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Club Membership

Welcome to Paddle Australia's Club membership information page. You will find all the information you require to start your journey toward Club Membership.

Introduction

Club Membership

Club membership is for paddlers who wish to join their local club as well as their State Paddle Association & Paddle Australia.

As the ripple effect of the financial impact of COVID-19 continues, if you are still navigating rough waters and paying for Club membership is causing undue financial pressure, we want you to be able to keep paddling on. Click here to complete the simple application form to request support with the payment of your Club, State Paddle Association and Paddle Australia membership.

For further information about the Paddle on Foundation please click HERE.

Senior

Senior

Membership for paddlers over 18

Benefits:

• Ability to join one or more of the 130 Affiliated Clubs across Australia with wide reaching benefits from fun and fitness with likeminded paddlers to coaching, mentoring, peer paddles and access to club equipment and facilities#
• 24/7 personal accident insurance*
• 24/7 public liability third party personal injury and third party property insurance*
• 24/7 professional indemnity insurance*
• Ability to add on paddle craft and equipment insurance through the Paddle Protect insurance policy^
• Receipt of e-newsletters with the latest news, information, events and special offers
• Access to discounts from a growing number of national and state Paddle Pal partners through our member benefits program**
• Access to discounts for courses and programs through the Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme (PAQS)
• Ability to enter club, state and national events with discounts on entry fees for a growing number of events
• Access to pathways and opportunities to be selected in State and National representative teams and development squads
• Advocacy for waterways access and water quality
• Fostering growth in grassroots paddling including supporting school and community education and participation programs
• 30% discount on your state/national fee for family membership^^

# Varies by club. Use the club selector to find your local club.
* Conditions apply. View insurance policy details here.
^ Read more about Paddle Protect paddle craft and equipment insurance here.
** See the Paddle Pals page for more information.
^^ Minimum of three family members with a maximum of two adults 18 years and older.

Junior

Junior

Membership for paddlers 18 years and under

Benefits

• Ability to join one or more of the 130 Affiliated Clubs across Australia with wide reaching benefits from fun and fitness with likeminded paddlers to coaching, mentoring, peer paddles and access to club equipment and facilities#
• 24/7 personal accident insurance*
• 24/7 public liability third party personal injury and third party property insurance*
• 24/7 professional indemnity insurance*
• Ability to add on paddle craft and equipment insurance through the Paddle Protect insurance policy^
• Receipt of e-newsletters with the latest news, information, events and special offers
• Access to discounts from a growing number of national and state Paddle Pal** partners through our member benefits program
• Access to discounts for courses and programs through the Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme (PAQS)
• Ability to enter club, state and national events with discounts on entry fees for a growing number of events
• Access to pathways and opportunities to be selected in State and National representative teams and development squads
• Advocacy for waterways access and water quality
• Fostering growth in grassroots paddling including supporting school and community education and participation programs
• 30% discount on your state/national fee for family membership^^

# Varies by club. Use the club selector to find your local club.
* Conditions apply.  View insurance policy details here.
^ Read more about Paddle Protect paddle craft and equipment insurance here.
** See the Paddle Pals page for more information.
^^ Minimum of three family members with a maximum of two adults 18 years and older.

Volunteer

Volunteers and Officials

Membership for officials and volunteers

Benefits:

• Personal accident insurance for when you are volunteering *
• Public liability and indemnity insurance for when you are volunteering *
• Receive e-newsletters with the latest news, information, events and special offers
• Access discounts from a growing number of national and state Paddle Pal partners

*Cover only applies whilst volunteering.  No cover whilst paddling or participating in club activities or any events.  Please also take out the appropriate membership type to provide full insurance cover when paddling. Further detail can be found here.

Cost

Cost

Club Membership involves a Club fee, which is determined by the Club, as well as a State Paddle Association component and a Paddle Australia component. The PA fee is $40 per Senior member and $20 per Junior member. The SPA fee varies state to state, based on the services provided in each state.

You will notice that your total membership cost is split into three at checkout. This is so you can see where each portion of your fee is going.

Process

Process

You can take out Club Membership through the Paddle Australia Membership and Events Portal, GoMembership. Simply create a new account or log in to your existing account and click on the Club Membership option in the pop-up box.

