Australia Speaks Terms and Conditions
Last Updated: 17 July 2026
These Terms and Conditions apply to participation in the 2026 Australia Speaks program (“Program”), delivered by Australia Youth Film Festival Pty Limited, a member of Pedestal Group (“Organiser”).
By accepting an invitation, each participant (“Participant”) agrees to these Terms. Participants under 18 must also have these Terms accepted by a parent or legal guardian.
TERMS
Invitation & Eligibility
Participation is invitation-only, personal to the Participant and non-transferable.
The Participant confirms that:• the information provided in their Acceptance Form is accurate;
• they satisfy the Program’s eligibility requirements;
• they are available to participate in the Program, subject to any alternative arrangements agreed in writing; and
• if they are under 18, their parent or legal guardian has approved their participation.
Acceptance is not confirmed until the Organiser has received the completed acceptance form and any required guardian consent.Program Participation
The Participant agrees to make a genuine effort to:• take part in required onboarding, mentoring and Program activities;
• attend the Briefing Day and Australia Speaks Ceremony, unless an alternative arrangement is agreed;
• respond to important Program communications;
• make reasonable progress towards agreed production milestones;
• complete and submit their project by the advised deadline; and
• promptly advise the Organiser if circumstances affect their participation.
The Organiser will make reasonable efforts to accommodate illness, disability, caring responsibilities, cultural obligations and other significant circumstances.Participant Experience
Australia Speaks welcomes participants with different levels of filmmaking and storytelling experience. Participation does not create an employment, agency, partnership or contractor relationship between the Participant, the Organiser or any Program partner.
The Program’s activities, contributors and opportunities may vary according to availability and operational requirements.Project Ownership
The Participant retains ownership of their project and any Intellectual Property (IP) they create or bring to the Program.
Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of the Participant’s project to the Organiser or any other Program partner.Licence For Program Use
The Participant grants the Organiser a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to reproduce, screen, display and communicate their completed project - and its title, synopsis, excerpts, stills and promotional materials - for:
• Program administration, mentoring and judging;
• the Australia Speaks Ceremony and related Program events;
• promoting and reporting on Australia Speaks; and
• maintaining a historical record of the Program.
This licence permits reasonable technical, formatting, captioning and accessibility changes, but does not permit the Organiser or a Program partner to sell or commercially exploit the project as a standalone work.
Any substantial edit, commercial distribution or use outside these purposes will require separate agreement with the Participant.
Where reasonably practicable, the Participant will be credited when their work is used.Third-Party Rights & Permissions
The Participant confirms that they own their submitted work or have obtained the permissions required to use all third-party material contained in it, including:
• music, photographs, footage, artwork and archival material;
• performances and interviews;
• private locations and controlled venues; and
• trademarks or other protected material where permission is required.
The Participant must retain relevant licences, releases and consent records and provide evidence of them if reasonably requested.
The Organiser may decline to screen, publish or promote material where the necessary rights or permissions cannot be confirmed.Factual & Editorial Integrity
Projects must be created honestly and responsibly. The Participant agrees to:
• take reasonable steps to verify factual claims;
• avoid fabricated, deceptive or materially misleading representations;
• distinguish fact, opinion, reconstruction and creative interpretation where necessary;
• represent contributors and communities fairly and respectfully;
• disclose relevant conflicts of interest; and
• raise significant legal, cultural, safety or editorial concerns with the Program team.
Where a project makes a serious allegation about an identifiable person or organisation, the Organiser may require further verification, an opportunity for response or legal review before screening or publication.Artificial Intelligence & Manipulated Content
The Participant must disclose any material use of generative artificial intelligence, synthetic media or digitally altered factual content in their project.
AI or editing tools must not be used to fabricate evidence, impersonate a real person without appropriate permission or materially mislead an audience.Content Suitability
Submitted work must not:
• be unlawful, defamatory or knowingly misleading;
• infringe another person’s intellectual property, privacy or confidentiality;
• promote hatred, harassment or unlawful discrimination; or
• include unnecessarily graphic or harmful material without appropriate editorial justification.
The Organiser may request content warnings, classification information or reasonable changes before presenting a project. It may decline to screen or distribute material that creates an unacceptable legal, safety, ethical or reputational risk.Mentoring & Feedback
Mentors, speakers and Program contributors may provide creative, technical and editorial guidance. The Participant remains responsible for their creative decisions, production practices and completed project.
Program guidance is not a substitute for independent legal, medical, financial, safety or other professional advice.Judging & Recognition
Completing the Program does not guarantee an award, media coverage, public distribution, employment or any particular professional outcome.
Judging and recognition decisions will be made according to the Program’s published process. Decisions are final except where the Organiser determines that a material administrative error, eligibility issue or conflict of interest requires reconsideration.
Any prize supplied by a Program partner remains subject to that partner’s eligibility, delivery and usage conditions.Software, Accounts & Equipment
Any software, accounts, facilities or equipment supplied through the Program must be used:
• only for approved Program purposes;
• in accordance with applicable licence, access and loan conditions;
• safely and responsibly; and
• without sharing credentials or access with unauthorised people.
Loaned equipment must be returned in the condition and by the date agreed, allowing for reasonable wear and tear. Loss, theft, damage or technical problems must be reported promptly.
A Participant may be responsible for loss or damage resulting from their deliberate, reckless or negligent conduct, subject to applicable law and the relevant loan agreement.Travel & Accommodation
Travel or accommodation assistance is available only where expressly approved in writing by the Organiser.
The Participant must follow the approved booking arrangements and promptly advise the Organiser of any changes. Unapproved bookings, upgrades, personal expenses and incidental costs will not be reimbursed unless agreed in writing.
