Welcome to BCNA’s online network. This is a safe and inclusive space for all Australians affected by breast cancer to find information and support.

We hope you enjoy participating and interacting with other network members. In order to make this a safe and welcoming space for everyone, we have a few basic guidelines.

General guidelines

Always

• Be pleasant and treat others with respect.
• Search before posting. It's likely that there is already an answer or active discussion about what you're seeking.
• Stay on topic and advance the conversation.
• Respect people's privacy.
• Respect copyright and the law.

Never

• Post anything that is harmful, threatening, abusive, hateful, offensive, discriminatory, defamatory, or obscene.
• Attack other members of the community or the BCNA team.
• Disparage or slander the reputations of health professionals or anyone else.
• TYPE IN ALL CAPS. IT IS HARD TO READ AND OFTEN PERCEIVED AS YELLING.
• Post the same message repeatedly or across multiple categories or groups.
• Create more than one user account to hide or harass others.
• Post spam or use the online network to advertise your services (including blogs and Facebook profiles, pages and groups).
• Use the online network for third-party research or fundraising purposes.
• Breach the Website Terms of Use.

A few more things

• Enjoy the network. There's a lot to see and read, our members love to talk! Don’t be afraid to jump in and participate, but do remember that everyone's personal circumstance is different.
• Own your own words. Take responsibility for the quality of the conversations in which you’re participating. Respect other people’s views and consider your impact on others when making a contribution.
• Some profanity is allowed. Some profanity is allowed as long as it’s not directed at others in an abusive manner and it is not gratuitously offensive.
• It's a public space. Remember that the online network is a public space. Do not reveal personal and/or private information about others, and only reveal as much about yourself as you feel comfortable sharing. 
• You may not like everything you see. Everyone participates differently and you may sometimes see things you don’t like. You are welcome to disagree with others provided your tone is respectful.
• Flag inappropriate content. You can help us keep the online network work safe and pleasant for everyone. Every post and comment has a 'Flag' button. If you see spam or inappropriate content, click on the button to report it to BCNA.
• No commercial or promotional activity. While members may share information about resources they have found helpful, the BCNA online network should not be used for the promotion of goods and services. This includes commercial entities passing themselves off as individuals and people who frequently post external links to blogs, other forums, and Facebook. Please use the services and support directory instead.
• This is not a medical or counselling service. What is right for one person may not be right for someone else. If you see any medical suggestions on the site use caution and remember BCNA can’t endorse or support any health or medical advice that is posted here. Always seek the advice of your medical team.
• Surveys are not allowed. If you are a health professional or student interested in conducting a survey, please email us at bcnaonline@bcna.org.au or call us at 1800 500 258.

Groups

Whilst most conversations happen in the discussion areas of the online network, Groups are a great resource for members seeking greater peer-to-peer support. Groups are not intended to be a substitute for discussion topics.

All Groups are created by BCNA and are led by online network members. Group Leaders and members must continue to abide by the Community Guidelines.

If you’re interested in starting a Group, please email us at bcnaonline@bcna.org.au or call us at 1800 500 258.

Moderation in the online network

All community interaction is subject to some level of moderation to ensure the community guidelines are upheld. Posts and comments appear on the online network immediately. They are not held for review. The online network is reactively post-moderated by the online network team, which consists of community managers employed by BCNA and a small pool of volunteer moderators. We also rely on members to report inappropriate posts and comments.

Moderators reserve the right to edit, move, close, and delete discussions. Members who seriously, persistently, or wilfully ignore the community guidelines may be placed on pre-moderation, temporarily suspended, or banned from the online network. Decisions taken by our moderators are final and will not be discussed within the online network or privately with anyone other than the member affected.

The aim of moderation is not censorship, but to ensure that the online network meets its legal responsibilities and remains a safe and friendly space for all Australians affected by breast cancer.

About the community guidelines

This policy is a collaborative document created by BCNA’s community managers and incorporating feedback from users. It has evolved over the years and aims to reflect best practice in community management as well as BCNA’s values. It is regularly reviewed and refreshed, so please bookmark this page and check back frequently.

Further information

If you have suggestions or questions about the community guidelines or any aspect of moderation, you can email bcnaonline@bcna.org.au or call us at 1800 500 258.

 Updated: 06.10.2016