LOG IN HERE

For a detailed step-by-step guide to taking out membership, please see the Member Support Guide.

If you have any issues, you are welcome to look over the FAQs for general assistance or call or email PA membership:
Ph: (02) 9763 0670 (option 2)
Email: membership@paddle.org.au

FAQs

FAQS

Q: What do I do if I'm having trouble accessing my account?

A: If you’re having difficulties accessing your account, this could be an issue related to either your username or your password.

Usernames are usually either your email address or PA ID number. If you’re not sure what this is, you can contact PA membership at membership@paddle.org.au to check or ask for this to be updated.

If you don’t remember your password, you can try using the reset password feature. You will need to make sure that you have your username correct in the field before hitting the reset button otherwise the system will not be able to send a link for the correct account.

Q: When does my membership start/finish?

A: Club memberships can be either fixed date or rolling memberships, depending on each Club’s preference. Fixed date memberships will start and end on a specific date, no matter when the membership is purchased (e.g. from 1 July – 30 June). Rolling memberships will be valid for one year from the date of purchase. If you’re unsure of your Club’s memberships arrangements, it is best to contact the Club to verify.

Q: How can I make sure I join my State Paddle Association & Paddle Australia when I take out Club membership?

A: All you need to do is to select the Club Membership option and when you get to the checkout, the State Paddle Association and Paddle Australia component will be automatically added unless this is a membership where the SPA / PA component is specifically excluded.

Q: How can I manage my family's memberships?

A: There is a family linking process in GoMembership, whereby you can link accounts together so that all accounts are accessible through the log in of anyone connected to the family. This makes it easier to log in and manage memberships and event entries on behalf of your family members. You can link anyone to your family group, so it’s possible to do this for couples or any other grouping as well. To do this, simply click the ‘Add family member’ option underneath your profile details.

Q: How do I add family members to the family membership?

A: Your family must be linked using the family linking process explained in the question above to go through the Family membership option. When you select Family membership, you should see a list of all your family members you can select to join to the family membership. To add a member, select the box underneath their name. A pop up box will appear and you will need to click on the tick next to their membership type to add the person to the family membership.

Note: Family membership is simply an option which can be used to join all family members through one process. In this process, each person is joining as their relevant membership type (e.g. Senior, Junior). If you meet the family membership discount requirement – a minimum of three family members with a maximum of two adults 18 years and older – a 30% discount on the SPA / PA fee will be applied at checkout.

Member Benefits

Paddle Australia and Your State Paddle Association… With you on the Water

When you join a Paddle Club, you become part of a united paddling community, supported by your State Paddle Association and Paddle Australia.

Paddle Australia and your State Paddle Association add value and benefits in many different ways. Some relate directly to you, some to your Club and others to the broader paddling community. This all adds up to good news for you!

Connecting people with common interest

We lead, support and advocate for a community of over 300,000 active paddlers around Australia

• You are connected to a group of people with a strong common interest, not only at your Club but around your state and throughout Australia, with well over 300,000 people sharing your passion for paddling and exploring our unique and beautiful waterways.

• Enjoy access to the many great recreational and competitive events on offer through your Club, other affiliated Clubs, your State Paddle Association and Paddle Australia. Member discounts are available on many events.

• You have access to our national e-newsletter Paddle Pulse direct to your inbox each month, along with local news from your State Paddle Association and Club. We will keep you up to date with all the latest news through our websites and newsletters.

• For those doing it tough at the moment, support is available through the Paddle on Foundation with funding for membership provided by paddlers for paddler.

• When you Join a Club as a family, you enjoy a 30% discount off your State Paddle Association and Paddle Australia membership.

Helping paddlers stay safe and protected

We aim to ensure you are safe on the water at all times, but should anything go wrong, as a member, we have you covered

• Members have access to skills and leadership programs and qualified coaches so, no matter where you are on your paddling journey, there is help at hand!

• Whether you are paddling for recreation, training or competition, solo or as part of a group, you have the peace of mind knowing that you are protected by our insurance program for both Personal Accident and Public Liability insurance, 24/7, worldwide.

• You have access to our very competitively priced paddle craft and equipment insurance under our Paddle Protect insurance offering.

