Welcome to Big Trades, a networking and jobs platform designed for tradespeople and businesses that work with tradespeople in Australia. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to comply with and be bound by this User Agreement. Please read it carefully.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Big Trades (the “Platform”), or by completing the account registration process, you agree to be bound by this User Agreement and our Privacy Policy. Acceptance occurs at the earlier of: (a) your first access to or use of the Platform; or (b) your completion of the registration process. If you do not agree to these terms, you must not access or use our Platform.

2. User Accounts

2.1. Registration

To access certain features of the Platform, you must register for an account. You agree to provide accurate and complete information during the registration process and to update such information to keep it accurate and complete. A single account may be associated with both a Tradesperson Profile and a Business Profile. Providing false, misleading, or incomplete information during registration or at any time thereafter constitutes a material breach of this User Agreement and entitles Big Trades to immediately terminate your account and pursue any remedies available to it at law.

2.2. Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account information, including your password. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorised use of your account. Big Trades will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to maintain the security of your account credentials.

2.3. Account Suspension and Termination

Big Trades reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion and without prior notice or liability, to suspend or terminate your account, remove any profile, or restrict your access to all or part of the Platform at any time, including without limitation where Big Trades considers that:

• You have breached any provision of this User Agreement;

• Your conduct may expose Big Trades or its users to legal liability or reputational harm;

• We are required to do so by law or a regulatory authority; or

• Continued access is contrary to the interests of other users or the Platform.

Termination of your account does not affect any rights or obligations that arose prior to termination. Any unused paid Job Listing credits at the time of termination for cause will be forfeited.

3. Eligibility and Profiles

3.1. Profile Types

The Platform offers two types of profiles:

• Tradesperson Profile: for individual tradespeople seeking work, networking, or professional development on the Platform; and

• Business Profile: for businesses and hirers seeking to engage tradespeople, including through paid Job Listings.

3.2. Minimum Age — Tradesperson Profiles

Users aged 16 or over may register for a Tradesperson Profile. By registering, users aged 16 or 17 represent that they have the knowledge and awareness of a parent or guardian regarding their use of the Platform, and that their use of the Platform is for the purpose of genuine trade employment, apprenticeship, or professional networking.

3.3. Minimum Age — Business Profiles

You must be at least 18 years old to register for a Business Profile. By registering for a Business Profile, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years old, that you have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement, and that you are authorised to act on behalf of any business or entity in whose name the profile is created.

4. User Conduct

4.1. Prohibited Activities

You agree not to engage in any of the following prohibited activities:

• Violating any local, state, national, or international law or regulation;

• Posting any content that is unlawful, harmful, abusive, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable;

• Impersonating any person or entity or falsely stating or otherwise misrepresenting your affiliation with a person or entity;

• Engaging in any activity that interferes with or disrupts the Platform or the servers and networks connected to the Platform;

• Using the Platform for any unauthorised commercial purpose, including sending unsolicited commercial messages, spam, or advertising to other users, without our prior written consent;

• Scraping, harvesting, or otherwise extracting data from the Platform by automated or manual means for any purpose;

• Posting false, misleading, or unverified information about your trade qualifications, licences, experience, or business; or

• Engaging in any other conduct that Big Trades, in its sole discretion, considers harmful to the Platform, its users, or the interests of Big Trades.

4.2. Child Safety and Protection

Big Trades is committed to providing a safe environment for all users and has a zero-tolerance policy towards child sexual abuse and exploitation, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

You must not use the Platform to:

• Create, upload, post, share, transmit, request, promote, advertise, store, or distribute any content that depicts, promotes, facilitates, or exploits child sexual abuse or exploitation;

• Engage in grooming, solicitation, manipulation, coercion, exploitation, harassment, or inappropriate communications with any person under the age of 18;

• Attempt to obtain, collect, share, or distribute sexually explicit images, videos, or personal information involving a person under the age of 18;

• Use the Platform in any way that may endanger the safety, wellbeing, or privacy of a child;

• Impersonate a minor or misrepresent your age for any purpose; or

• Engage in any conduct that violates applicable child protection laws.

Big Trades reserves the right, without notice, to investigate, remove content, suspend access, terminate accounts, preserve evidence, and report users, content, or activity to law enforcement authorities, child protection agencies, or other relevant authorities where Big Trades reasonably suspects child sexual abuse, exploitation, grooming, trafficking, or other child safety violations.

Users may report content, profiles, messages, or behaviour that they believe may endanger a child by contacting Big Trades at contact@bigtrades.com.au or by using the Platform's in-built report function.

Big Trades may use automated systems, human review, and other moderation measures to identify, investigate, and remove content or conduct that may breach this clause.

Any breach of this clause constitutes a material breach of this User Agreement and may result in immediate termination of the relevant account.

5. Content

5.1. Your Content

You retain ownership of the content you post on the Platform. However, by posting content, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, reproduce, distribute, display, and perform the content solely in connection with operating and improving the Platform. This licence terminates when you delete your content or close your account, except: (a) to the extent your content has been shared with or viewed by other users who have not deleted it; and (b) to the extent necessary for Big Trades to comply with its legal obligations, maintain system backups, or address cached or indexed copies outside Big Trades’ direct control. Big Trades assumes no responsibility for removing such third-party cached or indexed copies.

5.2. Our Content

All content on the Platform, including text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the property of Big Trades or its licensors and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. You agree not to reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works based on our content without our express written permission.

5.3. Reviews and Ratings

The Platform may allow users to post reviews and ratings of other users or businesses. You agree that any review you post is honest, based on your genuine experience, and does not contain false or misleading information. Big Trades reserves the right to remove any review that it reasonably considers to be fraudulent, defamatory, or in breach of this User Agreement. Big Trades is not liable for the content of reviews posted by users and has no obligation to remove any review except where required by law.

6. No Verification of Credentials

Big Trades does not verify, and makes no representations about, the accuracy or completeness of information posted by users on their profiles, including trade licences, qualifications, insurance, certifications, or work history. By using the Platform to engage with other users, you represent and warrant that you have conducted your own independent due diligence and you unconditionally release Big Trades from any and all claims, demands, and damages arising from or related to your reliance on any information contained in any user profile. Big Trades accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on unverified profile information.

7. Job Listings

7.1. Paid Job Listings

Certain features of the Platform allow Business Profile holders to post job opportunities (each a “Job Listing”) for a fee. Only users with a Business Profile may submit Job Listings.

7.2. Job Listing Standards

By submitting a Job Listing, you represent and warrant that:

• The job opportunity is genuine, lawful, and accurately described;

• You have the authority to offer the role or engage the services described;

• The Job Listing complies with all applicable Australian laws, including the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), and all relevant anti-discrimination legislation;

• The Job Listing does not contain false, misleading, or deceptive information; and

• The Job Listing is not being used to harvest contact details, conduct market research, or for any purpose other than genuine recruitment or engagement of tradespeople.

Big Trades reserves the right to remove any Job Listing that it reasonably considers to be in breach of these standards, without refund where the breach is attributable to the user. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Big Trades from any and all claims, losses, damages, and expenses arising from or related to any breach of the representations in this clause 7.2.

7.3. Payment

Payment for Job Listings is required at the time of submission. We accept payment by the methods displayed on the Platform from time to time. You authorise Big Trades to charge the applicable fee to your nominated payment method. If a payment fails, your Job Listing will not be published until payment is successfully processed.

7.4. Listing Duration and Expiry

A Job Listing will remain live on the Platform for the period specified at the time of purchase (the “Listing Period”). At the end of the Listing Period, the Job Listing will expire and be removed automatically. Big Trades does not guarantee any minimum number of views, applications, or responses during the Listing Period.

7.5. Refunds

Subject to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law:

• Once a Job Listing Credit has been purchased, no refund will be issued.

• If Big Trades removes a Job Listing due to a breach of this User Agreement by you, no refund will be issued.

7.6. No Guarantee of Outcomes

The fee for a Job Listing covers the right to have your listing displayed on the Platform for the Listing Period. Big Trades makes no representation or guarantee that any Job Listing will result in applications, suitable candidates, a successful hire, or any other outcome. All recruitment and engagement decisions are made solely by you.

7.7. Big Trades Not a Party to Employment Arrangements

Big Trades is a platform intermediary only. We are not a party to any employment, contracting, or services arrangement entered into between users as a result of a Job Listing. The hirer is solely responsible for compliance with all applicable laws in connection with any engagement arising from a Job Listing, including without limitation:

• The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and applicable Modern Awards;

• Workplace health and safety laws;

• Superannuation obligations;

• Workers’ compensation and public liability insurance; and

• Australian taxation obligations including PAYG withholding where applicable.

