Terms of Service

Last updated: 9 April 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("Client", "you", "your") and The Reference. Pty Ltd (ABN 92 696 635 042, ACN 696 635 042) ("The Reference.", "we", "us", "our"), an Australian Private Company registered in Western Australia.

By accessing our website at thereferencepty.site or engaging our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use our website or services.

2. About Our Services

The Reference. Pty Ltd provides professional business research, strategic reference services, data and documentation management, and consulting and advisory services. Our services are designed for business clients and are delivered on a project-by-project basis unless otherwise agreed in writing.

3. Eligibility

Our services are intended for businesses, organisations, and individuals who are at least 18 years of age. By engaging our services, you represent and warrant that you have the legal authority to enter into a binding agreement and to act on behalf of any entity you represent.

4. Service Engagement

All service engagements are subject to a separate written agreement, proposal, or statement of work that outlines the specific scope, deliverables, timeline, and fees for each project. These Terms apply in addition to any such agreement. In the event of a conflict between these Terms and a specific service agreement, the service agreement shall prevail.

5. Fees and Payment

Fees for our services will be set out in the applicable service agreement or proposal. Unless otherwise stated:

• All fees are quoted in Australian Dollars (AUD) and are exclusive of GST unless stated otherwise
• Payment terms are 14 days from the date of invoice unless otherwise agreed
• We reserve the right to charge interest on overdue amounts at 2% per month
• We may require a deposit or progress payments for larger engagements
• You are responsible for all costs associated with payment processing

6. Client Obligations

To enable us to deliver our services effectively, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information as reasonably requested
• Respond to our communications and requests in a timely manner
• Provide access to relevant documents, data, and personnel as necessary
• Review and provide feedback on deliverables within agreed timeframes
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations

7. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise agreed in writing:

• All intellectual property created by The Reference. Pty Ltd in the course of delivering services shall vest in us until full payment has been received
• Upon full payment, the Client is granted a non-exclusive licence to use the deliverables for their internal business purposes
• Our pre-existing intellectual property, methodologies, frameworks, and tools remain our exclusive property
• You may not reproduce, distribute, or commercially exploit our deliverables without prior written consent

8. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to maintain the confidentiality of any proprietary, sensitive, or confidential information disclosed during the course of our engagement. Confidential information shall not be disclosed to any third party without prior written consent, except where required by law or regulation. This obligation of confidentiality survives the termination of any engagement.

9. Privacy

We handle all personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). By engaging our services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information as described in our Privacy Policy.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• The Reference. Pty Ltd shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from or in connection with our services
• Our total aggregate liability for any claims arising under or in connection with any engagement shall not exceed the total fees paid by you for the specific service giving rise to the claim
• We do not warrant that our research findings or recommendations will achieve any particular commercial outcome
• Our services involve the provision of information and analysis; final business decisions remain the sole responsibility of the Client

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

11. Disclaimers

While The Reference. Pty Ltd endeavours to provide accurate, reliable, and current information:

• Our research and reference services are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied
• We do not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of information obtained from third-party sources
• Our reports and analyses represent our professional opinions based on available data and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice
• Website content is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute professional advice

12. Termination

Either party may terminate a service engagement by providing written notice in accordance with the terms of the applicable service agreement. In the absence of specific termination provisions:

• Either party may terminate with 14 days' written notice
• We may terminate immediately if you breach these Terms or any service agreement
• Upon termination, you shall pay for all services rendered up to the date of termination
• Termination does not affect any rights or obligations that accrued prior to termination

13. Force Majeure

The Reference. Pty Ltd shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, government actions, pandemics, strikes, power failures, internet disruptions, or acts of terrorism.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless The Reference. Pty Ltd, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with your breach of these Terms, your misuse of our services or deliverables, or your violation of any applicable law or the rights of any third party.

15. Use of Website

When using our website at thereferencepty.site, you agree not to:

• Use the website for any unlawful or fraudulent purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems or networks
• Introduce any viruses, malware, or other harmful code
• Collect or harvest personal information from our website
• Use automated tools to access or scrape our website without prior written consent
• Reproduce, modify, or distribute any content from our website without our consent

16. Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute arising from or in connection with these Terms or our services, the parties agree to:

• First attempt to resolve the dispute through good-faith negotiation
• If negotiation is unsuccessful within 21 days, submit the dispute to mediation administered by an agreed mediator in Western Australia
• If mediation is unsuccessful, either party may pursue resolution through the courts of Western Australia

17. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Western Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia. You irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Western Australia and any courts of appeal therefrom for the resolution of any disputes arising under or in connection with these Terms.

18. Amendments

The Reference. Pty Ltd reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. Updated Terms will be posted on our website at thereferencepty.site with a revised date. Your continued use of our website or services after any amendment constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. Material changes will be communicated via email where practicable.

19. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or notices relating to these Terms of Service, please contact us:

The Reference. Pty Ltd
ABN: 92 696 635 042 | ACN: 696 635 042
Entity Type: Australian Private Company
Location: Western Australia, 6503
Email: ceo@thereferencepty.site
Website: thereferencepty.site