 

 

Encouraging participation and developing performance

We support people in discovering the joy of paddling while having fun, getting fit and developing their skills, whether for recreation or competition

• For recreational paddlers, we provide information on the various ways to get into paddling, where to paddle, what new places are opening up to explore and what next steps you might consider.

• Through one of our courses, some on the water and some increasingly on-line, become a coach, official, guide, instructor or volunteer yourself! There is access to member discounts on a wide array of courses.

• For those paddlers interested in competition, you have access to pathways and opportunities to be selected in State and National development squads and representative teams in one for the many disciplines in which the ICF stages Continental and World Championships.

• At the highest level, we support the athletes and coaches that represent the Australian paddling community at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Supporting Clubs to support their members

We support over 125 Clubs that offer local connections to paddling, providing benefits and services that reduce costs and assist volunteers and members

• We support Clubs by providing their key insurances, helping keep fees low. The insurance covers the all-important volunteers, including the Club committee members, officials, instructors and coaches. The events run by Clubs are covered by us too.

• Compliance burdens on Clubs are increasing all the time. We provide support for Clubs across a range of policies covering issues such as Child Safeguarding, Member Protection, and Integrity. We are here to make sure members are safe, should they need us and to help clubs if an issue does arise.

• As part of our community, your Club has access to local, state and federal grants that we support. The funding is often used for Club facility or equipment upgrades that benefit you and your fellow Club members, helping to make your Club more vibrant and sustainable.

• Our National Membership Platform, GoMembership, provides a set of tools to support the management of Club membership, communication, compliance and events.

Advocating for paddling access and sustainability

We represent the interests of paddling and paddlers at all levels of government and to other agencies to improve access, safety and sustainability

• Access to water is important for all paddlers. Whether it is lobbying for new access points or facilities; for waterways to be opened up, on safety issues, such as the wearing of lifejackets; or coordinating water releases with the authorities, we are at the forefront of the conversation.

• The sustainability of the environment is a key issue all paddlers. That is why we work to advocate with local, state and federal government to ensure the quality of the water we paddle on and outdoor environment we all enjoy is maintained and improved.

• More generally, we work continuously with state and federal governments to ensure that the sport and recreation of paddling is at the table on all key issues that impact us.

 

In all these and in many other ways, we are…. With you on the Water

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Direct Membership

Welcome to Paddle Australia's Direct Membership information section. You will find all the information you require to start your journey toward Direct Membership with Paddle Australia.

Introduction

Direct Membership

Direct Membership is for paddlers who may not have a club nearby or do not wish to join in club activities however still want to be part of the paddling community and benefit from being able to enter into club, state and national events and be protected with personal and public liability insurance.

Senior

Senior

Membership for paddlers over 18

Benefits:

• 24/7 personal accident insurance*
• 24/7 public liability third party personal injury and third party property insurance*
• 24/7 professional indemnity insurance*
• Ability to add on paddle craft and equipment insurance through the Paddle Protect insurance policy^
• Receipt of e-newsletters with the latest news, information, events and special offers
• Access to discounts from a growing number of national and state Paddle Pal** partners through our member benefits program
• Access to discounts for courses and programs through the Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme (PAQS)
• Ability to enter club, state and national events with discounts on entry fees for a growing number of events
• Access to pathways and opportunities to be selected in State and National representative teams and development squads
• Advocacy for waterways access and water quality
• Fostering growth in grassroots paddling including supporting school and community education and participation programs
• 30% discount on your state/national fee for family membership^^

* Conditions apply.  View insurance policy details here.
^ Read more about Paddle Protect paddle craft and equipment insurance here.
** See the Paddle Pals page for more information.
^^ Minimum of three family members with a maximum of two adults 18 years and older.

Junior

Junior

Membership for paddlers 18 years and under

Benefits

• 24/7 personal accident insurance*
• 24/7 public liability third party personal injury and third party property insurance*
• 24/7 professional indemnity insurance*
• Ability to add on paddle craft and equipment insurance through the Paddle Protect insurance policy^
• Receipt of e-newsletters with the latest news, information, events and special offers
• Access to discounts from a growing number of national and state Paddle Pal** partners through our member benefits program
• Access to discounts for courses and programs through the Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme (PAQS)
• Ability to enter club, state and national events with discounts on entry fees for a growing number of events
• Access to pathways and opportunities to be selected in State and National representative teams and development squads
• Advocacy for waterways access and water quality
• Fostering growth in grassroots paddling including supporting school and community education and participation programs
• 30% discount on your state/national fee for family membership^^

* Conditions apply.  View insurance policy details here.
^ Read more about Paddle Protect paddle craft and equipment insurance here.
** See the Paddle Pals page for more information.
^^ Minimum of three family members with a maximum of two adults 18 years and older.

