Hackerspace Minors Policy
Child Safety & Young People
Ballarat Hackerspace welcomes young people who are interested in making, technology, electronics, programming, fabrication and other hands-on technical activities.
We want the Hackerspace to be a safe, welcoming and respectful place for everyone, including people under 18.
These expectations apply to activities at the Hackerspace and to communication involving young people.
Under 18s at the Hackerspace
Anyone under 18 must follow our current rules for minors attending the Hackerspace.
Young people must not attend the Hackerspace contrary to instructions given by their parent or guardian.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact the committee if they have questions about attendance, supervision or activities.
Mattermost and online communication
Ballarat Hackerspace Mattermost is an 18+ online community.
People under 18 must not create or use a Mattermost account.
If a young person or their family needs to communicate with the Hackerspace online, this should be done through their parent or guardian, or through another communication arrangement explicitly agreed with the parent or guardian and the committee.
Committee members, volunteers and other adults acting on behalf of Ballarat Hackerspace must not use personal or private online channels to establish ongoing direct communication with a minor outside such an arrangement.
Where a minor needs assistance from the Hackerspace, we encourage their parent or guardian to contact us.
This may include:
- questions about activities or membership;
- technical questions;
- arrangements for visits or events;
- welfare or safety concerns;
- other matters involving the young person's participation in the Hackerspace.
If ongoing direct communication with a minor is genuinely necessary, the committee should first agree on an appropriate arrangement with the parent or guardian. Wherever practical, that communication should include the parent, guardian or another responsible adult.
Raising a concern
If something at the Hackerspace makes you uncomfortable, you can tell us.
Young people, parents, guardians and other members can raise concerns with any committee member or contact the committee directly.
We will take genuine safety concerns seriously and handle them as sensitively as reasonably possible.
Our responsibility
Child safety is everyone's responsibility.
The committee will periodically review our policies, physical environment and communication practices to identify risks and improve the way we support young people.
These expectations form part of the broader Ballarat Hackerspace Code of Conduct and apply alongside our other membership, safety and behaviour rules.