Community Standards

The best Hubs aren’t the ones with the most posts. They’re the ones where neighbours actually look out for each other.

• Respond to your neighbours’ posts: even a quick reaction or short reply goes a long way.
• Start conversations. Your neighbours are a friendly audience.
• Take it offline. Say hello when you see someone on the street.
• Keep an eye out for neighbours who might need help, especially older residents or those living alone.
• If a neighbour hasn’t joined yet, let them know the Hub exists.
• Look for things the street can do together: a cleanup, a shared project, a street event.

• Use your real name. A photo helps your neighbours know who you are. Pseudonyms and avatars undermine the trust that makes a Hub work.
• Every adult at your address should have their own account. Shared or family accounts aren’t permitted.
• Don’t share access to your account with anyone else. You’re responsible for everything posted from it.

• Treat your neighbours the way you’d want to be treated in person. Bullying, harassment, threats and trolling can lead to removal from OurStreet.
• Keep negative opinions about neighbours to yourself. Your Hub is a community, not a forum for grievances.
• Watch your language: your Hub includes residents of all ages and backgrounds.
• Think before you post. Once it’s there, your neighbours have seen it.

• Don’t use your Hub to promote your business or sell things to your neighbours. If a neighbour specifically asks for a recommendation and you can genuinely help, that’s different.
• Don’t post offensive, explicit, or hateful content.
• Don’t share links to harmful or offensive material.
• Be careful with photos of others, especially children. When in doubt, ask before posting.
• Child sexual abuse material is reported to the Australian Federal Police. We don’t make our own judgement about it, and there is nothing to discuss.
• Content your neighbours post in the Hub is for the Hub. Don’t share it outside without their permission.

• Your Hub includes a map showing every property on the street, including unclaimed ones. This is private to verified Hub members only. It is never visible publicly.
• Household information, including whether a property is occupied, who lives there, or when residents are away, must be treated with care. Don’t share it outside the Hub.
• If you move, please update your account before you go so your address can be made available to new residents.

During onboarding, you’ll have the opportunity to verify neighbours who are joining the Hub. Verifying is a way of saying: I know this person, they live on this street, and I’m happy for them to be here.

• Verify honestly. Verifying someone you don’t know, or to help someone bypass eligibility, is a breach of these standards.
• If you have a genuine concern about a member, you can report them. We will act on reports made in good faith.
• Using the report function vindictively or to settle personal disputes is itself a breach of these standards and may result in your own removal.
• Decisions about membership are made by the OurStreet team and are final.

Some posts come from OurStreet itself, always clearly marked. These are the practical ones: a welcome when someone new joins, a bin-night reminder, the occasional local notice. They’re there to help the street run, then get out of the way.

Software checks every message for harmful content. No one at OurStreet reads your messages unless somebody reports one, and then a person reads that conversation. OurStreet never poses as a neighbour and never joins the conversation: no replies, no chit-chat. The street is yours; OurStreet just keeps the lights on.

Posts are also checked by software before they appear on your Hub. It approves the vast majority instantly and only steps in when something may harm the community.

If OurStreet blocks your post, it won’t be published. You’ll be told straight away, and your words are kept so you can amend and repost. We know it isn’t perfect. If you believe your post was blocked in error, please edit it and try again, or get in touch.

A post that’s already on your Hub can be removed if it’s reported. If that happens, OurStreet will let you know. If you think we’ve got it wrong, get in touch.

If you see a post that you think violates these standards, tap the ‘...’ menu on the post and select ‘Report’. OurStreet will review it.

If we find content or behaviour on OurStreet that doesn’t meet these standards, we reserve the right to remove that content or remove a member from OurStreet. If your account is removed, you must not create a new one.

Using OurStreet to break the law will lead to removal from OurStreet and reporting to the relevant authorities.

We also reserve the right to decide who can and cannot participate on OurStreet. We’ll always try to act reasonably, but the safety and comfort of your community comes first.