Stay Connected

Stay Connected

Membership for those wanting to ‘stay connected’ with the paddling community

Benefits:

• Stay Connected with the latest news, information, events and special offers from Paddle Australia

Volunteer

Volunteers and Officials

Membership for officials and volunteers

Benefits:

• Personal accident insurance for when you are volunteering *
• Public liability and indemnity insurance for when you are volunteering *
• Receive e-newsletters with the latest news, information, events and special offers
• Access discounts from a growing number of national and state Paddle Pal partners

*Cover only applies whilst volunteering.  No cover whilst paddling or participating in club activities or any events.  Please also take out the appropriate membership type to provide full insurance cover when paddling. Further detail can be found here.

Triallist

Triallist Membership

Membership for those wanting to try paddling before committing to a full membership

Benefits:

• Valid for 4 weeks*
• Personal accident and public liability insurance coverage for each approved trial session you participate in for the duration of the Triallist Membership^
• Once trial period expires Club and Direct Membership options are available

* Not available to previous members. Limited to one Triallist Membership per person.
^ Does not enable entry or participation in any State or National events / competitions. Check with your State Paddle Association to determine which trial sessions are covered. View insurance policy details here.

Cost

Cost

Direct Membership prices are listed below.

PA Direct Senior: $85
PA Direct Junior: $60
PA Stay Connected: Free
PA Direct Volunteer: Free
PA Direct Triallist: Free

You will notice that your total membership cost is split into the State Paddle Association and Paddle Australia component at checkout. This is so you can see where each portion of your fee is going.

Process

Process

You can take out Direct Membership through the Paddle Australia Membership and Events Portal, GoMembership. Simply create a new account or log in to your existing account and click on the Direct Membership (non-club) option in the pop-up box.

LOG IN HERE

For a detailed step-by-step guide to taking out membership, please see the Member Support Guide.

If you have any issues, you are welcome to look over the FAQs for general assistance or call or email PA membership:
Ph: (02) 9763 0670 (option 2)
Email: membership@paddle.org.au

FAQs

FAQS

Q: What do I do if I'm having trouble accessing my account?

A: If you’re having difficulties accessing your account, this could be an issue related to either your username or your password.

Usernames are usually either your email address or PA ID number. If you’re not sure what this is, you can contact PA membership at membership@paddle.org.au to check or ask for this to be updated.

If you don’t remember your password, you can try using the reset password feature. You will need to make sure that you have your username correct in the field before hitting the reset button otherwise the system will not be able to send a link for the correct account.

Q: When does my membership start/finish?

A: PA Direct memberships are rolling memberships, which mean that they start from the date of purchase. The full membership options will expire one year from the date of purchase while the Triallist membership will expire 4 weeks from the date of purchase.

Q: How can I manage my family's memberships?

A: There is a family linking process in GoMembership, whereby you can link accounts together so that all accounts are accessible through the log in of anyone connected to the family. This makes it easier to log in and manage memberships and event entries on behalf of your family members. You can link anyone to your family group, so it’s possible to do this for couples or any other grouping as well. To do this, simply click the ‘Add family member’ option underneath your profile details.

Q: How do I add family members to the family membership?

A: Your family must be linked using the family linking process explained in the question above to go through the Family membership option. When you select Family membership, you should see a list of all your family members you can select to join to the family membership. To add a member, select the box underneath their name. A pop up box will appear and you will need to click on the tick next to their membership type to add the person to the family membership.

Note: Family membership is simply an option which can be used to join all family members through one process. In this process, each person is joining as their relevant membership type (e.g. Senior, Junior). If you meet the family membership discount requirement – a minimum of three family members with a maximum of two adults 18 years and older – a 30% discount on the SPA / PA fee will be applied at checkout.

