Member Guidelines

Introduction

Hep C Australasia is an internet-based, community discussion forum that aims to empower individuals affected by hepatitis C and promote the strengthening of existing and new communities of people affected by hepatitis C.

Use of Hep C Australasia is in no way associated with membership of the various hepatitis and hepatitis C Councils associated with the forum.

Together, we seek to nurture and support each other emotionally through the difficulties and challenges associated with hepatitis C.

We are committed to expanding our knowledge and awareness of hepatitis C through sharing of views, comment and experiences.

We respect the diversity and dignity of each person's individual choices, beliefs, stories, problems, and successes.

We do not promote any mode of treatment. We recognise that different treatments are appropriate for the different needs, wishes, and situations of different people.

We are Australasian-based and our primary focus is on those people affected by hepatitis C and living in Australia and New Zealand. People from other countries are welcome and provide valuable links to what is happening with hepatitis C in other cultures.

Moderation

Hep C Australasia is sponsored by the Hepatitis C Council of NSW and overseen by the Council’s Coordinator – Information and Resources.

The forum is administered on an as-needs basis by a Moderator Group comprised of approximately six people: led by the Coordinator – Information and Resources.

Hep C Australasia is an independent community-based project supported by the Australian Hepatitis Council and its member organisations – the Australian state and territory hepatitis councils, and the Hepatitis C Support Groups of New Zealand.

The forum is self-monitoring, which means that members work together to keep the list functioning well. By following our terms and conditions, and forum etiquette, we will remain a valuable and accessible means of support and community for people with hepatitis C.

Use of Hep C Australasia is conditional on people’s acceptance of the Hep C Australasia terms and conditions, and forum etiquette.

Terms & conditions

1.       In these terms and conditions and forum etiquette, a “member” is defined as any person who makes use of the Hep C Australasia forum.

2.       While taking into account a general community development and consultation approach, the Moderator Group reserves the right to change these terms and conditions, and forum etiquette, without further notice.

3.       The Moderator Group may exclude members from Hep C Australasia if they breach any of these terms and conditions, or forum etiquette, or post anything that is contrary to the terms and conditions. If a member commits a breach or breaches that are considered by the Moderator Group to be of a serious and repeated nature, and that member is know to be a member of a hepatitis C Council, the Moderator Group may recommend to that Council that they terminate that person’s Council membership. In interpreting this clause, the Moderator Group has ultimate discretion in deciding what constitutes a breach of these terms and conditions, or forum etiquette.

4.       The Moderator Group makes the Hep C Australasia on-line community forum available for people to publish views, comment and information without assuming a duty of care to members. Neither the Moderator Group, nor Hepatitis C Council of NSW, gives any warranty, guarantee or representation about the accuracy, reliability, timeliness or otherwise of the information contained on the web forum Hep C Australasia.

5.       To the full extent permitted by law, the Moderator Group and the Hepatitis C Council of NSW disclaim any and all warranties, express or implied regarding:

a.       the accuracy, reliability, timeliness or otherwise of any information contained or referred to on the web forum Hep C Australasia;

b.       the merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose for any service or product contained or referred to on the web forum Hep C Australasia.

6.       Neither the Moderator Group nor the Hepatitis C Council of NSW, will be liable under any circumstances for any loss of profits or any damages of any kind recognised by law (even if it has been advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages) which are the consequence of

a.       members acting or failing to act on any information contained on or referred to on the web forum Hep C Australasia.

b.       the use or inability to use the service

c.       the negligence of the moderator group or the Hepatitis C Council of NSW, or

d.       any other matter relating to the web forum, Hep C Australasia.

7.      Neither the Moderator Group or the Hepatitis C  Council of NSW guarantee or make any representations that the web forum Hep C Australasia is free or will be free of software viruses such as worms and Trojan horses. Neither the Moderator Group or the Hepatitis C Council of NSW take any responsibility for any damage caused to member’s computer systems by their use of the web forum Hep C Australasia.

8.      Neither the Moderator Group or the Hepatitis C Council of NSW are liable to forum members for any defamatory, offensive or illegal material on the web forum Hep C Australasia, whether caused through negligence of the Moderator Group or the Hepatitis C Council of NSW or through any other cause.

9.      Neither the Moderator Group or the Hepatitis C Council of NSW accept any liability for opinions expressed on Hep C Australasia. The contents of postings are not the opinions of the Moderator Group or Hepatitis C Council of NSW unless otherwise stated.

10.   The opinions shared in this forum do not constitute medical advice nor in any way substitute for it. Neither the Moderator Group or the Hepatitis C Council of NSW accept any responsibility for any damage of any kind caused by members following or not following opinions posted on Hep C Australasia.

11.   Postings to the Hep C Australasia forum should not be of a commercial nature or purposefully promote specific products.

12.   If mentioning or highlighting specific products, postings should refer forum members to external websites or email addresses where further information can be obtained.

13.   We don’t tolerate flaming - abusive, malicious, personal attacks. Anyone antagonising other forum members by posting such messages will have their postings deleted and be excluded from the web forum Hep C Australasia.

14.   Forum members must not transmit any message, information, data, text, software or graphic files, or other materials that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, hateful or racially, ethnically, sexually or otherwise objectionable.

15.   Although Private Messages sent between members are confidential, they must not contravene any of these guidelines. Members who feel that PMs they receive do contravene guidelines should initially try to resolve the issue with the sender of the PMs. If that fails, the issue must be passed over to the moderators.

16.   Forum members must treat Personal Messages that they send or receive as confidential. Members who want to share a PM by reposting in any public part of the forum must get permission from sender (author).

17.   Forum members must not impersonate any person or entity.

18.   Forum members must not post or transmit any unsolicited advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail", "spam", "chain letters", "pyramid schemes" or any other form of solicitation.

19.   Members accounts will be deleted from the community once 180 days has expired since their last visit.

Forum etiquette

20.   Please be respectful. We encourage members to read other’s posts with an open mind. Because people can make assumptions about the meanings of words, please use care in responding in order to not jump to the wrong conclusions.

21.   Please don't generalise. People often tend to think their experiences are similar or valid for everyone. Keep in mind that this list will include people from different life experiences. Any generalisations could anger or offend others.

22.   Please be honest: There is no need to pretend to be other than who you are. If you prefer to withhold something, please respect those who share in a way that can make them vulnerable.

23.   Given that stories are very individual and important personal experiences, it is likely that members begin to get a glimpse into each storyteller's experience. For some, this may involve a strong sense of faith, and for others it does not. Please don't be surprised to hear about particular personal views - including religious beliefs - in our journeys to deal with hepatitis C. 

24.   Remember that e-mail is impersonal and lacks the many non-verbal cues we see when talking face to face. Use of symbols like for smiling or joking, ;-) for winking or teasing, :-0 for mock surprise or shock, can help replace seeing someone's face to some extent but the safest route is to be clear and straight forward as possible.

25.   When responding to a discussion thread, it is helpful if you stick to the initial topic. If you want to change topic, please consider starting a new and separate discussion thread.

26.   Please choose a subject title that clearly describes the subject of your thread.

27.   Please leave the subject title the same as the original post when you are responding to a discussion thread. This is how others can follow a topic and read all the responses to it.

28.   Whenever you share statistics, try to provide references so others may research the data for themselves.

(Last amended 18 June 2007)