Policies and Standards
We value freedom of expression as a fundamental human right.
Please read our Statement of Commitment to Freedom of Expression for further information.
Hunter Writers’ Centre is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use and share it, and the steps we take to keep it secure. This Policy applies to anyone who engages with HWC, as a member, program participant, award entrant, subscriber, or visitor to our website.
Terms and Conditions of Membership
Being a member of HWC requires you to comply with the following Terms and Conditions:
- Demonstrate respect and courtesy to other members of the organisation, staff, Board members, and contractors of the organisation, such as tutors, judges, mentors.
- Comply with any reasonable instructions given by staff, Board members, or contracted service providers.
- Ensure your actions do not cause disruption to the organisation’s programs or other users of any facilities or services.
- Ensure your actions do not put at risk the safety of staff, contracted service providers or other users of any facilities and services.
- Ensure your actions do not cause damage to the organisation’s premises or contents.
- Ensure your actions do not harm the reputation of the organisation.
- Only participate in activities for which you register (via a booking system or at-the-door) and for which any applicable fees have been paid.
- Pay your membership fees and any other amounts owing to the organisation by the designated due date
Membership Fees and Auto-Renewal
- Membership fees are collected via an annual subscription through our payment platform
- Your membership subscription will automatically renew each year unless cancelled prior to the renewal date.
- You will receive an email reminder approximately 30 days before your renewal date, notifying you that your card is about to be charged and explaining how to cancel if you do not wish to renew.
- You may cancel your subscription at any time before the renewal date to avoid being charged for the next membership period.
- If you would prefer a non-automatically-renewing membership, please email us and we will arrange this for you.
- In accordance with clause 8(5) of the HWC Constitution, no refund will be issued for fees already paid, including where a membership is cancelled or lapses part-way through a membership period.
- If a scheduled payment is unsuccessful (e.g. an expired or declined card), we will attempt to contact you to update your payment details. Membership will lapse if the fee remains unpaid more than 30 days after the due date.
For information on how we handle your payment and personal information, see our Privacy Policy (HWC-POL-1405-001).
Workshops, Events and Other Programs
Refund Policy
When booking our activities, please choose carefully. Refunds on workshop/course fees are only possible 14 or more days before an event. If Hunter Writers’ Centre cancels a workshop/course for which any applicable fees have been paid, you may choose to receive a credit or refund.
Advertised Dates and Times
Advertised dates and times, tutors/speakers may change or be cancelled without warning. All reasonable attempts will be made to contact you via email and telephone. We advise that you check your email inbox the day before any event.
Code of Ethics / Behavioural Standards
Hunter Writers’ Centre reserves the right to refuse entry to our programs to anyone who is:
- violent, intoxicated, threatening, quarrelsome or disruptive
- not holding a valid entry
- carrying items which have the potential to cause injury or nuisance
- possess or appear to be affected by a prohibited drug
Making a Complaint
Hunter Writers’ Centre welcomes feedback and takes complaints seriously. We are committed to handling complaints in a fair, respectful and timely way.
If you have a complaint about our services, programs or practices, please contact Katherine McLean, Director, director(@)hunterwriterscentre.org
You can also read our full Complaints Handling Policy for more information.