Crocodile Martial Arts Australia – Communication Policy

Our Commitment

Electronic communication is essential for sharing club news and information with our members.

Our communications will be timely, appropriate and related to club business.

What We Will Do

We use a range of electronic tolls to communicate with our member families.

Our communication will protect members’ privacy, maintain clear boundaries and ensure that bullying and harassment does not occur.

We have developed a Social Media Policy to address the particular issues arising form the use of social media.

We have a designated team member which is appointed to provide accountability and control over material published on our website and any related discussion groups or social media sites, such as Facebook and Instagram.

Website

• Our website will include current information on club activities, social events, policies, Dojo rules and other topics of interest relating to the Dojo and its Instructors.
• No offensive content of photos will be published.
• All pictures posted are with permission as per our Student Waiver that all students/parents are provided at sign up.
• We take care to ensure that no identifying information is used.

SMS and Email

Staff and Instructors may use SMS and email to provide information about training and events and other club business however:

• SMS messages should be brief and only about CMAA matters.
• Email will be used when more information is required.
• Communication involving children will be directed through their parents.

Social Media

• We treat all social media posting, blogs, status updates as public ‘comment’.
• Postings (written, photos or videos) will be family friendly and feature club news and events.
• No personal information about members will be disclosed.
• No statements will be made that are misleading, false or likely to injure a person’s reputation.
• No statements will be made that might bring CMAA into disrepute.
• Abusive, discriminatory, intimidating or offensive statements will not be tolerated. Offending posts will be removed and those responsible will be blocked from the site.

What We Ask You To Do

We expect our members to conduct themselves appropriately when using electronic communication to share information with other members or posting material on public websites connected to CMAA.

Electronic communication:

• Should be restricted to club matters.
• Must not offend, intimidate, humiliate or bully another person.
• Must not be misleading, false or injure the reputation of another person.
• Should respect and maintain the privacy of members.
• Must not bring the club into disrepute.

Instructors and Leadership Team members who work with children and young people must direct electronic communication through the child’s parents

Non-compliance

Members may face disciplinary action for sending inappropriate communication or posting online content or comments that harass, offend, intimidate or humiliate another member, as outlined in our member protection policy or code of conduct.

Under certain circumstance, cyber bullying (e.g. bullying that is carried out through an internet service such as email, a chat room, discussion group, instant messaging or website) is a criminal offence that can be reported to the police.

In addition, members who publish false or misleading comments about another person in the public domain (e.g. Facebook or Instagram) may be liable for defamation.