Terms and Policies

Terms of Service

Introduction

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of BestSchools and its associated services (“Platform”), operated by Ignite Online Pty Ltd (ACN 608 432 346) trading as BestSchools (“we,” “us,” “our”). By using our services, you agree to these Terms. Please read them carefully.

1. Services

BestSchools provides tools and resources to help you connect with schools and prepare your child for their educational journey. Our services include:

• School Search Tools: Find and learn about schools in your area.
• Lead Magnets: Access educational resources like checklists and guides.
• Connection with Schools: Share your contact information with schools you're interested in for further communication.

AI Assistance

BestSchools AI provides guidance and draft content for school teams. Conversations are saved to your account and processed by our AI service provider to respond to your requests. Authorised BestSchools personnel may use conversation content for support, quality assurance, staff training and service improvement. Please avoid including personal student, parent or staff information, and check AI-generated content before using or publishing it.

AI Image Processing

When an authorised school administrator uses an AI image feature, including AI Photo, the school confirms that it owns the submitted images or has all permissions and authority required to upload and process them. This includes any permissions required for photographs of students or other identifiable people.

BestSchools sends submitted images securely to OpenAI, a service provider based in the United States, solely to provide the requested image edit. Source photographs are deleted by BestSchools after processing, unused uploads are scheduled for deletion after the two-hour signed-upload window, and server copies of generated results are scheduled for deletion after one hour. OpenAI may retain API inputs and outputs for up to 30 days in abuse-monitoring logs under its default API data policy, or longer where required by law, unless different approved data controls apply. OpenAI does not use API data to train its models by default. OpenAI's handling of this data is governed by its Business Terms, Usage Policies and API data controls documentation, which OpenAI may update from time to time.

AI-generated edits may be imperfect, may change image details beyond the requested area, and do not remove identifying context such as names, uniforms, locations or other people. The school is responsible for checking each result, deciding whether it is appropriate to publish, and ensuring its use complies with applicable privacy, child-safety, intellectual-property and consent obligations.

2. Account Registration

You may be required to create an account to access certain features. By registering, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and current information.
• Keep your login details secure and confidential.
• Update your information as needed.

3. How We Use Your Information

When you use our services, you may provide personal information, including your name, email address, and details about your child. We use this information to:

• Connect you with schools that match your preferences.
• Provide you with relevant educational resources.
• Improve our services and offer personalised content.

For more details, please review our Privacy Policy.

4. Sharing Your Information

When you express interest in a school, we may share your contact details with that school so they can follow up with you directly. You can manage your communication preferences at any time.

5. Educational Resources

Our platform offers various educational resources, including but not limited to:

• School Assessment Tools: School Readiness Assessment, School Choice Assessment
• Planning Resources: School Holiday Calendars, School Routine Checklists
• Educational Guides: Preparation guides, checklists, and informational content
• School Comparison Tools: Tools to help evaluate and compare different schools

These resources are provided for informational purposes only and should not replace professional advice. While we strive to maintain accurate and helpful content, you acknowledge that:

• All tools, assessments, and content should be used as guidance only
• You are responsible for conducting your own independent research
• Any decisions about your child's education should be made after careful consideration and appropriate consultation with education professionals
• BestSchools is not liable for any decisions made based on the content, tools, or resources provided through our platform

Communications

By using BestSchools, you may receive two types of communications:

1. Essential Communications

These are transactional or service messages required for the operation of your account, including but not limited to:

• Account verification and security notifications
• Service updates and changes to our terms
• Responses to your direct inquiries or support requests
• Confirmation of requested resources or tools
• School communications you have explicitly opted into

These essential communications are part of our service and cannot be opted out of while maintaining an active account.

2. Marketing Communications

These are promotional messages about our services and features:

• We comply with the Spam Act 2003 (Cth)
• All marketing emails will include clear unsubscribe options
• We will honour opt-out requests within 5 business days
• We will not use harvested email addresses

You can opt out of marketing communications while continuing to receive essential account-related messages.

7. User Conduct

You agree to use our services for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not infringe the rights of others. You also agree not to:

• Provide false or misleading information.
• Use our platform to harass or harm others.
• Access our services through unauthorised means.

8. Intellectual Property

All content provided on BestSchools, including text, graphics, and software, is the property of BestSchools or its licensors. You may use this content for personal, non-commercial purposes only. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without our permission.

9. Termination

You may stop using our services at any time. We also reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to BestSchools if you violate these Terms or if we believe your actions may harm our platform or users.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by Australian law, BestSchools is provided on an “as-is” basis. While we strive to offer accurate and helpful information:

• We do not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of our services
• We are not liable for any decisions made based on information, tools, or resources provided through our platform
• We recommend conducting independent research and seeking professional advice before making important educational decisions
• BestSchools is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of our platform

Australian Consumer Rights

Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes any rights you may have under the Australian Consumer Law. For major failures with the service, you are entitled to:

• Cancel your service contract with us
• A refund for the unused portion

You are also entitled to compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage.

11. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Victoria, Australia. Any disputes arising from these Terms will be resolved in the courts of Victoria.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated Terms on our website.

13. Contact Us

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

Ignite Online Pty Ltd
ACN 608 432 346
Trading as: BestSchools
Contact: Contact Us page
Address: 54 Wellington St, Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia

Dispute Resolution

If you have a complaint:

• First, contact us directly to discuss your concerns
• If we cannot resolve the issue, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (for privacy matters)
• For consumer matters, you may contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
• You may also seek resolution through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)

Free Trial and Invoiced Subscription Terms

Claiming a school or receiving school administrator access does not automatically start a paid-plan trial. Schools remain on Free unless an authorised representative explicitly selects Starter, Growth or Premium.

When an authorised representative starts a paid-plan trial:

• The selected plan’s features are available for 30 days at no cost.
• The plan, monthly or annual billing period, price excluding GST, invoice email, trial end date and continuation terms are shown before confirmation.
• Unless the paid continuation is cancelled before the trial ends, the selected plan will continue after 30 days and BestSchools will issue invoices using the confirmed billing details.
• The paid continuation can be cancelled from the dashboard at any time before conversion. Cancelling does not end the remaining trial period; the school returns to Free when the trial finishes.
• BestSchools will send reminders before a converting trial ends.

Paid subscription billing is handled by invoice. Schools can review their trial, plan and billing details through the dashboard or contact BestSchools for assistance.