Acceptable Use Policy

1. What is not allowed

You must not use NOVON to:

(a) harass, bully, threaten, stalk or intimidate any person, including by sexual harassment;

(b) discriminate against or vilify any person on the basis of a protected attribute, including race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age or religion;

(c) post content that is unlawful, defamatory, obscene, sexually explicit, violent, or that promotes self-harm or illegal activity;

(d) impersonate another person or misrepresent your identity, qualifications, certificates or experience;

(e) submit a certificate, resume or credential that is not genuinely yours;

(f) share another user's personal information without their consent;

(g) attempt to move dealings off the Platform, or share contact details for that purpose;

(h) solicit, offer inducements for, or manipulate ratings and reviews;

(i) scrape, reverse engineer, overload, probe or interfere with the Platform or its security, including the on-device message checks;

(j) upload malware, or use the Platform to send spam; or

(k) use the facility or its equipment unsafely, without the recorded induction, or in breach of any direction.

2. Reporting and blocking

2.1 Every profile and conversation carries a Report and Block control. Blocking immediately stops that user contacting you.

2.2 A person at SOARR reviews every report. We aim to act on reports of safety-related conduct within 24 hours and other reports within 5 business days.

2.3 We may remove content. Where we act on a report we tell the reporter the outcome. Any restriction of an account follows section 3.

3. Message checks, warnings and decisions about your access

3.1 Messages are checked on your own device before they are encrypted, for contact details, payment outside NOVON and abusive language. A message that fails the check is blocked and never sent. Work tools (such as Teams, Slack and Zoom) and links to your work (such as a portfolio, GitHub or LinkedIn page) are allowed.

3.2 Each blocked message or upheld report is a written warning, telling you the category, when, and in which conversation. Warnings lapse after 12 months. Three warnings within 12 months do not close your account automatically: we will tell you in writing why we are considering removing your access, and you then have at least 5 business days to respond in the app or ask to speak with a person at SOARR. You may bring a support person (not a lawyer acting professionally). A person considers your response before deciding. We may limit new work meanwhile and will tell you in writing from when and what you can still do.

3.3 Deliberately disguising contact details to get around the checks is treated as a serious breach and is considered by a person straight away.

3.4 Where a person reasonably believes there is a serious safety risk (threats, harassment, fraud or unsafe conduct at the lab), we may pause access at once for up to 7 business days. We will tell you in writing from when, and what you can still do, and you can still respond. We may end access without prior warning for serious misconduct.

4. Safety at the facility

Machines, robots and powered equipment can only be booked after the induction for that equipment is recorded in the Platform. Unsafe conduct, ignoring a safety direction, operating equipment you are not authorised to use, or removing another user's work may lead to immediate suspension of facility access under clause 3.4. Report any injury, incident or near miss in the Platform straight away.

5. Decisions, reviews and records

Any decision comes in writing with the reasons, when it takes effect, and when and how money owed to you will be paid. You can respond to any notice in the app even while your access is limited. You may ask for a review within 5 business days, in the app or at appeals@novonhq.com.au; a different person reviews it and we reply within 5 business days. If access is restored, your warnings are cleared and your ratings and standing are as before. Employee-like workers may also apply to the Fair Work Commission within 21 days (Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s 536LU). We keep records of each step for 7 years.