Family Member Registration

If you organise your own travel plans before or after a trip, you agree that

1. You will be travelling at your own risk for additional travel outside of the Connections Trip.

2. ADRA will not be viable or held responsible for your additional travel plans.

3. You will provide your own insurance for your additional travel.

Note: A co-leader will need to be nominated who will travel with the remainder of the team in your place, and will need to complete a Team Leaders Registration Form

Thank you for registering as a Team Leader for an ADRA Connections trip. Outlined below are your key responsibilities and obligations. This is a legal contract between ADRA Australia and you as a Team Leader. It commences upon receipt of your registration form and $250 commitment deposit.

1. Team Management

Your role as a Team Leader is to motivate and enthuse team recruitment; liaise with the Connections Coordinator as they organise your project, itinerary and budget; inspire donors and help your team meet fundraising targets; distribute, collect, and manage documents; and safely coordinate your team while abroad.

2. Under-Age Children and Youth

ADRA Australia requires all participants under 18-years-old for their legal parent/guardian to authorise the team leader with full and legal responsibility for their child while abroad. All legal parents/guardians must agree to the ‘Consent and Release Agreement’ included in the Registration Form.

3. Prices and Validity

ADRA Australia reserves the right to adjust all advertised costs in alignment with exchange rate fluctuations and changes in operating costs, but our aim is to avoid cost increases where possible. Changes may impact upon project work and itinerary details.

4. Finance and Fundraising

Financial obligations must be met in a timely manner, and participants should be responsible representatives of ADRA Australia when fundraising. ADRA Connection trip costs are divided into 2 components: ADRA Donation Costs and Personal Costs.

Please note, travel costs are not included in ADRA Connections trip costs, and are each participant’s own responsibility, including all bookings and arrangements. Travel costs include: flights, extra baggage, airport tax, passport, visas, vaccinations, first aid kit, and any additional sightseeing not included in the itinerary.

a. ‘ADRA Donation Costs’ include: the cost for all materials and equipment for project work; project management and monitoring; and accommodation, food and transport while on project. The ADRA Donation Costs are fully tax-deductible and fund-raiseable. Costs are collected through an online website called ‘Everyday Hero’ that ADRA Australia will set up for you. Payments can also be made directly to ADRA Australia. ‘ADRA Donation Costs’ are required to be paid, in full, two months before departure.

b. ‘Personal Costs’ include: a $250 non-refundable commitment deposit payment; comprehensive insurance cover through RMS (Risk Management Services); International SOS medical and emergency cover; sightseeing costs as included in the itinerary; and all accommodation and travel while sightseeing, and most food (you may need to buy your own meals on transit days). ‘Personal Costs’ are collected by the Team Leader and paid to ADRA Australia no more than 1 month before departure.

All fundraising events need to be registered online with ADRA Australia through the following website: https://support.adra.org.au/engage/events. Once registered, ADRA Australia can provide you with resources to assist you with your fundraising event.

5. Passports and Visa

All participants must obtain and carry a valid passport with at least 6-months validity, and a visa if necessary. Payments are the responsibility of each participant and are not included in the advertised trip costs. It is your responsibility to arrange visas for the team if necessary.

6. Travel Risks

The safety of our travellers is of utmost priority to us. We commit to providing proper duty of care, strict operational standards and industry leading risk assessment plans. You acknowledge that participation in ADRA Connections trips involves inherent risks, as it operates trips in regions where standards of transport, accommodation, safety, hygiene, medical facilities and other infrastructure may differ from the standard at home. These risks include, without limitation, the possibility of disease, injury or death, psychological trauma, loss /damage to property, discomfort and inconvenience. ADRA Australia uses information from its local country offices, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, International SOS and smartraveller.gov.au to assess and manage risks and to keep participants safe while abroad. ADRA also conducts orientation programs to ensure that teams are well informed to travel safely. It is the team leader’s responsibility to ensure risks are communicated to all team members prior to departure. If a critical incident occurs, you are responsible for liaising with ADRA staff to manage the situation.