Big Trades accepts no liability for any dispute, loss, or liability arising from or in connection with any arrangement made between users through the Platform.

7.8. Fee Changes

Big Trades reserves the right to change Job Listing fees at any time. Updated fees will be displayed on the Platform and will apply to Job Listings submitted after the date the new fees take effect. Changes to fees will not affect Job Listings already paid for and published.

8. Applying for Jobs

8.1. How Applications Work

The Platform allows Tradesperson Profile holders to apply for jobs listed by employers. Depending on how an employer has configured their Job Listing, applications may be submitted in one of three ways:

• On-Platform Applications: you apply directly through the Platform using your Big Trades profile, and your profile information is shared with the relevant employer;

• Email Applications: your Big Trades profile information will be emailed to the employer’s email address; or

• Off-Platform Applications: you are redirected to the employer’s own website or application system to complete your application outside the Platform.

Big Trades facilitates the application process but is not a party to, and accepts no responsibility for, any application or hiring process.

8.2. Sharing of Profile Data with Employers

By submitting an on-platform application, you consent to Big Trades sharing your Big Trades profile information — including your name, contact details, trade qualifications, work history, and any other information included in your profile — with the employer who posted the relevant Job Listing, for the purpose of that employer assessing your application. You are responsible for ensuring your profile is accurate and up to date before applying. Once your profile information has been transmitted to an employer, Big Trades has no control over and accepts no responsibility for how that employer uses, stores, discloses, or handles your information. You unconditionally release Big Trades from any claim arising from an employer’s handling of your profile information following transmission.

8.3. Email and Off-Platform Applications

Where a Job Listing directs you to apply via email or an external website, you will be submitting your application outside the Big Trades Platform. Big Trades is not responsible for the content, terms of use, privacy practices, security, or availability of any third-party website, nor for the receipt, handling, or security of any application submitted by email directly to an employer. Any information you submit to a third-party site or by email is governed solely by that employer’s own terms and privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any external site before submitting personal information.

8.4. No Guarantee of Receipt, Review or Response

Big Trades does not guarantee that any application submitted through the Platform will be received, opened, reviewed, or responded to by the employer. Technical issues, employer inaction, or other factors outside our control may affect the delivery or visibility of your application.

8.5. No Guarantee of Employment Outcomes

Big Trades makes no representation or warranty that applying for a job through the Platform will result in an interview, offer of employment, engagement, or any other outcome. All hiring and engagement decisions are made solely by the employer and are outside the control of Big Trades.

8.6. Hiring Decisions and Anti-Discrimination

Big Trades does not participate in, endorse, or take responsibility for any employer’s hiring decisions. Employers are independently responsible for ensuring their hiring practices comply with applicable Australian anti-discrimination laws, including the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth), the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), and the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth). If you believe you have been discriminated against in a hiring process, you should contact the Australian Human Rights Commission or the relevant state or territory equal opportunity body.

8.7. No Employment Relationship with Big Trades

Applying for, or obtaining, a job through the Platform does not create any employment, contractor, agency, or other working relationship between you and Big Trades. Big Trades is a platform intermediary only and has no involvement in any employment or engagement arrangement entered into between users.

9. Messaging and Communications Between Users

The Platform may provide messaging or communications features that allow users to contact one another directly. By using these features, you agree:

• Not to send any messages that are unlawful, harassing, abusive, threatening, defamatory, discriminatory, or otherwise objectionable;

• Not to use the messaging features for unsolicited commercial communications, spam, or any purpose unrelated to genuine professional networking or recruitment; and

• To comply with all applicable laws in connection with any communications you send through the Platform.

Big Trades may investigate reports of inappropriate communications and may review, remove, restrict, or report messages where required to enforce this User Agreement, protect users, comply with applicable laws, or address suspected child safety concerns. Users must immediately report any communication that appears to involve child exploitation, grooming, abuse, or other conduct that may place a child at risk. If you receive a message that you believe breaches this User Agreement, please report it to us at contact@bigtrades.com.au.

10. Notifications and Marketing Communications

By registering for an account, you agree to receive transactional and service-related notifications from Big Trades, including notifications about your account, job applications, Job Listings, and Platform updates. These communications are necessary for the operation of the Platform and cannot be opted out of while you maintain an account.

