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[title]Note: for a list of the latest Time Out Sydney competition winners, please click here.
VINYL MEDIA
GENERAL COMPETITION TERMS
As at 1 October 2026
- About these Terms
1.1 These General Competition Terms apply to competitions conducted by a Vinyl Media publication, brand or business where the competition states that these terms apply.
1.2 Each competition will have competition-specific information contained in a competition schedule, entry page or other competition notice (the Competition Schedule).
1.3 The Competition Schedule will identify the promoter of the competition (the Promoter) and contain the information relevant to that competition, which may include:
(a) the name of the competition;
(b) the publication, masthead or brand conducting the competition;
(c) whether the competition is a game of skill or game of chance;
(d) who is eligible to enter;
(e) the opening and closing dates and times;
(f) how to enter and any limit on the number of entries;
(g) details and value of the prize or prizes;
(h) any conditions applying to a prize;
(i) how and when the winner will be determined;
(j) how and when winners will be notified and, where applicable, published;
(k) any period within which a prize must be claimed;
(l) the procedure applying to an unclaimed prize; and
(m) any permit or authority number required by law.
1.4 The Competition Schedule and these General Competition Terms together constitute the terms and conditions of the competition (Competition Terms).
1.5 By entering a competition, an entrant agrees to be bound by the Competition Terms.
1.6 If there is any inconsistency between the Competition Schedule and these General Competition Terms, the Competition Schedule prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.
- Eligibility
2.1 Entry is open to persons who satisfy the eligibility requirements specified in the Competition Schedule (Entrants).
2.2 Unless the Competition Schedule expressly provides otherwise, an Entrant must be an Australian resident aged 18 years or over.
2.3 If the Competition Schedule permits persons under 18 years of age to enter, an Entrant under 18 must have the consent of their parent or legal guardian to enter. The Promoter may require evidence of that consent. Where required by law or specified in the Competition Schedule, a prize won by an Entrant under 18 may be awarded to their parent or legal guardian.
2.4 Employees, officers and contractors of the Promoter, and employees, officers and contractors of any agency or supplier directly associated with the competition, and their immediate family members, are not eligible to enter unless the Competition Schedule expressly provides otherwise.
2.5 For the purposes of clause 2.4, immediate family member means a spouse, de facto partner, parent, child or sibling, whether or not they live in the same household.
2.6 The Promoter may require an Entrant or winner to provide reasonable evidence of their identity, age, place of residence, eligibility or compliance with the Competition Terms.
- Entries
3.1 The competition opens and closes at the dates and times specified in the Competition Schedule (Entry Period).
3.2 To enter, an Entrant must follow the entry method specified in the Competition Schedule and submit a valid entry during the Entry Period.
3.3 The number of entries permitted per Entrant is specified in the Competition Schedule. If no number is specified, only one entry per Entrant is permitted.
3.4 Unless expressly stated otherwise in the Competition Schedule, no purchase is necessary to enter.
3.5 Entries received after the end of the Entry Period will not be accepted.
3.6 The Promoter is not responsible for an entry which is lost, delayed, incomplete, incorrectly submitted or not received due to technical or other circumstances outside the Promoter's reasonable control.
3.7 An Entrant must not use automated entry software, bots, scripts, entry services or other means designed to circumvent any restriction on the number or manner of entries.
3.8 The Promoter may verify the validity of entries and may disqualify an Entrant if the Promoter reasonably believes that the Entrant:
(a) has breached the Competition Terms;
(b) has provided false, misleading or incomplete information relevant to their eligibility or entry;
(c) has tampered or interfered with the entry or winner-determination process;
(d) has used an automated or otherwise prohibited means of entry; or
(e) has otherwise sought to obtain an unfair advantage in the competition.
- Games of Skill
4.1 This clause 4 applies only where the Competition Schedule identifies the competition as a Game of Skill.
4.2 Each valid entry will be assessed against the judging criteria specified in the Competition Schedule.
4.3 Judging will take place on the date and, where applicable, at the place specified in the Competition Schedule.
4.4 Entries will be judged individually on their merits by the Promoter or by one or more judges appointed by the Promoter.
4.5 Chance plays no part in determining the winner of a Game of Skill.
4.6 The valid entry or entries which, in the opinion of the judge or judges, best satisfy the judging criteria will be selected as the winner or winners.
4.7 If two or more entries are assessed equally, the judge or judges will determine the winner by further assessment against the judging criteria or any tie-break criterion specified in the Competition Schedule.
4.8 The decision of the judge or judges is final, subject to any rights an Entrant may have under applicable law.
- Games of Chance
5.1 This clause 5 applies only where the Competition Schedule identifies the competition as a Game of Chance.
5.2 Each valid entry will be entered into the draw in accordance with the Competition Schedule.
5.3 The draw will be conducted randomly at the date, time and place, or by the electronic draw method, specified in the Competition Schedule.