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Commercial Provider Membership

Commercial Provider Membership provides PA qualified Instructors, Guides and Coaches a great opportunity to benefit from the support of the national sporting organisation, including PA’s insurance program, a registration system for participants, and advertising on the PA website.

Introduction

Commercial Provider Membership

Paddle Australia (PA) and the six State Paddle Associations (SPAs) are excited to launch a new membership offering, Commercial Provider Membership (CPM), to further support and grow paddling within the community.

Commercial Provider Membership provides PA qualified Instructors, Guides and Coaches a great opportunity to benefit from the support of the national sporting organisation, including PA’s insurance program, a registration system for participants, and advertising on the PA website.

There are hundreds of people across Australia offering paddling services to those interested in learning more about the world of paddling. By better engaging with those Instructors, Guides and Coaches who are operating commercially, we can help paddlers to find quality service providers in their area, ensuring that they are able to develop their knowledge and skills in a safe environment, while offering ongoing opportunities in the PA community, including through local clubs, events, and more. This is one of the most important ways we can strengthen our sport and progress towards the PA vision of a ‘united paddling community’.

What is a CPM

What is a Commercial Provider Membership?

Commercial Provider Membership provides PA qualified Instructors, Guides and Coaches an opportunity to take the benefits of an individual PA membership a step further, by including their business operations.

Under CPM, Instructors, Guides and Coaches will be able to register paddling activities which they are qualified to provide and which they intend to offer (Programs) on PA’s Paddle Education platform. Holders of CPM (Providers) will benefit from the support of the national sporting organisation, including:

• Coverage under PA’s National Insurance Program for both Providers and the participants in their Programs;
• Discounted pricing on PA education courses;
• An easy to use online participant registration system;
• An integrated email system to communicate with participants;
• The ability to invoice participants as a part of the registration system; and
• Advertising on the PA website.

By partnering with Paddle Australia and the State Paddle Associations, Providers will demonstrate to the public, including prospective participants, that their Programs comply with PA requirements. In an industry where there are many operators without formal qualifications or experience, the CPM shows that Providers are serious about education standards, safety requirements, and quality control.

Activities

What activities are included?

Commercial Provider Membership recognises all Programs which:

a) The Provider is qualified to deliver under their PA Qualification; and
b) Have been properly entered into the PA registration system.

To find out the scope of each PA Qualification, please consult the PA website. As long as the paddling activities offered are within the scope of the Provider’s PA Qualification, those are eligible to be registered as Programs.

All Providers will have access to the PA platform on which Programs are required to be registered. Registration of all programs is required to:

• Ensure that they are recognised for insurance purposes;
• Enable the communication function between the Provider and the participants;
• Enable invoices to be forwarded from the Provider to participants: and
• Ensure that participant data is available if required.

To find out how simple it is to register a Program on the system, please view the CPM Guide below.

Insurance Coverage

Insurance coverage for CPMS

PA understands that a comprehensive insurance program is a ‘non-negotiable’ for responsible commercial providers. Accordingly, CPM includes the following cover:

• Public Liability insurance for Providers whenever they are delivering a Program;
• Public Liability insurance for all registered participants of a Program;
• Professional Indemnity insurance for Providers in relation to the delivery of their Programs;
• Personal Accident insurance for Providers whenever they are a delivering a Program; and
• Personal Accident insurance for all registered participants of a Program during that Program.

Additionally, as members of PA, Providers are also covered 24/7 for their own personal paddling activities, for both Personal Accident and Public Liability.

A summary of the insurance cover afforded to Providers within the CPM is provided here. Please note, the limits of the insurance included in the membership are those of the PA National Insurance Program. Copies of all policies are available on the V-Insurance Group Website and it is up to each individual Provider to satisfy themselves that these limits are suitable for their individual circumstances.

Cost

Cost

The Commercial Provider Membership is based around the financial year, starting on 1 July and concluding on 30 June. For the 2020/21 financial year, the full year cost of the CPM is $900.

Recognising that some Providers may wish to join as a member part way through the membership year, the cost of the CPM will reduce to $500 for any membership taken out after 1 January 2021.

CPM pricing is inclusive of GST.

Process

Process

Commercial Provider Membership can be purchased via the Paddle Australia Membership & Events Portal (click here to log in). Please access the CPM User Guide for instructions on how to complete the transaction. In addition to paying for membership, Providers will need to provide some basic information about themselves and their business.

