These Terms and Conditions form a client agreement between you ("you", "your") and Empowered Lactation and Midwifery ABN 59418717979 ("Empowered Lactation and Midwifery", "we", "our", "us").

By booking an appointment, hiring equipment, purchasing products, attending a consultation, or using our website, you agree to these Terms and Conditions.

Description of Services

Empowered Lactation and Midwifery provides:

• Pregnancy, breastfeeding preparation and infant feeding education consultations

• Lactation and infant feeding support

• Postnatal breastfeeding and feeding consultations

• Telehealth consultations

• Breast pump hire services

• Antenatal and postnatal midwifery services

• Educational resources

Services are provided by Sarah Long, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Registered Midwife with endorsement for scheduled medicines.

Bookings

Appointments can be booked online via Cliniko or by contacting us directly.

Appointment reminders are issued by email and/or SMS prior to your appointment.

By confirming your appointment, you acknowledge that you have read and accepted these Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy and applicable consent documentation.

Fees and Payment

Current fees are listed on our website and may be updated from time to time.

Payment is due within 7 days of the consultation. Overdue accounts may incur debt recovery action.

Invoices may be paid via electronic transfer, card payment or other approved payment methods.

Any Medicare rebates or private health fund benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and are the responsibility of the client to confirm.

Medicare Billing

Clients are responsible for payment of all consultation fees at the time of service.

Any Medicare rebate payable is between the client and Medicare. Empowered Lactation and Midwifery cannot guarantee eligibility for Medicare rebates and accepts no responsibility for rebates declined by Medicare.

Travel Fees

Clinic consultations are conducted in Dalyston, Victoria, 3992. Home visits within 40 km of Wonthaggi are included in the consultation fee.

Travel beyond 40 km will incur an additional travel fee, which will be discussed prior to booking.

Cancellation Policy

A minimum of 24 hours' notice is required to cancel or reschedule an appointment.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice will incur a $20 cancellation fee.

Repeated late cancellations may require full payment at the time of booking future appointments.

If Empowered Lactation and Midwifery cancels your appointment, no cancellation fee will apply and any booking deposit paid will be refunded or transferred to a new appointment.

No Show Policy

A "No Show" occurs when a client fails to attend a scheduled appointment or is unavailable within 15 minutes of the appointment start time.

No-show appointments will be charged the full consultation fee and any applicable travel fees. Future appointments may require prepayment.

Communication and Support

Business hours are generally Tuesday 9:00am to 5:00pm. If your matter is urgent, an after-hours appointment may be available subject to availability.

Empowered Lactation and Midwifery does not provide an emergency or on-call service.

While every effort is made to respond promptly, messages and emails are not monitored continuously and response times cannot be guaranteed.

For urgent medical concerns please contact:

• Your GP

• Maternal & Child Health Nurse

• Local hospital

• Emergency services (000)

Telehealth Services

Telehealth consultations are conducted via the secure Telehealth platform provided through Cliniko.

Information discussed during Telehealth consultations forms part of your clinical record.

While reasonable measures are taken to protect privacy and security, electronic communication carries inherent risks.

By participating in a Telehealth consultation, you acknowledge and accept the limitations and risks associated with electronic communication.

Breast Pump Hire

Breast pumps remain the property of Empowered Lactation and Midwifery unless otherwise stated.

Personal pumping/flange kits and accessories must be purchased separately for hygiene reasons and are non-refundable once opened.

Additional terms relating to breast pump hire are outlined in a separate Breast Pump Hire Agreement.

Educational Content Disclaimer

Information provided through our website, social media channels, blogs, downloadable resources, workshops, newsletters and educational materials is intended for general educational purposes only.

This information does not replace individualised medical, lactation, midwifery or health advice.

Accessing educational content does not establish a clinician-client relationship.

Clinical recommendations should only be relied upon following an individual consultation and assessment.

Returns and Refunds

Physical products may be returned in accordance with Australian Consumer Law.

Opened hygiene products, breastfeeding accessories and personal-use items cannot be returned unless faulty.

Digital products, downloadable resources and completed consultations are non-refundable.

Private Health Funds

Clients are responsible for confirming eligibility for private health fund rebates directly with their insurer.

Privacy

Your privacy is important to us.

Personal and health information is collected, stored and managed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Please refer to our Privacy Policy for further information.

Complaints and Dispute Resolution

We are committed to providing respectful, evidence-based and professional care.

If you have concerns regarding our services, we encourage you to contact us directly at: info@empoweredlc.com.au

We will endeavour to address concerns promptly and fairly.

Information regarding professional conduct and complaints relating to IBCLCs can be found via the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE).

Changes to These Terms

These Terms and Conditions may be updated from time to time. The most current version will always be available on our website.

Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of any updated Terms and Conditions.