Terms & Conditions of NAPAA Membership

​1. ​Introduction

1.1  The purpose of this document is to clarify the terms and conditions for being a member of NAPAA. The primary goal of NAPAA is to establish a professional community for neuro-affirming professionals across Australia. By accessing or using NAPAA's services, members agree to comply with these Terms and Conditions (T&C).

1.2 The special T&Cs exclusive to early members of NAPAA with a Directors’ invitation are in addition to these T&Cs and do not negate these T&Cs. The early member benefits will cease to apply when the early member ceases to renew their membership, or in circumstances outlined in Sections 2.1 and 4.3 below.

2. Membership Eligibility and Obligations

To be eligible for NAPAA membership:

2.1  Professional Registration: Members must maintain current, active, unrestricted registration (or equivalent professional recognition) with the relevant state and/or national governing bodies for their respective professions throughout their membership duration. Failure to do so will result in temporary suspension or termination of membership. NAPAA is not a governing body and does not ensure compliance with professional and safety standards set out by the Australian governing bodies of various professions.

2.1.1   Credentials: All members must provide accurate professional registration details during application. Any changes to their registration status (e.g., suspension and de-registration) or credentials must be promptly reported to NAPAA via email.

2.1.2.  Public Reprimands and Disciplinary Actions: If a member's, or an applicant's governing body publicly lists a formal reprimand, condition or restriction, the following process will apply:

• The member/applicant will not be automatically excluded from membership.

• NAPAA will invite (but not require) the member/applicant to share any context they feel is relevant.

• Where the disciplinary history suggests harm or risk to clients (e.g., breaches of boundaries, discrimination, coercion or serious misconduct), NAPAA may:

o   Decline or delay membership

o   Seek clarification from the governing body if information is public

o   Reserve the right to request additional professional references or documentation before listing

2.1.3 Respecting Privacy and Scope: NAPAA will not seek or request internal correspondence, private tribunal outcomes, or confidential investigation materials from any applicant or governing body. Decisions will be made based solely on publicly available or voluntarily disclosed information.

2.1.4  Discretion Around Public Listing: Members will not be required to display disciplinary history on their NAPAA profile. However, by submitting their information to apply for NAPAA membership, members acknowledge and agree to the following clause: “I understand that my professional registration details are publicly accessible via my governing body’s register, and that the public may choose to consult these as part of their decision-making.”

2.1.5   Professional Transparency Invitation (Optional): NAPAA may include a field on the application form inviting practitioners to share context or clarifying details about any past reprimands, to be held confidentially unless otherwise specified.

2.1.6   Neuro-Affirming Hairdressers: A unique exception to NAPAA's professional registration requirement for membership application is made for neuro-affirming hairdressers because NAPAA acknowledges the essential role that hairdressers play in the emotional and sensory well-being of many neurodivergent individuals. During COVID-19 lockdowns, hairdressers were recognised as essential services, and their work directly contributes to mental health, self-esteem and overall wellness.

2.1.7   Safety-First Discretion Clause: NAPAA reserves the right to withhold or revoke membership if a public reprimand appears to contradict the values of client safety, neuro-affirming care, and ethical professional conduct, particularly if the individual has not demonstrated insight, growth, or resolution of the concerns.

2.2  Sign up and Registration: Your NAPAA membership is only in effect after you 1) have signed up as a member, 2) completed your NAPAA professional member profile for the directory, AND 3) your application has been approved by NAPAA upon review.

2.3  Service Commitment: Members must provide professional care or services to the neurodivergent community in Australia and commit to neuro-affirming practices. This involves collaborating earnestly with neurodivergent individuals to deliver personalised, high-quality care.

2.4  Professional Standards: Members are expected to treat their clients/patients of all neurotypes with respect, maintain professionalism, and adhere to ethical and safety guidelines set out by their respective profession’s governing bodies.

2.5  Profile Management: Members are responsible for ensuring their professional profiles on the NAPAA directory remain accurate and up-to-date.

2.6 Discretionary Membership Approval: NAPAA reserves the right to approve or deny membership applications at its sole discretion. This includes the authority to refuse membership to individuals who, despite meeting the formal eligibility criteria, are deemed to pose a potential reputational risk or whose values and conduct are not aligned with NAPAA's mission and principles. Such decisions will be made to uphold the integrity and safety of the NAPAA community.

3. Member Benefits and Usage Rights

3.1  Directory Listing: Members' profiles will be featured in the NAPAA directory, facilitating connections with neurodivergent individuals seeking professional support.

3.2  Resource Access: Members may access and use NAPAA resources for educational purposes, including sharing them with clients for psychoeducation. These resources are not a substitute for personalised professional and/or medical advice.

3.3  Member Referrals: Referral benefits are subject to compliance with applicable legal and tax obligations. Members are responsible for ensuring that any rewards or benefits received are appropriately declared or managed according to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and other relevant regulations.

3.4  Intellectual Property: At NAPAA, we take the protection of our intellectual property seriously. All materials, resources, and content provided to members remain the exclusive property of NAPAA and are protected by copyright laws. Members are granted limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable rights to use these resources solely for educational and professional purposes within the scope of their individual or organizational practice. This permission is contingent upon compliance with the following terms:

3.4.1   Prohibition of Rebranding
All NAPAA resources must be used in their original, unaltered form. Rebranding or modifying any content or materials, including rewording, reshaping, or adding any logos, headers, or other design elements to falsely imply authorship or ownership, is strictly prohibited. Resources may not be incorporated into any other publication, training program, or promotional materials in a way that would mislead third parties into believing the resources are the work of any individual or organszation other than NAPAA.