5.4 Each valid entry included in the draw will have an equal chance of being selected, subject to any lawful weighting or other mechanism expressly disclosed in the Competition Schedule.
5.5 The first valid entry or entries selected in accordance with the draw procedure will be the winner or winners.
5.6 The Promoter will conduct a Game of Chance in accordance with applicable trade-promotion laws and any permit, authority or regulatory requirements applying to that competition.
- Winners and Prize Claims
6.1 Winners will be notified in the manner and within the period specified in the Competition Schedule.
6.2 Where required by law or specified in the Competition Schedule, the winner's name and any other information required by law will be published in the manner specified in the Competition Schedule.
6.3 Before awarding a prize, the Promoter may require a winner to provide reasonable evidence that they satisfy the Competition Terms.
6.4 A winner must claim or accept their prize within any claim period specified in the Competition Schedule.
6.5 If a winner:
(a) cannot reasonably be contacted;
(b) does not claim or accept the prize within the applicable claim period;
(c) is found to be ineligible; or
(d) otherwise fails to comply with a material requirement of the Competition Terms,
the prize may be forfeited, subject to applicable law.
6.6 If a prize is forfeited:
(a) for a Game of Skill, the Promoter may award the prize to the eligible entry which is next best assessed against the applicable judging criteria; or
(b) for a Game of Chance, the Promoter may conduct a further draw from the remaining valid entries,
in each case in accordance with the Competition Schedule and applicable law.
6.7 Any replacement winner will be notified and, where required, published in accordance with the Competition Schedule and applicable law.
- Prizes
7.1 The prize or prizes available in a competition, their approximate value and any material conditions applying to them are specified in the Competition Schedule.
7.2 Unless otherwise stated, a stated prize value is in Australian dollars and is the approximate recommended retail value at the commencement of the competition. The Promoter is not responsible for changes in the value of a prize after that time.
7.3 A winner is responsible for all costs associated with accepting and using a prize which are not expressly stated in the Competition Schedule as being included.
7.4 A prize may be supplied or fulfilled by a third-party supplier. A winner's use of a prize may be subject to reasonable terms and conditions imposed by that supplier, including booking, redemption, validity, availability and use conditions, provided those conditions are disclosed in the Competition Schedule or otherwise made available to Entrants where required by law.
7.5 Unless the Competition Schedule states otherwise, prizes are not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
7.6 If a prize or a component of a prize becomes unavailable for reasons outside the Promoter's reasonable control, the Promoter may, subject to applicable law and any required regulatory approval, substitute it with a prize of equal or greater value or a substantially equivalent benefit.
7.7 The Promoter will not be responsible for a winner's inability to use a prize because of circumstances personal to the winner, including inability to travel or attend on a specified date, provided that all material restrictions affecting use of the prize were adequately disclosed.
7.8 Nothing in this clause limits any obligation of the Promoter that cannot lawfully be excluded or transferred to a prize supplier.
- Travel and Event Prizes
8.1 This clause applies where a prize includes travel, accommodation, tickets, admission to an event or another benefit which must be used at a particular time or place.
8.2 The winner and any permitted companion are responsible for ensuring that they satisfy all requirements necessary to use the prize, including holding any required passport, visa, travel documentation, insurance, licence or identification, unless the Competition Schedule states otherwise.
8.3 Travel, accommodation and event prizes are subject to the dates, availability, booking requirements, blackout periods and other material conditions specified in the Competition Schedule or in supplier terms identified in the Competition Schedule.
8.4 Unless expressly included in the prize description, the winner is responsible for expenses including transfers, meals, travel insurance, spending money, taxes, additional accommodation and incidental expenses.
8.5 If an event forming part of a prize is postponed, cancelled or materially altered for reasons outside the Promoter's reasonable control, the Promoter will deal with the affected prize in accordance with applicable law and, where relevant, the terms of the event or prize supplier.
- Creative Entries
9.1 This clause applies only where entry requires an Entrant to submit original written, photographic, audiovisual, artistic or other creative material (Entry Material).
9.2 An Entrant warrants that:
(a) they created the Entry Material or otherwise have all rights and permissions necessary to submit it;
(b) submission and use of the Entry Material in accordance with the Competition Terms will not infringe the intellectual property, privacy, publicity or other rights of any person; and
(c) the Entry Material does not contain material which is unlawful, defamatory, threatening, obscene or otherwise unlawful to publish.
9.3 Copyright and other intellectual property rights in Entry Material remain with the Entrant.
9.4 By submitting Entry Material, the Entrant grants the Promoter a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to reproduce, communicate, publish and display the Entry Material for the purposes of:
(a) administering and promoting the competition;
(b) announcing or publicising the winner; and
(c) reporting editorially on the competition,
including through the Promoter's websites, publications and social media channels.
9.5 Unless expressly stated in the Competition Schedule, the licence in clause 9.4 does not permit the Promoter to use Entry Material in unrelated commercial advertising or to license it to an unrelated third party for that purpose.
9.6 The Promoter may decline to publish or may remove Entry Material if it reasonably considers the material inappropriate, unlawful or inconsistent with the Competition Terms.
- Personal Information
10.1 The Promoter will collect and use personal information submitted by Entrants for the purposes of administering the competition, including:
(a) receiving and validating entries;
(b) conducting judging or a draw;
(c) contacting and verifying winners;
(d) awarding and fulfilling prizes;
(e) complying with legal and regulatory requirements; and
(f) publishing winner information where required by law or the Competition Terms.
10.2 The Promoter may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary for those purposes to third parties involved in conducting the competition or providing a prize, including prize suppliers, fulfilment providers, professional advisers, service providers and regulatory authorities.
10.3 Personal information will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy law and the privacy policy identified in the Competition Schedule.
10.4 Where information about a winner must be provided to a third-party prize supplier in order to fulfil a prize, the Promoter may provide the information reasonably necessary for that purpose.
10.5 If an Entrant does not provide personal information reasonably required to administer the competition, the Promoter may be unable to accept their entry or provide them with a prize.
- Marketing Communications and Competition Partners
11.1 Entry into a competition does not, by itself, constitute consent to receive marketing communications from the Promoter, a Vinyl Media business or a competition partner.
11.2 Where an Entrant is invited to consent to receive marketing communications, that consent will be sought separately or otherwise clearly identified at the point of collection.
11.3 Where an Entrant gives such consent, their information may be used for the marketing purposes described when the consent is obtained, subject to applicable law and the relevant privacy policy.
11.4 Personal information will not be provided to a competition partner for that partner's independent marketing purposes merely because a person entered the competition, unless the Entrant has been appropriately informed and any consent required by law has been obtained.
11.5 An Entrant may withdraw from marketing communications in accordance with the unsubscribe or opt-out mechanism provided with those communications and applicable law.
- Winner Publicity
12.1 The Promoter may publish a winner's name and other information to the extent required by law or specified in the Competition Schedule.
12.2 The Promoter may invite a winner to participate in reasonable publicity relating to the competition, including photography, interviews or social media activity.
12.3 Unless the Competition Schedule expressly makes a particular promotional activity a condition of accepting the prize and that condition is lawful and adequately disclosed before entry, additional promotional participation will be subject to reasonable arrangements agreed with the winner.
- Competition Integrity and Events Outside the Promoter's Control
13.1 If the competition cannot be conducted substantially as contemplated because of circumstances outside the Promoter's reasonable control, including technical failure, fraud, interference, natural disaster, government action, cancellation of an event or failure of a material third-party service, the Promoter may, subject to applicable law and any required regulatory approval:
(a) modify, suspend or postpone the competition;
(b) change the method by which a winner is determined where reasonably necessary;
(c) cancel the competition; or
(d) take other reasonable steps necessary to preserve the integrity and fairness of the competition.
13.2 The Promoter will not exercise a right under clause 13.1 in a manner which unfairly prejudices Entrants or a winner, except to the extent reasonably necessary in the circumstances.
13.3 The Promoter may take reasonable steps to prevent or respond to fraud, manipulation, automated entry, technical interference or other conduct which compromises the fair operation of a competition.
- Consumer Rights and Liability
14.1 Nothing in the Competition Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy conferred by the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), including the Australian Consumer Law, or any other applicable law that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified.
14.2 Subject to clause 14.1 and to the maximum extent permitted by law, the Promoter is not liable for loss, damage, expense or injury suffered or incurred in connection with:
(a) participation in the competition;
(b) an entry not being received due to circumstances outside the Promoter's reasonable control; or
(c) acceptance or use of a prize,
except to the extent that the loss, damage, expense or injury is caused by the Promoter's negligence, breach of the Competition Terms or other breach of law.
14.3 Nothing in these Competition Terms is intended to exclude or limit liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
- General
15.1 The Promoter may amend the Competition Terms where reasonably necessary to:
(a) correct an obvious error;
(b) comply with law or a direction of a regulatory authority;
(c) address circumstances outside the Promoter's reasonable control; or
(d) preserve the fair and proper conduct of the competition,
provided that any amendment is made in accordance with applicable law and does not unfairly prejudice Entrants.
15.2 A failure by the Promoter to enforce any provision of the Competition Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision.
15.3 If any provision of the Competition Terms is invalid or unenforceable, it will be read down to the extent necessary or, if it cannot be read down, severed without affecting the remaining provisions.
15.4 The Competition Terms are governed by the law of the State or Territory specified in the Competition Schedule. If no jurisdiction is specified, they are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia.
15.5 Entrants submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State or Territory whose law governs the Competition Terms and courts competent to hear appeals from them.