7. Travel Insurance

Adequate and valid travel insurance is provided for all ADRA Connections travellers for the duration of the ADRA Connections trip. The cost of insurance is included in your ‘Personal Costs’ advertised, and is organised via ADRA Australia through Risk Management Services (RMS). Your insurance covers accidents, injury, illness death, medical expenses, including any related to pre-existing medical conditions, emergency repatriation (including helicopter rescue/air ambulance) and personal liability. Proof of insurance must be carried by the team leader throughout the trip for all team members.

8. Health

It is your responsibility to advise ADRA Australia of all pre-existing medical conditions/disabilities that you or a team member may have, that might increase the risk of requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct and enjoyment of a trip. All medication being taken must be disclosed to ADRA Australia. It is your responsibility to ensure that the medication can be legally carried into the country of your destination.

9. Cancellations by ADRA Australia

ADRA Australia reserves the right to cancel your trip if: you have not met your financial obligations; if required documents have not been received in a timely manner; if your orientation program is not completed; if a medical condition you have will put yourself or others at risk; or if a country becomes unsafe to travel. ADRA Australia reserves the right to cancel or postpone a trip and will advise you of such cancellations no later than 30 days before the trip departure date. If due to ‘Force Majeure’ or government travel advice, ADRA Australia reserves the right to cancel or postpone a trip at any time. Additional costs incurred, such as flight cancellations, are not payable by ADRA Australia, but may be recoverable under your insurance policy.

If your trip is postponed, funds will be held until your trip proceeds.

10. Cancellations by You

If you wish to cancel all or any part of your booking, notification of cancellation must be made to ADRA Australia with a valid reason, no later than 30 days before the trip departure date. Your $250 commitment deposit is non-refundable. Cancellation may also incur a service fee, depending on circumstance.

As ADRA Donation funds are tax-deductible and receipts are issued upon payment, funds cannot be returned to donors, according to ATO regulations. These funds will be directed to project costs as advertised to donors.

11. Complaints

Complaints should be made known, at the earliest opportunity, to the ADRA Host accompanying you on your trip. It is their responsibility to take appropriate action. If, at the end of the trip, you feel your complaint has not been properly dealt with, notify ADRA Australia’s Complaints Officer on [email protected] within 14 days of trip completion.

12. Publicity

You agree ADRA Australia may use images of you taken during your trip, without recourse or compensation to you, for publicity and promotion purposes only, through whatever medium it chooses.

13. Privacy

Your personal information is collected in accordance with ADRA Australia’s Privacy Policy. The complete policy is available at www.adra.org.au/privacy.

14. Child Protection

You agree to read and comply with ADRA Australia’s Child Protection Policy found in the ADRA Connections Policy Booklet and outlined for each team member in the Country Guide and Orientation Manual. You will monitor each team member’s compliance while abroad. This includes, (but is not limited to): treating children with proper respect and dignity, no abusive language or behaviour (sexual or otherwise) and using technology appropriately. Photos of children require parental consent and children must be fully clothed and presented in a dignified and respectful manner.

15. Code of Conduct

You agree to act with respectful authority and honest integrity to ensure all team members behave in a safe and culturally appropriate manner, with peaceful conflict resolution and meaningful contributions to team projects and responsibilities. If a situation arises where there is a breach of agreement by a team member, you are responsible for liaising with ADRA staff to manage the situation. ADRA Australia also has the right to terminate your trip if your behaviour is unacceptable, breaches your ADRA Connections Agreement, violates alcohol or substance abuse, or breaks any laws of countries you visit during your trip.

16. Exclusion of Liability

ADRA Australia will not accept liability or responsibility if you or a team member contravene any law or regulation of any country visited.

ADRA Australia is not responsible for acts and omissions of others, including airlines, accommodation providers, tour guides, or any loss, damage, death, injury or expense (including loss of money paid in advance).

Independent arrangements made for the team, outside the ADRA Connections trip (including pre- and post-trip arrangements) are made entirely at your own risk.