these Terms.

Tutors cannot pay for, incentivise, or manipulate reviews.

10. Intellectual Property

10.1 Platform Content

The Platform, including its design, code, branding, and content (excluding user-generated content), is owned by Tutor Marketplace and protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

10.2 User Content

You retain ownership of content you upload to the Platform (such as profile information, workspace files, and messages). By uploading content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide licence to host, display, and transmit that content as necessary to operate the Platform.

You must not upload content that infringes the intellectual property rights of others.

11. Privacy

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. Please review the Privacy Policy carefully.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Australian law:

• The Platform is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied.
• We do not guarantee that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure.
• We are not liable for the quality, safety, or outcome of any tutoring session arranged through the Platform.
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform.
• Our total liability for any claim arising from your use of the Platform is limited to the amount you have paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded under Australian Consumer Law.

12.1 In-Person Meetings Disclaimer

Tutor Marketplace is an online-only platform. We do not facilitate, endorse, or accept any responsibility for in-person meetings between tutors and students. Any in-person arrangements made between users are done entirely at their own risk and outside the scope of this Platform. Tutor Marketplace accepts no liability for any incidents, damages, or disputes arising from in-person meetings.

13. Disputes Between Users

Disputes between students and tutors (such as disagreements about session quality or cancellations) should first be addressed through the Platform's dispute resolution tools, including the reporting system.

We will make reasonable efforts to facilitate resolution, but we are not obligated to resolve disputes between users. If a dispute cannot be resolved through the Platform, users may pursue other legal remedies available to them.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify users by email or through a notice on the Platform. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. Any disputes arising under these Terms are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales.

15.1 Australian Consumer Law

These Terms do not exclude, restrict, or modify any consumer guarantees, rights, or remedies you may have under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010) or any other applicable Australian consumer protection laws. Where our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under Australian Consumer Law, our liability is limited, to the extent permitted by law, to re-supplying the services or paying the cost of having the services re-supplied.

16. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

Email: tutormarketplace1@gmail.com
Website: tutor-marketplace.com