Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the SOMA Sciences website (somasciences.com.au) or any of our services — including retreats, community sessions, wellness support, legal guidance, and donation facilities — you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms").

If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our website or services. We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

These Terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia, and you submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria.

2. Our Services

SOMA Sciences provides:

• Wellness retreats in Australia and internationally (Bali, Chiang Mai, Rishikesh, Melbourne, Tasmania)
• Traditional and evidence-based therapy modalities including somatic therapy, breathwork, and Ayurvedic medicine
• Community wellbeing programs and weekly group sessions
• Sikh Seva free support services — wellness, human rights guidance, legal referral, and administrative support
• Justice reform and family support programs
• Research and educational content on the science of mind
• A donation platform for DGR Item 1 registered charitable giving

Our services are provided for general wellness, educational, and community support purposes. They do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

3. Not Medical or Legal Advice

Wellness and health content — Information on this website, including articles, research summaries, and service descriptions, is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this site.

Legal guidance — Our Sikh Seva legal support is delivered by an Australian law graduate and constitutes general legal information only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not establish a solicitor-client relationship. For matters requiring formal legal representation, you should engage a qualified solicitor, contact Legal Aid Australia, or visit your nearest Community Legal Centre.

Mental health support — Our practitioners provide trauma-informed wellness support. In a mental health emergency, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or call 000.

4. Retreats and Bookings

Booking enquiries — Retreat bookings are subject to availability and confirmation by SOMA Sciences. Submitting a booking enquiry does not constitute a confirmed booking.

Health disclosure — You are responsible for disclosing any relevant health conditions, medications, or contraindications prior to attending a retreat or therapy session. SOMA Sciences reserves the right to decline participation where it determines attendance may pose a risk to your health or safety.

Cancellations and refunds — Cancellation and refund terms are provided at the time of booking confirmation. We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule retreats due to circumstances beyond our control (including natural disasters, government restrictions, or insufficient enrolments). In such cases, participants will be offered a full refund or credit.

International retreats — You are responsible for ensuring you hold valid travel documents, visas, and travel insurance for international retreat destinations. SOMA Sciences accepts no liability for travel disruptions, visa refusals, or personal injury occurring outside our direct supervision.

5. Donations

SOMA Sciences is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 1 under Australian taxation law. Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible for Australian taxpayers.

Donations are processed securely via Stripe. By making a donation, you confirm that:

• The funds are your own and you are authorised to donate them
• You are not making the donation on behalf of a third party without their knowledge
• You understand that donations are non-refundable except in cases of processing error

Tax receipts are issued automatically to the email address provided at the time of donation. For receipt queries, contact us at donations@somasciences.com.au.

6. Intellectual Property

All content on this website — including text, images, graphics, logos, research articles, and program materials — is the intellectual property of SOMA Sciences or its licensors and is protected by Australian and international copyright law.

You may view, download, and print content for your personal, non-commercial use only. You must not:

• Reproduce, republish, or redistribute content without our written permission
• Use our content for commercial purposes
• Remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices
• Scrape or systematically extract content from this website

Our logo, brand name "SOMA Sciences", and tagline "Science of Mind and Advancement" are trademarks of SOMA Sciences. Unauthorised use is prohibited.

7. User Conduct

When using our website, contact forms, or community platforms, you agree not to:

• Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Upload or transmit malicious code, viruses, or harmful content
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems
• Use our services for any unlawful purpose
• Harass, threaten, or abuse our staff, practitioners, or community members
• Interfere with the proper functioning of the website

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access to our services for any user who violates these Terms.

8. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including Facebook, research databases, legal aid services, and partner organisations. These links are provided for your convenience only. We do not endorse, control, or accept responsibility for the content or privacy practices of any third-party site.

Payment processing is handled by Stripe, Inc. Your use of Stripe's services is subject to Stripe's own terms of service and privacy policy, available at stripe.com.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Australian law, SOMA Sciences and its directors, employees, practitioners, and volunteers are not liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential loss or damage arising from your use of our website or services
• Loss of data, revenue, or opportunity
• Personal injury or property damage arising from retreat participation, except where caused by our negligence
• Reliance on any information provided on this website

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any right or remedy, or any guarantee, warranty, or other term or condition, implied or imposed by any legislation which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, including the Australian Consumer Law.

10. Privacy

Your use of our website and services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, available at somasciences.com.au/privacy-policy. The Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

By using our services, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information as described in the Privacy Policy.

11. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms at any time. The revised Terms will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the website or services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

12. Contact

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us:

SOMA Sciences Email: legal@somasciences.com.au Website: somasciences.com.au/contact

For urgent legal matters, please contact Legal Aid Australia (legalaid.vic.gov.au) or your nearest Community Legal Centre.