Once CPM has been purchased, the Provider will receive an email:
1. Confirming that membership has been successfully registered;
2. Providing a link to login and view the current qualifications and expiry dates of the Provider’s PA Qualifications;
3. Providing a link to the scopes of all PA Qualifications; and
4. Providing the further information required on the program and participant registration system, including website details, username and password.

Please contact membership@paddle.org.au if you require any assistance.

FAQs

FAQS

Q: Does a Provider need to hold a current PA Instructor, Guide or Coach qualification?

A: Yes, only current PA qualified Instructors, Guides, or Coaches are eligible for Commercial Provider Membership. To confirm the status of your PA Qualification, log in to the Paddle Education system with your username and password. Providers are obliged to maintain current qualifications as a condition of membership.

Q: Are all holders of PA Qualifications eligible to take out a Commercial Provider Membership?

A: All PA Qualifications entitle a holder to take out a Commercial Provider Membership except the following:

  • Introduction To Coaching;
  • Flatwater Supervisor; and
  • Skills awards.

The above qualifications are introductory in nature. Paddle Australia does not endorse commercial operators seeking to provide services on the basis of these qualifications. Holders of any of these qualifications who wish to operate commercially should consult the PA website to determine the best qualification for them to undertake.

Q: Does the Commercial Provider Membership insurance cover equipment rental operations?

A: No, insurance coverage is only offered where the CPM is always with participants. Should you require assistance insuring a hire business, please contact V-Insurance Group direct on (02) 8599 8660 or at sports@vinsurancegroup.com.

Q: Will Providers be listed on the Paddle Australia website?

A: Yes, there will be a search engine for the public to search for Providers. If you do not want to be displayed on the PA website, you can opt out of this service.

Q: Do all Programs need to be registered in the PA system?

A: Yes, only Programs registered in the PA system will be covered for insurance. This ensures that there is a record of Programs which will be necessary for insurance purposes should a claim be made.

Q: Do all the participants need to be registered using the PA system?

A: Yes. Every participant, either individually or as a participant within an organised group, needs to be registered on the system. This can be done using one of the options explained in the question below.

Q: How does a Provider enter participants?

A: There are three options to enter participants:

1: The Provider sends the Program link to participants to self-register; or
2: The Provider may manually register individual participants in a Program; or
3: A group of participants (e.g. a school group or a family group) may be entered.

Videos on the above three methods can be found in the CPM Guides at the bottom of the page.

Q: What if a Provider requires an assistant to deliver a Program?

A: A Program will still be covered where an assistant is used, provided that the assistant is:

a) a holder of a current PA Qualification;
b) assisting in a Program which is within the scope of their PA Qualification; and
c) under the direct supervision of the CPM holder for the duration of the Program.

Q: I am a current, qualified PA Instructor, Guide or Coach and provide services as a registered volunteer for an Affiliated Club. Do I need to hold a Commercial Provider Membership to be covered by insurance volunteering at my Club?

A: No. Instructors, Guides and Coaches providing services to Clubs, whether as a volunteer or in a paid capacity, are included within the Club’s insurance as provided by Paddle Australia.

Q: If I am a qualification holder under the Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme, and I choose not to take out a Commercial Provider Membership, what am I covered for?

A: Unless Instructors, Guides, and Coaches are providing services to an Affiliated Club, they are currently only covered by insurance when delivering an approved Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme (PAQS) or Paddle Australia Skills program registered on the Paddle Education platform. If you are unsure whether programs fall into either of these categories please contact education@paddle.org.au.

Q: What information will I be required to provide when taking out Commercial Provider Membership?

A: Basic information will be required such as:

  • Name of the Provider;
  • Any business name under which the Provider will be operating;
  • PA Education Number;
  • Latitude and Longitude of the Provider’s business (for listing that business within the search function on the PA website); and
  • Contact details (address, phone, email).

There will also be an opportunity for Providers to provide the website for their business and to upload a logo for display on the PA website. Should providers wish to invoice through the PA platform, there will be an option to enter in banking details to allow invoices to be produced.

CPM Guides

CPM Profile Information

How to register a program

How to register a participant

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