Groups - Frequently Asked Questions - About Casey Connect
Groups - Frequently Asked Questions
Groups - Frequently Asked Questions - About Casey Connect
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What is Casey Connect?
In simplest terms, Casey Connect is an on-line community for groups and individuals, who live, work or meet in the City of Casey.
What do you mean by the term “group”?
The term “group” refers to any group of people who come together for a specific purpose, whether it is support, education, leisure or sharing a particular interest. This can include (but is not limited to) local mothers’ groups; sporting clubs; scouts/guides associations; music, dance or drama groups; health and wellbeing groups; recreation and leisure clubs; and local support networks.
Regardless of a group’s area of interest, the aim of Casey Connect is the same: to help them to better communicate with their group members and to promote activities and services to the wider community.
Is Casey Connect a website?
It can be used as a website, however, it has the potential to be much more. It is what is called a “portal”, and it’s far more interactive than a website! It can be used to create forums, surveys and on-line forms, plus it can store documents, create photo galleries, send messages to group/club members, and much more.
What is a portal?
A portal is a combination of a website, database, communication platform and content management system. People visiting Casey Connect will see a website where they can browse through information, search for local groups, and register as a member. Members of the portal (those who register and get a username and password) can specify their areas of interest and receive information specific to those interests, if desired. They can also access areas of the website that are restricted to “members only”. Behind the website there is a database. There is also a content management system that allows a number of different administrators to upload information to different areas of the website.
Is this for all groups, or just big groups like Sports Clubs?
This is for everyone! No matter how big or small a group is, what their area of interest is or how often they meet, Casey Connect can benefit all. See the ‘User Benefits’ page for an overview of what Casey Connect can offer groups, their members, and the broader community.
What is the cost?
There is no cost for groups to have their own website on Casey Connect. The City of Casey encourages any local group or organisation to get involved, in order to create a vast and resourceful on-line community resource. The web space on Casey Connect offered to groups includes hosting and server disk space.
If a group wants to register a domain name (eg. www.yourgroupname.org.au) that redirects to the group pages on Casey Connect, they will need to cover the cost of this. Costs for this vary, so it’s best to look at all the options. Search for ‘domain registration’ on-line or in the phonebook for more information.
Why is the City of Casey offering this free service? What is the catch?
There is no catch. The City of Casey is providing Casey Connect to create a more connected and informed community. The aim is to promote better communication between groups and individuals in the municipality, as well as to enable groups to better manage and interact with their members. Please see the Casey Connect ‘About’ and ‘Benefits’ pages for more information.
Group Use of Casey Connect
Who places the information and content on Casey Connect?
The City of Casey manages the Casey Connect portal centrally, but it will be the responsibility of individual groups to keep their information up-to-date and accurate. This will ensure that current news and events are promoted in a timely manner for all groups. The City of Casey will provide groups with general guidelines within which to publish their information.
How will we know how to use the system? Is training provided?
Yes. The City of Casey will conduct training workshops for groups who want to use the portal. Dates, times and venues for these workshops will be posted on Casey Connect, or groups can contact the Casey Connect Officer for further information. User manuals and help guides are also available via the Casey Connect Resources pages. Follow the link from the homepage.
We're new to computers / we've never created a website before? Is it easy?
Publishing is very easy - even if you are a beginner. You can even get training to get you up and running in no time.
Casey Connect can set your group up with a website that includes:
- Easy to use publishing tools
- Events calendar for your group
- Photo galleries
- Members only section to publish your group's documents
How long will it take for us to learn how to use it?
Not long at all. You can start off "nice and easy" and then add more content whenever you like.
The City of Casey can give you free training on how to get your website going. We have online guides to help you along if you get stuck. Best of all, you can't break anything, so you can relax, have fun and promote your group - all at the same time!
Generally we keep your website "behind the scenes" at the start. This means you can start adding your information without the rest of the world being able to see it.
Then, when you're ready, we'll publish your whole website - we call it the "Ta da!" moment. You can then continue to add new information whenever you like.
How long will it take to build our group site?
This depends on how quickly you pick up the process. It might take an hour or two to get the basics going - maybe a little longer - but it isn't a race. Work at your own pace.
How much time will we need to spend updating our group site?
Probably the best way to think of this is "how active is my group?" If your group meets weekly, then you might want to think about updating your website will news on a weekly basis.
The important thing with websites is to make sure it doesn't look like it has been gathering dust. That is, if your website looks neglected - if you forget to add new events - then people may think that you are no longer updating your website and so they won't trust it as being up to date and a reliable source of information. Worse still, they might thing your group has ceased to exist!
So, if you do create a news section, make sure you update it every so often. Putting dates on news items is important too, as it helps people figure out if they are ready new
Don't forget that groups can have more than one person update your group's content on Casey Connect, so if you don't have the time, someone else in your group can continue keeping your website up to date.
Our group doesn’t want all of its information made public on the Internet.
That's okay. You can set up a "members only" sectio. This means that only people you have given membership access on Casey Connect can look at this information.
By default though, all other information is made public.
Your personal contact details are never published either. There is a space to publish contact details for the group, sich as email address, postal address and phone number, but publishing these contact details are optional.
Can we direct people straight to our group website without them having to go all the way through Casey Connect?
Yes. Groups can register their own domain name (such as www.yourgroupname.org) and make this domain name point to their Casey Connect website. You can contact Casey Connect if you need some guidance on how to do this.
Groups will need to pay for domain name registration themselves. Otherwise, users can find groups by clicking the "Groups" link at the top of everypage on Casey Connect.
Who adds and removes individuals from our group member list?
