EXATEC Australia — WhatsApp Policy

Last updated 14 February 2026

Version 1.1 — February 14, 2026 (AEST)


1) Scope and Principles

This policy applies to all EXATEC Australia WhatsApp groups.

EXATEC Australia WhatsApp groups exist to support a focused, respectful, high-signal community for EXATEC alumni in Australia.

2) Guiding Principles

  • Signal over noise: Messages should be purposeful and relevant to the group’s purpose.

  • Respect and professionalism: Treat others with courtesy and avoid antagonistic tone. Zero tolerance for abusive, discriminatory, illegal, or deceptive conduct, or any behaviour that violates the privacy or identity of other members.

  • Privacy by default: What’s shared in the groups stays in the groups. No forwarding or screenshots outside the groups, except for reporting illegal activity to moderators. Do not share anyone’s private information without permission.

  • Direct action over threads: If something requires negotiation or detailed logistics, take it to DMs.

  • Moderation protects focus: Moderators may intervene to keep the groups aligned to this policy. This may include Direct Messages as a warning, deleting messages, or removing members.

3) Purpose of Each of the 4 Groups

3.1 Announcements (Official)

Official top-down channel that communicates decisions and directs members to the website.

Purpose:
To serve as the formal, one-way, official institutional communication channel.

This is the space where the association communicates decisions, updates, and official links to the website. It is not a forum. It is not a discussion space. It functions as the “executive bulletin.”

3.2 National Group (Australia-wide)

National coordination space and high-value professional opportunities.

Purpose:
To coordinate at a national level with strong professional value and strategic focus.

This is where cross-state conversations take place: job opportunities, mentorship, national event coordination, and operational alignment. It is not intended for local questions or casual conversation.

3.3 State Groups (Local)

Local support and coordination space with a practical and fast-moving focus.

Purpose:
To solve practical problems and coordinate local support efficiently.

This is the operational and useful space: practical questions, local resources, member support, and limited promotion of personal initiatives (Australia-based, community-relevant, no pyramid schemes, no spam). If coordination becomes detailed, it should move to Direct Messages between those involved.

It is not a continuous social chat or a meme channel.

3.4 National Admin Group (Internal)

Internal operational hub to execute and document decisions.

Purpose:
To operate and execute the association.

This is where decisions are made, responsibilities are assigned, and conversations are converted into documented outcomes (tasks, links, actions). It is a working space, not an informal debate forum.

4) Membership and Verification

4.1 Eligibility

Membership is for EXATEC alumni living in Australia, with limited exceptions at admin discretion (e.g., relocating soon, temporarily in Australia, or other special circumstances aligned to community purpose).

4.2 How people join

All groups are invitation-only (member/admin invitation).
Joining links (if used) should be shared selectively and only with eligible alumni.

4.3 Verification

To protect trust and keep the groups relevant, admins may verify eligibility. Verification is manual and may include a brief private check (e.g., campus/program, graduation year, Tec affiliation, or a profile reference).

4.4 Onboarding / identity

New members are expected to introduce themselves using their exatecaustralia.com profile card (shared as a deep link). This keeps intros consistent, searchable, and reduces repeated “who’s who” questions.

4.5 Staying a member

Admins may remove members who:

  • are not eligible (or cannot be verified), or

  • repeatedly disregard the policy and group purpose.

5) How to Use WhatsApp (and the Website)

5.1 Events, polls, and “official” calls to action happen on the website

  • Events and polls should be created and hosted on exatecaustralia.com for traceability, not run inside WhatsApp.

  • Admins/moderators share those items into WhatsApp via deep links where appropriate.

  • Members can suggest event ideas, but the “official” version lives on the website.

5.2 Recommended posting template (use whenever possible)

To keep posts clear and scannable, use this format:

  • What: (job/opportunity / mentorship ask / request / resource)

  • Where: (state/city or “national”)

  • When: (date/timeframe; deadline if relevant)

  • Details: (1–3 short lines)

  • Action: (how to respond — DM me directly, or link to exatecaustralia.com)