Student Art Auction 2026 

Terms and conditions for bidders, buyers and donors 

These terms apply to everyone who registers, bids, buys an artwork, makes a donation or buys a raffle ticket at the Student Art Auction 2026. By doing any of those things, you agree to these terms, so please read them before you bid. Copies are available at the registration desk, in the auction catalogue and at https://www.astartinlife.org.au/about-us/insights-and-updates/ 

In these terms, "we", "us" and "ASIL" mean A Start in Life. "You" means the person registering, bidding, buying or donating. A "lot" is an artwork offered for sale. A "business day" is a weekday that is not a public holiday in NSW. 

1. Why we are holding this auction 

1.1 Every artwork in this auction has been donated by an A Start in Life student, a staff member or a member of our community. 

1.2 The money raised, after the direct costs of running the event, supports students through A Start in Life programs. 

1.3 Artists do not receive any share of the sale price. Student artists have been recognised separately through prizes awarded by A Start in Life. 

1.4 A Start in Life is registered with the ACNC and fundraises in NSW as a deemed authority holder under the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 (NSW). If you would like to know how much the event raised and what it cost to run, contact us and we will tell you. 

2. Who can take part 

2.1 You must be 18 or over to register, bid, donate at the event or buy a raffle ticket. We may ask to see photo ID. 

2.2 Bidding is open to people who live in NSW or the ACT. 

2.3 When you register, you must give us your correct name, mobile number and email address. You will receive a bidder number. You are responsible for every bid made under your bidder number, so please keep it to yourself. 

2.4 You may bid for a business or for another person only if you tell us when you register. You remain personally responsible for paying. 

2.5 A Start in Life staff, board members and volunteers may bid in their personal capacity. No one bids on behalf of A Start in Life, and we never place bids to push up a price. 

2.6 We may refuse a registration or a bid, or ask someone to stop bidding, if we reasonably believe they have broken these terms, are acting unfairly or appear to be intoxicated. 

3. The artworks 

3.1 Each lot is listed in the catalogue with the artist's name (as the artist has agreed), the title, medium, approximate size and market value. 

3.2 We describe every artwork honestly and as accurately as we can. Sizes are approximate, and colours can look different in photos and on screens. A frame is included only where the description says so. 

3.3 Please view the artworks in person before you bid. Each lot is sold in the condition it is in on the night. 

3.4 The artist keeps copyright in their artwork. When you buy a lot, you buy the physical artwork only. You do not buy the right to reproduce it, for example by printing it on products or publishing it commercially. The artists have given A Start in Life permission to use images of their work to promote the auction and our work. 

3.5 Many of our artists are young people. Please do not contact any artist directly. If you would like to send an artist a message, give it to us and we will pass it on. 

3.6 We may withdraw a lot at any time before it is sold, and we may change the order in which lots are offered. 

4. Reserve price 

4.1 Every artwork has a reserve price of $500. We will not sell any lot for less than its reserve. 

4.2 In the silent auction, the first bid on each bid sheet must be at least $500. 

4.3 In the live auction, the auctioneer may open bidding below the reserve. If bidding does not reach $500, the lot is passed in and not sold. 

4.4 Neither A Start in Life nor anyone acting for us will bid on any lot. 

4.5 After the event, we may offer a lot that was passed in for sale at its reserve price or higher. 

5. Live auction 

5.1 The live auction is conducted by our professional auctioneer, to be confirmed. 

5.2 To bid, clearly raise your bidder number. The auctioneer sets the bid increments and may accept or refuse any bid. 

5.3 The highest bid the auctioneer accepts when the hammer falls wins the lot. At that moment, a binding contract of sale is formed between you and A Start in Life. You cannot withdraw a bid once the auctioneer has accepted it. 

5.4 If there is a dispute about a bid, the auctioneer decides it and may reopen the bidding or offer the lot again. The auctioneer's decision is final. 

5.5 If you cannot be there, you may leave a written maximum bid with us by 5pm 17.11.2026. The auctioneer will bid for you up to that amount, and only as high as needed to beat the other bids in the room. 

6. Silent auction (bid sheets) 

6.1 Silent auction artworks are displayed around the room, each with its own bid sheet. 

6.2 To bid, write your bidder number and full name and the amount of your bid on the next empty line. Each new bid must be at least $5 more than the bid above it. 

6.3 Bids must be written clearly. Do not cross out, change or remove anyone else's bid. We may disregard any bid that is unclear or does not follow these rules. 

6.4 The silent auction closes at 8:00pm, and the MC will give a warning before it closes. When the MC calls time, staff will collect the bid sheets, and any bid written after that is not valid. 

6.5 The highest valid bid on the sheet at closing time wins the lot. A binding contract of sale is then formed between that bidder and A Start in Life. 