3.4.2.   No Resale or Commercial Distribution
Resources provided by NAPAA are intended for educational use by members only and cannot be resold, sub-licensed, or distributed in any commercial capacity. Unauthorised distribution of any NAPAA materials, in their original or modified forms, including through digital platforms, physical copies, or any other means, is a violation of these Terms and Conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, resale through online marketplaces, sharing within third-party groups, or any form of redistribution for profit or other forms of gains, whether monetary or non-monetary. This also applies to the use of NAPAA resources for personal or organisational advantage, including but not limited to attracting members to external organisations, acquiring sponsorships, or any other activity that could be seen as leveraging NAPAA’s intellectual property for personal, professional, or commercial benefit outside the scope of NAPAA membership.

3.4.3.   Prohibition of Re-distribution After Rebranding
Members who rebrand or modify NAPAA resources without express written consent from NAPAA are prohibited from redistributing or sharing these altered resources in any form, either digitally or physically. This applies even if the content has been changed, combined with other resources, or restructured. Any unauthorised rebranding or alteration of NAPAA resources will be considered a violation of intellectual property laws, subject to legal action.

3.4.4    Limitations on Resource Sharing
Members are allowed to share NAPAA resources only within the confines of their professional and client-facing roles. Sharing of resources outside of these boundaries - such as with non-members, on external websites, or within private groups without explicit permission - is prohibited. All resources must be used in a manner consistent with NAPAA's neuro-affirming principles and values.

3.4.5    Legal Consequences for Violation
Any violations of these terms - particularly related to unauthorised rebranding, distribution, or commercial use of NAPAA resources - will result in immediate suspension of membership and may lead to further legal action. NAPAA reserves the right to pursue damages for any misuse of its intellectual property to the fullest extent permitted by law.

3.4.6    Reporting Misuse
If a member becomes aware of any unauthorised use or distribution of NAPAA resources, they are required to immediately report it to NAPAA for investigation and potential enforcement. Ensuring that our resources are used appropriately protects the integrity of our work and maintains the value we provide to all our members.

By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions, all members acknowledge their understanding of the above rules regarding intellectual property and agree to uphold these guidelines throughout their membership with NAPAA. Any breaches will be treated with the utmost seriousness and will result in immediate disciplinary actions.

3.5  Exclusive Opportunities: Members can submit articles they have written on relevant topics for potential publication in the NAPAA newsletters or e-magazine, with proper accreditation for the writer provided. These are opportunities for members to showcase their unique expertise in the context of neurodivergence or neuro-affirming practice and increase exposure to their business/practice. *Publication T&Cs apply.

3.6  Event Discounts: Members will be eligible for discounted admission to any futureNAPAA professional development or networking events. Details will be provided during event announcements.

4. Fees and Payments

4.1  Membership Fees: Membership fees, durations, payment schedules, and applicable taxes will be detailed during the sign up process. 

4.2  Refund Policy: Membership payments are non-refundable for change-of-mind cancellations and/or termination of membership due to violations of these Terms and Conditions. Members can choose not to renew their membership at the end of their term.

4.2.1   A violation of these Terms and Conditions includes, but is not limited to:

•  Providing false or misleading information during the membership application process.

•. Engaging in unethical, discriminatory, or harmful behaviour contrary to the principles of NAPAA.

•. Unauthorised use, sharing, or distribution of NAPAA resources, branding, or intellectual property.

•. Failure to comply with professional registration requirements outlined in Section 2.1.

•. Breaching confidentiality or privacy obligations regarding client, member, or organisational information.

•. Repeated non-payment of membership fees or other applicable charges.

4.3  Termination & Refunds: If any NAPAA membership is suspended or terminated due to changes in professional registration, NAPAA will refund membership fees for the unused portion of the membership term. No refunds or compensation will be provided for non-fee-paying members.

4.3.1   If termination of membership were to occur, NAPAA will inform the member of the decision via email and arrange for any refunds, if applicable.

5. Prohibited Actions

5.1  Zero-Tolerance Policy: Harassment, discrimination, defamatory behaviour, or misinformation will not be tolerated.

5.2  Confidentiality: Members must not share private or confidential information via NAPAA platforms.

5.3  Ethical Representation: Members must not use their NAPAA membership to imply superiority over non-members.

6. Privacy and Data Protection

6.1  Data Protection: Our security measures and processes meet industry standards. These may include access control procedures, network firewalls, encryption and physical security. Although we will endeavour to protect your personal information, we are unable to guarantee that any information you transmit to us over the internet is 100% secure. Members are responsible for setting strong account passwords and secure their passwords to help safeguard their member accounts.

6.2  Data Usage: Personal information collected during registration is used to populate the NAPAA directory and provide essential services.

6.3 Privacy Policy: Members can access NAPAA’s Privacy Policy at napaaustralia.org/privacypolicy.

7. Jurisdiction & Governing Law

7.1  Legal Compliance: This agreement is governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia. Disputes will be resolved under Victoria's jurisdiction.

7.2  Dispute Resolution: NAPAA encourages resolution through mediation or arbitration before legal action.

7.3  Severability: If any clause in this document is deemed invalid by a court, the remaining provisions will remain effective.

8. Limitation of Liability 

To the fullest extent permitted by law, NAPAA excludes all liability for damages, losses, or claims arising from your use of its services. However, this exclusion does not override your statutory rights as a consumer under Australian Consumer Law, including guarantees relating to the provision of services with due care and skill. For example, if a service provided by NAPAA fails to meet these guarantees, you may be entitled to remedies such as repair, replacement, or refund under Australian Consumer Law.

9. Amendments

NAPAA reserves the right to update these T&C at any time. Members will be notified of changes via email and can review updates on the NAPAA website.

10. Contact & Clarifications

For clarifications or concerns, please contact NAPAA at info@napaaustralia.org

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Last Updated: 1 May 2025