Help, moderation and reporting
Safety & Moderation Policy
Pilot version · Updated 11 September 2026
Immediate danger: Call Triple Zero (000). Recovery Connect is not continuously monitored and cannot dispatch emergency help.
What the pilot is—and is not
Recovery Connect is testing peer-community technology for invited Australian adults. It is not medical care, counselling, treatment, detoxification, diagnosis, medication advice, emergency response or a replacement for qualified services. Members and moderators must not present themselves as able to provide those services through community messages.
Current moderation coverage
Invited testers may post in the controlled Testing & Feedback room at any time. The queue is scheduled for review on Tuesdays, 8:00–10:00 pm Melbourne time (AEST/AEDT). Replies and moderation are not immediate. The alcohol, drug, family and life-after-treatment rooms remain closed unless a named, trained moderator is responsible for announced coverage.
If Recovery Connect cannot maintain the announced review schedule, the controlled room should be closed. A displayed schedule never means that Recovery Connect is watching messages continuously.
Independent Australian support
See the complete help directory and personal support plan.
How to report something
- Use Report next to a community message. Anyone without an account can use the public concern form.
- Choose the closest category and provide only the details needed to locate and assess the concern.
- The website confirms receipt. A moderator reviews the item during the next published review period and prioritises credible threats to life, health or safety.
- Reporting is not a request for emergency help. If circumstances become urgent, contact 000 or an independent crisis service directly.
- Automated outcome updates are not yet available in this early pilot. If you supplied contact details or email Recovery Connect, we aim to provide an update where appropriate and lawful.
Automated screening and human review
The pilot uses limited text-pattern checks to reject drug-sourcing content, contact details and links, and to hold some urgent-language messages from public view. These checks can make mistakes. They do not diagnose risk, contact emergency services or make final enforcement decisions. A human moderator must review held content and reports.
Possible moderation actions
Recovery Connect may hold or hide a message, record a warning, restrict a feature, suspend or remove an account, preserve limited evidence, or refer information to an appropriate authority where the law requires or permits it. Actions should be necessary, proportionate, documented and based on the Community Guidelines. The reporter's identity is not intentionally revealed to the reported member.
Appeals and complaints
You can ask for review of a moderation decision by emailing recoveryconnect.org@outlook.com. Include your display name, the decision and why you believe it should change. We aim to acknowledge requests within seven days and respond within 30 calendar days. Where practical, someone other than the original decision-maker should review the appeal.
For serious adult cyber abuse, image-based abuse or illegal and restricted online content, Australians may also seek information from the eSafety Commissioner. eSafety may require that the content first be reported to the service.
Protecting yourself
- Use a display name that does not identify you.
- Do not post your phone number, email, address or exact location.
- Block a member if you do not want either of you to see the other’s messages.
- Do not meet another pilot member or send them money.
- Talk with a qualified health professional before changing treatment or medication.
Adults-only pilot
The pilot is for invited people aged 18 and over in Australia. Age is currently confirmed by the member rather than independently verified. Anyone known to be under 18 will not be permitted to participate. A proportionate age-assurance approach must be reviewed before wider launch.
Australian support numbers and external regulator links checked 8 September 2026. These organisations are independent of Recovery Connect.