6.6 Winners are announced on the night, by the MC. If you leave before the announcement, we will contact you using your registration details. 

7. Paying for your artwork 

7.1 You must pay your winning bid in full, either: 

(a)on the night, by card at the payment desk (processed through Square, Stripe or via bank transfer); or 

(b)by bank transfer within 5 business days of the auction, which means by 5pm on Wednesday 25 November 2026. 

7.2 Bank transfer details: account name A Start in Life, BSB 032-006, account number 424978. Please use your bidder number and surname as the payment reference. 

7.3 All amounts are in Australian dollars and include GST, if any applies. 

7.4 If payment is not received by the deadline, your purchase may be cancelled. We may then offer the artwork to the next highest bidder at their highest bid (they do not have to accept it), or offer it for sale again. 

7.5 Donations pledged during the evening are paid in the same way and by the same deadline. 

8. Collecting your artwork 

8.1 If you pay in full on the night, you can take your artwork home with you. 

8.2 Otherwise, please collect it from our office at Suite 702 / 370 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000 during 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday, within 14 days of paying. Bring your receipt and photo ID. If someone is collecting for you, they will need your written permission and their own photo ID. 

8.3 If you would like your artwork delivered, contact us and we can help arrange a courier at your cost. 

8.4 The artwork becomes yours once we receive full payment. We will take reasonable care of it until you collect it, and it is your responsibility from the moment you do. 

8.5 If an artwork has not been collected 60 days after payment, we will contact you. If it is still not collected, we may deal with it under the Uncollected Goods Act 1995 (NSW). 

9. Tax deductions for winning bids 

9.1Buying an artwork is a purchase, not a gift, so the full price is not tax deductible. However, because this is a fundraising event run by a Deductible Gift Recipient, part of a winning bid may be deductible under the ATO's minor benefit rules. 

9.2 You can claim a deduction if: 

(a) you are an individual (not a company, trust or partnership); 

(b) you pay more than $150 in money; and 

(c) the artwork's market value is no more than $150 and no more than 20% of what you paid. 

9.3 If you meet those conditions, you can claim your winning bid minus the artwork's market value. Please note; This is general information, not tax advice. Please check your own situation with your accountant or the ATO. 

9.4 The cost for production for each piece was: $47.98.

9.5 Your receipt will show A Start in Life's name and ABN, the name of the event, the amount you paid and the GST-inclusive value of the artwork. 

9.6 This is general information, not tax advice. Please check your own situation with your accountant or the ATO. 

10. Community giving on the night 

10.1 You can donate to A Start in Life at any time during the evening without buying anything. $3,000 covers one student for a year in our program, and every gift, whatever its size, goes toward that. 

10.2 You can give by scanning the QR codes on the tables, at the payment desk, or by raising your bidder number when the MC calls for donations. 

10.3 Donations of $2 or more are fully tax deductible, because you receive nothing in return. We will email your tax receipt within 5 business days. 

10.4 Donations are pooled and used to support students through our programs. If the MC names a target on the night and we raise more than that, the extra will support other students in our programs. 

10.5 If you pledge a donation during the evening, you are agreeing to pay it by the deadline in clause 8. 

10.6 We will thank donors by name on the night only if they are happy for us to. Tell us if you would like your gift to stay anonymous. 

10.7 Donations cannot be refunded unless there has been a mistake, such as a duplicate charge. If that happens, contact us and we will fix it. 

11. Your personal information 

11.1 We collect your name, contact details, bids, purchases and donations so we can run the auction and raffle, process payments, issue receipts and contact winners. 

11.2 We handle your information in line with the Australian Privacy Principles and our privacy policy at https://www.astartinlife.org.au/about-us/policy/privacy-policy/. 

11.3If you give us permission when you register, we will keep in touch with news about A Start in Life. You can unsubscribe at any time. 

11.4 To see or correct the information we hold about you, contact [email protected] 

12. Photos and filming 

12.1 We will take photos and video at the event and may use them to share the night and promote A Start in Life. If you would rather not be photographed, please tell a staff member or the photographer. 

13. Changes, cancellation and liability 

13.1 We may change these terms, the running order or the lots offered. We will publish any change here, and the MC will announce anything important on the night. 

13.2 If we have to cancel or postpone the event, we will refund any money you have paid for something you will not receive. Tickets are non-refundable in any other circumstance. 

13.3 Nothing in these terms takes away rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot be excluded, including your right to clear title to any artwork you buy. Apart from those rights, and to the extent the law allows, we are not liable for any indirect or consequential loss connected with the auction. 

13.4 Our decisions about the auction and the raffle, made in good faith and in line with these terms, are final. 

14. Questions, complaints and governing law 

14.1 If you have a question or a complaint, contact [email protected]. We will reply within 5 business days. 

14.2 If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact NSW Fair Trading or the ACNC. 

14.3 These terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales.