Client work is performed under an agreed proposal, quote, service agreement, retainer or written scope. The scope will identify the deliverables, assumptions, client responsibilities, fees, payment terms, timelines and review process. Clients are responsible for providing accurate, complete and timely information. Work outside the agreed scope may require a variation, additional fee or revised timeline.
These Client Engagement Terms apply to consulting services delivered by CAQA Consulting, part of CAQA Groups and operated under Career Calling International Pty Ltd, ABN 53 162 651 238. Our clients are education providers, businesses and government bodies engaging us for compliance, audit, registration, accreditation, governance, funding, AI, technology and ISO advisory work. These terms sit alongside, and are subject to, the specific proposal, quote, service agreement or retainer signed for each engagement; where the signed engagement documents differ from this page, the signed documents prevail.
Every engagement begins with a written proposal or quote describing the objectives, deliverables, methodology, assumptions, exclusions, timeframes and fees. A proposal remains open for acceptance for the period stated in it and may be withdrawn or re-priced if it is not accepted in that period, or if the underlying circumstances change. Work commences once the proposal is accepted in writing and any agreed commencement payment is received.
Depending on the engagement, fees may be fixed for a defined scope, charged at agreed rates, or structured as a monthly retainer providing an agreed allocation of advisory support, such as our retainer services. Fixed fees cover only the deliverables and assumptions stated in the scope. Retainers are billed for the agreed period whether or not the full allocation is used, unless the engagement documents state otherwise, and unused allocation does not roll over unless expressly agreed.
Compliance and audit work depends on evidence. Clients must provide accurate, complete and timely access to the documents, data, records, systems and personnel reasonably required for the engagement - for example training and assessment strategies, policies, student records, validation records, governance documents and financial information where relevant. We rely on the evidence provided without independently auditing its authenticity unless verification is part of the agreed scope. Delays in providing evidence, or evidence that proves incomplete or inaccurate, may affect deliverables, timelines and fees.
Indicative turnaround times are stated in each proposal and depend on the size and complexity of the work, regulator deadlines and how quickly the client supplies information and feedback. Agreed timeframes are calculated from the date we hold everything needed to perform the work. Where a regulator imposes a deadline, clients must engage us with enough lead time; urgent work may attract a priority loading stated in the proposal.
Deliverables include the number of review rounds stated in the scope. Consolidated feedback should be provided within the agreed feedback window so the engagement stays on schedule. Additional review rounds, re-work caused by changed instructions, or reviews of material substantially altered by the client after delivery are treated as out-of-scope work.
Requests that fall outside the agreed scope - new units or courses, additional sites, extra audit areas, changed regulatory strategy, additional meetings or new deliverables - require a written variation recording the change to scope, fees and timeline before the additional work begins. We will tell you before we treat a request as out of scope.
Invoices are issued as stated in the engagement documents - typically a commencement payment before work begins, progress payments at milestones for larger projects, monthly billing for retainers, and a final payment on completion. Unless otherwise agreed, invoices are payable within the terms stated on the invoice. We may pause work, withhold deliverables or decline further work where invoices are overdue, and we may charge for costs reasonably incurred in recovering unpaid amounts. No payments are processed through this website; payment details are provided on invoices.
Either party may end an engagement by written notice as set out in the engagement documents. If a client cancels, fees remain payable for work performed, deliverables completed and non-recoverable commitments made up to the effective date of cancellation, and any commencement payment is applied against that work. Retainers may be ended with the notice period stated in the retainer agreement, with fees payable to the end of the notice period. Booked workshops, training days and audits may be rescheduled with reasonable notice; late cancellation of a booked day may attract the fee stated in the proposal. Nothing in these terms limits any right or remedy available under the Australian Consumer Law.
We treat client documents, evidence and commercial information as confidential and use them only for the engagement, disclosing them only with consent, to our engaged specialists under equivalent obligations, or where the law requires. Personal information collected during engagements and through this website is handled under our Privacy Policy.
Our advice is based on the information supplied by the client and the regulatory settings current at the time, and final decisions rest with ASQA, TEQSA, VRQA, CRICOS and ELICOS regulators, ANMAC, funding bodies and other authorities, as explained in our Consulting Disclaimer.
To discuss an engagement, request a proposal or ask about these terms, email info@caqa.com.au, call 1800 266 160, or use our contact page.
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