Recurring payments

Speech Pathology Australia’s membership year runs from 1 July to 30 June, and membership need to be renewed annually. Each time you renew, you will be given the choice to pay annually (i.e. in full) or by recurring payments. Recurring payments are available in monthly or quarterly instalments.

Monthly recurring payments are due each month from July to May. Quarterly recurring payments are due in July, October, January and April.

I am renewing my membership and want to choose recurring payments. How does it work?

For renewals, the total amount due (annual fee + $25 recurring payment administration fee) is divided into either 11 monthly or 4 quarterly instalments.

• If you are already paying by recurring payments and your renewal is submitted by 30 June, your payments will continue on their regular schedule, and you won't need to pay anything when your renewal is submitted. Payments no longer roll over into the next membership period, so if you are renewing after 1 July, you will need to make a payment when your renewal is submitted to reactivate the recurring payments.
• Regardless of when your renewal is submitted, your first payment will be calculated at the standard monthly or quarterly rate. Membership fees are not prorated, so if any payments have been missed due to a late renewal, your subsequent payments will be adjusted to make sure you end up paying the correct total for the year.

I am applying for membership and want to choose recurring payments. How does it work?

For applications, the total amount due (annual fee + $25 recurring payment administration fee) is divided into equal instalments depending on the date of application. If applying partway through a membership period, the total amount will be divided by the number of instalments remaining in that period.

A June payment will be taken only if a membership application is submitted in that month. This doesn't mean you will end up paying more for your membership, it just means the total amount will be divided into 12 instalments. The table below shows how many payments you will make based on your month of application.

The first payment is taken at the time of application and applied to the current month/quarter. Subsequent payments will be due in line with the schedule above.

The total amount due remains the same, it is only the number of instalments that changes

Recurring payments are not available for applicants wishing to pay quarterly applying after 1 April or monthly applying after 1 May. This is because only a single payment would be due.

For further information about recurring payments, please check out our FAQs below and contact [email protected] if you have any other questions.

How do I update my payment details?

Members can update their payment details by clicking "View membership" in the "My direct debit" tab in My SPA.

Which payment methods can I use?

You can choose to pay by VISA, MasterCard or direct debit from an Australian bank account.

Why is my account only paid through to the end of last month? Does this mean I'm in arrears?

Invoices always start on the 1st of the month, but we don't take payment until the 15th. During the first two weeks of the month/quarter, your paid through date will be the end of the previous month, however your membership is not considered to be in arrears unless the payment on the 15th is declined.

What happens if my payment is declined?

If your payment fails, we will send you an email to let you know. We are unable to reattempt transactions, so you will need to log into My SPA and make a payment to bring your account up to date. Your membership may be impacted if fees are not paid in the month they are due.

What happens if I am behind on my fees?

If you are behind on your fees, we will attempt to contact you using the contact details you have given us. It is important to keep your details up to date - SPA is unable to accept responsibility for communication missed due to incorrect details. If your account falls into significant arrears your membership may be cancelled in accordance with policy 2.20.

I am going on parental leave, can I pause my payments?

SPA offers one year of complimentary membership to eligible members who are going on or returning from parental leave. The benefit is based on our standard membership year, so you will need to keep paying for the rest of the current year and then claim the benefit when you renew. Further information is available on our career breaks page.

Where can I find a copy of my invoices?

Previous invoices can be found in the "My invoices" tab in My SPA. Invoices may be found under "Paid invoices/receipts" or "Previous membership invoices".

Can I get a single statement showing all payments for the current membership period?

As each month/quarter is invoiced separately, a single statement is currently not possible.

How do I cancel/change my recurring payments?

Requests to cancel your membership or pay the full remaining balance for the current period must be sent in writing to [email protected].

I am currently experiencing extreme hardship. What are my options?

Members experiencing extreme hardship or other exceptional circumstances may apply for special consideration under policy 2.17. To apply for special consideration or to discuss your situation further, please send an email to [email protected].