Where you have provided your consent, we may also send you marketing communications about Big Trades products, features, and promotions. You may withdraw your consent to receive marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe mechanism in any marketing email or by updating your notification preferences in your account settings. Withdrawal of consent to marketing communications will not affect the delivery of transactional notifications.

All communications from Big Trades will comply with the Spam Act 2003 (Cth).

11. Privacy

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into this User Agreement by reference. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand our practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information.

12. Australian Consumer Law

Nothing in this User Agreement excludes, restricts, or modifies any right or remedy, or any guarantee, warranty, or other term or condition implied or imposed by the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) or any other applicable law that cannot be excluded or limited by agreement. Where the Australian Consumer Law applies, our liability for a failure to comply with a consumer guarantee is limited, to the extent permitted by law, to re-supplying the relevant service or paying the cost of having the service re-supplied.

13. Disclaimers

The Platform is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, regarding the Platform, including but not limited to the accuracy, reliability, or availability of the Platform or the content. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, and subject to clause 12 above, Big Trades and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, and licensors shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from:

• Your use or inability to use the Platform;

• Any unauthorised access to or use of our servers and/or any personal information stored therein;

• Any content obtained from the Platform; or

• Any conduct or content of any third party on the Platform.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Big Trades’ total aggregate liability to you for any claim arising out of or in connection with this User Agreement or the Platform, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), statute, or otherwise, shall not exceed the total fees paid by you to Big Trades in the 12 months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or AUD $100.00, whichever is greater.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Big Trades and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, and licensors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable legal costs, arising out of or in any way connected with: (a) your access to or use of the Platform; (b) any Job Listing you submit; (c) your violation of this User Agreement; (d) your negligent or unlawful acts or omissions; or (e) any claim by a third party arising from your use of the Platform or any arrangement entered into as a result of your use of the Platform.

16. Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises between you and Big Trades in connection with this User Agreement or the Platform, the parties agree to attempt to resolve the dispute informally by contacting us at contact@bigtrades.com.au in the first instance. Completion of the informal resolution process is a precondition to commencing any formal legal proceedings, except where a party seeks urgent injunctive or other equitable relief. If the dispute is not resolved within 30 days of notification, either party may refer the dispute to mediation. The mediator will be agreed between the parties, or if the parties cannot agree within 10 business days of a request for mediation, appointed by the Australian Disputes Centre. Commencement of formal legal proceedings without first completing this dispute resolution process constitutes a breach of this User Agreement.

17. Governing Law

This User Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New South Wales, Australia. You irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales, Australia in relation to any dispute arising out of or related to this User Agreement or the Platform, and waive any objection to proceedings being brought in those courts on the grounds of venue or inconvenient forum.

18. Force Majeure

Big Trades will not be liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations under this User Agreement to the extent that such delay or failure is caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, pandemic, war, civil unrest, government action, power outages, internet or telecommunications failures, or failures of third-party service providers (including cloud hosting, payment processors, or data services). If a force majeure event occurs, Big Trades may terminate the affected services by written notice.

19. Changes to this User Agreement

We may modify these Terms of Use at any time, and such modifications shall be effective immediately upon posting the modified terms on the Platform. Your continued use of the Platform after the posting of the modified terms constitutes your agreement to be bound by the modifications.

20. Severability and Waiver

If any provision of this User Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. Our failure to enforce any right or provision of this User Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

21. Entire Agreement

This User Agreement, together with the Privacy Policy and any additional policies expressly incorporated into this User Agreement by reference and published on the Platform as formal policies, constitutes the entire agreement between you and Big Trades with respect to your use of the Platform and supersedes all prior agreements, representations, warranties, and understandings, whether oral or written. For the avoidance of doubt, general website content, marketing materials, blog posts, and social media communications do not form part of this User Agreement. No representation, statement, or inducement not contained in this User Agreement shall bind either party. If there is any inconsistency between this User Agreement and any other document forming part of the agreement, this User Agreement will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency, unless otherwise expressly stated.

22. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this User Agreement, please contact us at contact@bigtrades.com.au.

If you wish to report content, behaviour, communications, or users that may involve child sexual abuse, exploitation, grooming, trafficking, or any other child safety concern, please contact Big Trades immediately at contact@bigtrades.com.au. Big Trades will review reports and take appropriate action, which may include content removal, account suspension or termination, referral to law enforcement, and cooperation with relevant child protection authorities.