Terms of use

Draft, last updated 29 October 2026. To be reviewed by a lawyer before launch.

Who we are

Patchmates is run by [Business legal name] (ABN [ABN]), [Business postal address]. These terms apply when you use Patchmates on the web or in our iPhone and Android apps. Our privacy policy explains how we handle your information.

Who can use Patchmates

You must be 18 or over and live in Australia. One account per person. While we're in beta you may need an invite. Founding members and testers may get early features or perks we tell them about; we can change or end beta features.

Be a good patchmate

• Be kind and civil. No harassment, hate or personal attacks.
• No spam, scams or advertising outside listings we offer.
• Never share anyone's address or phone number, including your own, in public posts.
• Only post photos and words you have the right to share.
• Don't offer, swap or recommend plants declared as weeds where you or the other person live. Rules differ between states.
• Follow interstate quarantine and biosecurity rules when sending seeds, cuttings, plants or produce.
• Don't propagate protected (PBR) varieties for sale.
• Don't game the leaderboard or invites, for example with fake accounts or empty activity.

We may hide or remove content and limit or close accounts that break these rules. Our AI checks may hold a post for a moderator to review. You can appeal any moderation decision from the notice we send you.

Advice, AI and chemicals

Growing advice on Patchmates, including Plant Doctor results, the garden helper, AI first replies and planting times, is general information, not professional advice. It may be wrong for your situation. AI content is labelled and isn't checked by a person before you see it. Always read and follow the label on any garden chemical: using a registered product contrary to its label directions is an offence. Never eat a plant you have foraged on the strength of anything here. Report suspected exotic pests or diseases to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

Patchmates isn't a support or crisis service. If you're going through a hard time, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency.

Your content

You own what you post. You give us a licence to host, show and adapt it (for example, resize photos) to run Patchmates. For plant photos, you also license them under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) so we and others can use them in the plant library with credit to you. When you delete your account, your content and photos are deleted.

Levels and leaderboard

You earn points and gardener levels for things you do in Patchmates. Points have no cash value and can't be transferred. Some levels unlock perks we describe in the app. We may change how points work, and remove points earned by breaking these terms.

Invites and referrals

• When a mate joins with your invite link or code and uses Patchmates in at least 2 different weeks in their first 28 days, you each get a month of Plus.
• You can earn up to 6 free months in any 12 months. Free months have no cash value.
• Only invite people you know who would like an invite. Don't spam, and don't invite yourself.
• We may change or end the referral offer. Months already earned stay yours.

Patchmates Plus

• Plus is optional. Prices are in Australian dollars and include GST. The price and what's included are shown before you pay.
• You buy Plus on our website. Nothing is sold inside the iPhone or Android apps. Plus you buy on the website also works in the apps.
• New subscribers get a 7-day free trial. Unless you cancel before it ends, your plan starts and you're charged. We email you before your trial ends and before each renewal, with the price and date.
• Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each month or year until you cancel. Cancel any time in Me → Patchmates Plus → Cancel or manage subscription. You keep Plus until the end of the period you've paid for.
• Deleting your account cancels your subscription straight away.
• If we raise the price, we'll tell you at least 30 days before it applies to you, and you can cancel before then.
• Founding Patchmate is a one-off payment for Plus for as long as we run Patchmates. Gift codes give 12 months of Plus and don't expire.
• We don't usually refund part periods. Nothing in these terms limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law, including refunds if Plus has a major problem.

Affiliate links and ads

Some “Get this” links to Australian retailers earn us a small commission. They're always labelled, and so is any sponsored content.

Our responsibility

We work hard to keep Patchmates running and accurate, but we can't promise it will always be available or error free. Our goods and services come with guarantees that can't be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. Apart from those guarantees, and to the extent the law allows, we aren't liable for indirect loss, such as lost crops or plants, that comes from using general advice on Patchmates.

Ending your account

You can delete your account at any time in Me → Delete my account. We may suspend or close accounts that seriously or repeatedly break these terms. If we close Patchmates, we'll give you notice and a chance to download your data.

Changes to these terms

We may update these terms as Patchmates changes. If a change matters, we'll tell you in the app or by email at least 14 days before it applies. If you don't agree, you can stop using Patchmates and delete your account.

Law

These terms are governed by the law of [State or territory], Australia.

Contact

[General contact email]. Report illegal or harmful content from any post's Report button or by email. Privacy questions go to [Privacy contact email].