Separate arrangements and approvals may apply to participants under 18 and any accompanying parent or guardian.Conduct & Inclusion
The Participant agrees to treat fellow participants, contributors, mentors, staff, ambassadors, partners and venue personnel respectfully.
Harassment, bullying, discrimination, intimidation, violence, serious disruption or other unsafe or unlawful conduct will not be accepted.
The Organiser may take reasonable action in response to misconduct, including issuing conditions, restricting participation or removing a Participant from the Program.Health, Safety & Wellbeing
The Participant must:
• comply with reasonable health, safety and venue instructions;
• avoid production activities that create an unreasonable risk;
• use equipment only where they have the appropriate knowledge or supervision;
• report hazards, incidents and wellbeing concerns promptly; and
• notify the Organiser of accessibility requirements or adjustments they wish the Organiser to consider.
The Organiser may pause or prevent an activity where it reasonably considers the activity unsafe.
Participation does not require the Participant to disclose private medical information beyond what is reasonably necessary to support their safety or participation.Participants Under 18
Participants under 18 require the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
Additional safeguards, supervision, travel arrangements, contributor permissions and communication protocols may apply. The Organiser may communicate with the Participant’s parent or guardian where reasonably necessary for the Participant’s safety, welfare or participation.
A parent or guardian accepting these Terms confirms that they have authority to provide consent and will assist the Participant in meeting applicable Program requirements.Privacy & Information Sharing
The Organiser will collect and handle personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy and applicable privacy law.
Information may be shared with service providers and Program partners where reasonably necessary to administer participation, mentoring, events, travel, equipment, software access, safety or Program opportunities.
The acceptance form should identify any overseas recipients or other disclosures that are reasonably likely to occur.
Participation communications are not marketing communications. Consent to receive unrelated newsletters, promotions or partner marketing must be requested separately and may be withdrawn at any time.Photography & Event Recordings
Photography, filming and audio recording may occur at Program events.
The Participant’s permission to use identifiable event recordings for promotion should be obtained through a separate media-consent selection. Participants may raise privacy or safety concerns with the Organiser, and reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate them.
Additional guardian consent is required for participants under 18.
Incidental appearance in wide or crowd imagery may not always be practically avoidable.Publicity & External Distribution
The Organiser may propose media, publicity, screening or distribution opportunities for completed projects. These opportunities depend on the nature and standard of the completed work and the independent decisions of journalists, platforms, broadcasters and other outlets.
The Organiser does not guarantee media coverage or external publication. Any arrangement materially exceeding the licence in clause 5 will require separate agreement.Confidentiality & Embargoes
During the Program, the Participant may receive confidential, private or embargoed information. The Participant must not disclose that information without permission unless disclosure is required by law or necessary to report a safety concern.
The Participant must also protect personal information collected from contributors during production.Withdrawal
A Participant who can no longer continue must notify the Organiser as soon as reasonably possible.
If the Participant withdraws before completing the Program after receiving travel, accommodation or other financial assistance, the Organiser may require repayment of some or all assistance provided, including non-refundable costs paid on the Participant’s behalf.
Repayment may be waived or reduced where withdrawal results from illness, injury, bereavement, a family emergency, serious personal hardship or another exceptional circumstance accepted by the Organiser. The Participant may be asked to provide reasonable supporting information.
Before requiring repayment, the Organiser will consider the Participant’s circumstances, the portion of the Program completed, whether the assistance has already been used for its intended purpose and any costs the Organiser can recover. Any repayment amount and timeframe will be confirmed in writing.
On withdrawal, the Participant must also return Program property and cease using Program-only accounts and resources.Suspension Or Removal
The Organiser may suspend or end participation where the Participant:
• seriously or repeatedly breaches these Terms;
• engages in unsafe, unlawful or harmful conduct;
• fails to participate or communicate without reasonable explanation;
• provides materially false or misleading information; or
• creates an unacceptable legal, safety or reputational risk.
Where appropriate and practicable, the Participant will be informed of the concern and given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made.Program Changes & Events Beyond The Organiser’s Control
The Organiser may reasonably change Program dates, venues, contributors, activities, delivery methods or timelines.
Activities may be postponed, modified or cancelled because of circumstances beyond the Organiser’s reasonable control, including emergencies, severe weather, venue unavailability, government restrictions, illness or partner withdrawal.
The Organiser will communicate material changes and consider reasonable alternative arrangements where practicable.Responsibility & Liability
Participants are responsible for their personal belongings and should consider whether they require appropriate travel, equipment or personal insurance.
To the extent permitted by law, the Organiser is not responsible for indirect or consequential loss arising from participation, Program changes or third-party services.
These Terms, together with the Participant’s acceptance form and any separately agreed travel, equipment, media-consent or project arrangements, constitute the entire agreement between the Participant and the Organiser concerning participation in Australia Speaks. They supersede all previous discussions, representations and agreements concerning that subject matter.
Nothing in this clause excludes any rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded, including under the Australian Consumer Law.Concerns & Complaints
Participants may raise a concern, request support or make a complaint through the contact pathway identified by the Organiser.
Concerns will be considered respectfully and, where appropriate, confidentially. Raising a genuine concern will not, by itself, disadvantage a Participant.
Immediate safety risks should be reported to Program staff or emergency services as appropriate.General Provisions
These Terms, the Participant’s acceptance form and any separately agreed equipment, travel or project arrangements form the agreement concerning participation.
If part of these Terms is invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue to apply.
Any variation must be confirmed in writing by the Organiser.
These Terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales and the Commonwealth of Australia, as applicable. The parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales.