Discount Offering Policy

(Effective: 1 January 2024)

  1. Discount Structure
  1. Group Bookings
    • Bookings of 8 or more participants qualify for a 5% discount on the full course fee.
  2. Membership Discount
    • Members (Fellows, Ordinary, Early Career, and Corporate) receive a 10% discount on the full course fee.
  3. Single Discount Rule
    • Only one discount may be applied per booking. The higher of the two discounts (between group and membership) will be granted.
  1. Eligibility & Application
  • Group discount applies only when all bookings are made and paid under a single transaction and reference.
  • Membership discount is available at the time of booking – proof of valid membership status is required.
  • Discounts cannot be combined, and where eligibility overlaps (e.g. members in a group), the membership discount prevails if higher.
  1. Price Display & Advertising
  • All advertised and promotional prices must display the full total cost, including discounts, GST, and applicable fees, as required by ACL and ACCC guidelines (business.gov.au, goccl.com.au, imecollege.com.au).
  • Any marketing materials, websites, and third-party listings must present the single lowest payable price clearly—no drip pricing or hidden surcharges permitted (Consumer Affairs Victoria).
  • Claims like “10% off” must be substantiated and clearly defined; the original “full course fee” used for comparison must have been in effect for a reasonable period prior to promotion to avoid misleading consumers (business.gov.au, ACCC, CHOICE).
  1. Legal & Compliance Considerations
  • IME College must comply with Section 18 of the ACL, prohibiting misleading or deceptive conduct in all promotional and pricing representations (en.wikipedia.org).
  • Under Section 29 (false or misleading representations), any discount advertised must be honest, accurate, and based on previous bona fide pricing (www6.austlii.edu.au, advertisingcouncil.org.au).
  • Under Section 32, the college must actually honor the discount as offered and provided within the timeframe stipulated, or within a reasonable time if no timeframe is stated (www6.austlii.edu.au).
  • Terms and conditions associated with discounts must be clear, accessible and transparent, and disclosures regarding eligibility and limitations must be made prior to booking (ACCC, progressivelegal.com.au).
  1. Terms & Conditions Highlights
  • Validity period: Discounts apply only to courses and sessions listed at time of booking.
  • Changes and cancellations: If a booking is altered or cancelled, discounts may be forfeited—rebooking may require re‑evaluation of eligibility.
  • Fraud prevention: Group bookings with suspected phantom or dummy participants will be reviewed and may be refused discount eligibility.
  • Refunds and credits: In case of course cancellation or refund, discount amounts will be proportionally applied and refunded according to standard refund policies.
  1. Implementation & Review
  • Staff receiving bookings must verify membership status and group size before confirming discount eligibility.
  • Pricing systems and websites must be updated to ensure display compliance and to prevent multiple discount stacking.
  • This policy will be reviewed annually (or upon changes to relevant ACL regulations).

Summary Compliance Table

Requirement

Policy Implementation

Single price display

Advertised course fees are shown as GST-inclusive totals.

Transparent comparisons

Past “full fee” used must have been charged for reasonable period.

Honesty in claims

Promotions clear, accurate, and verifiable.

Fulfilling offers

Discounts are honoured once eligibility confirmed.

Clear terms

All conditions communicated pre‑booking.

Legal Basis & Rationale

This policy is grounded in the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010) and enforced by the ACCC, with key obligations such as honesty, full disclosure of pricing, and honouring published promotional offers (sprintlaw.com.au, business.gov.au, CHOICE, www6.austlii.edu.au).
Notably, past cases (e.g., supermarkets fined for illusory discounts) underline the importance of genuine, transparent promotions (The Guardian).

Next Steps

  • Legal review by internal counsel or legal advisors to finalise wording.
  • Staff training on discount eligibility and legislative compliance.
  • Website & booking platform audit to ensure price-display and discount application systems align with the policy.

Disclaimer: This document is for internal reference. For official legal guidance, consult a qualified legal professional experienced in Australian consumer law.

WEBSITE Summary:

Course Fee Discounts

IME College Australasia offers the following discounts on full course fees:

  • 10% Member Discount
    Available to current Members, including Fellows, Ordinary, Early Career, and Corporate Members.
  • 5% Group Booking Discount
    Applies to bookings of 8 or more participants made in a single transaction.

Please note: Only one discount can be applied per booking — the higher eligible discount will automatically be applied.

All discounts are subject to our terms and conditions and in accordance with Australian Consumer Law. For more information or to confirm your eligibility, please contact us prior to booking.