Group administrators are responsible for adding and removing members from groups. When a user applies to become a member of a group, the owners of that group are notified, and they have the option of accepting or declining the application.
There is a "Join this group" menu item for every group on Casey Connect. This does not mean that people are applying to join your group, but they are applying to have access to the "members only" section of your group's website on Casey Connect.
Can a range of permission levels be set for different administrators of our group site?
Casey Connect has 3 types of group users:
- Group Owners: the main contact person for the group
- Group editors: can edit the group's content on Casey Connect
- Group members: have access to any "members only" sections in your group
individuals can register on Casey Connect without having to join a group.
Who will use our member data? Will it remain private?
Groups will be the main users of their own member data. Group owners are the only users who can access member data. The data they can access is limited to the members of the group(s) they own, and the sub-groups that sit within those groups. Application owners may have access to the data of their group members, depending on which application(s) they are given permissions to. The group owners determine these permissions, as explained in Q17 above. Member lists cannot be accessed publicly. The City of Casey has access to user data, but will use it only for the purposes of research or other necessary administrative tasks. See the Privacy Policy for further information.
What if inappropriate content is added to our group site?
The City of Casey provides the Casey Connect portal as a means by which groups can better communicate with their members and the broader community. Use of the portal is governed by the Terms and Conditions. The uploading of inappropriate material or the improper use of the portal will be taken very seriously, and groups found not adhering to the Terms and Conditions will have their group pages removed from the portal. They will also lose their administrative rights until such time that the content or improper use can be reviewed by the City of Casey. All content uploaded to the portal is associated with the user uploading it, so the City of Casey will investigate misuse and take appropriate action towards the individual involved and the group they are associated with (where appropriate). Community members visiting the Casey Connect portal are encouraged to report any content or practice they feel is offensive or inappropriate, via the ‘Contact’ page.
What are the website rules of conduct, and what are the penalties if someone breaks them?
The rules of conduct are outlined in the Terms and Conditions. If an individual fails to adhere to these guidelines, they will have their administrative rights removed (where applicable) and may be completely removed as a portal user. Groups failing to adhere to these guidelines will have their group pages removed from the portal and their administrative rights revoked.
Will the City of Casey pay for the computers and Internet Service Provider setup and ongoing costs?
No. The City of Casey offers the use of Casey Connect (including web space and hosting) free of charge, but will not cover the cost of Internet access for groups or individuals. The City of Casey offers public access to the Internet at the locations outlined in Q25 below.
Who do we contact if we have problems with our site, or need some help with administration?
Contact the Casey Connect Officer by emailing caseyconnect@casey.vic.gov.au or call the City of Casey on 03 9705 5200.
Usability
Can I access Casey Connect at home?
Yes. Anyone can, providing they have Internet access and a web browser (such as Internet Explorer). Users can open the web browser and type www.caseyconnect.net.auin to the address bar at the top. Users who are members or administrators of the portal, can log in using their username and password. Once logged in, they have access to administrative pages and/or members only sections of the site.
Can I access Casey Connect on my laptop?
Yes, providing the laptop has Internet access. See instructions above.
What about people with poor Internet access, such as dial-up connections?
Casey Connect is not “resource-hungry” and even on a dial-up line is reasonably quick to download. Limiting the file size of the images and documents uploaded to a group site will assist with download times.
What about groups or individuals with no Internet access?
The City of Casey offers public Internet access at local libraries and other locations. Visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/help/article.asp?Item=2952 for more information.
Is troubleshooting or support provided?
The City of Casey will provide groups with information about troubleshooting and user support. Contact the Casey Connect Officer or visit the Casey Connect Resources pages (follow the link from the Casey Connect homepage).
Are there any user manuals?
Yes. Links to user manuals and on-line tutorials can be found on the Help page, along with other user support information.
Technical, data and security issues
What platform is used to build the system?
The web-based nature of these platforms ensures that Casey Connect is available wherever there is Internet access, and requires no hardware or software installation, except for the Internet browsers that most computers have installed already.
What is the username and password system?
Each user chooses their own username and password when they register on Casey Connect. This gives them a secure way to access their user account. In instances where a group registers an individual as a member, the group will notify the individual of their username and initial password. The individual can then log in, update their personal profile, and change their password. Users can edit their own password at any time by logging in and editing their user profile. Even the highest level of administrator cannot see another user’s password, so providing that users don’t disclose their password to others, their user account is secure. The system has a password reminder for users with a registered email address. For those without email, a high level administrator at the City of Casey will be able to reset their password if they forget it (see Casey Connect Help page). They will be required to answer some security questions about their profile before this action takes place. If at any time an individual forgets their username, they should see the Casey Connect Help page for advice.
How secure are member names and other data?
Only the highest level of administrators at the City of Casey can access user data, and will only do so in instances where it is deemed necessary. The City of Casey is governed by the Casey Connect Privacy Policy, as are all users of the portal. No user data will be given to any third parties. In situations where users manually join on-line groups, group administrators will have access to user details such as name, age and contact details. User data is not made public on the Internet. See the Casey Connect Privacy Policy for more information.
What about Data Protection?
When an individual registers on Casey Connect, they give permission for The City of Casey to hold their personal data. The data is held at a secure data centre facility, and used only for the purposes for which it was collected. Your personal information will never be divulged to third parties, unless disclosure is required or authorised by law. See the Casey Connect Privacy Policy for more detail.
What about the hosting and security of the data?
See Data Protection above.
Is complete open access possible for some areas of the site?
Yes, content can be made completely public if desired, with no login necessary. Anyone viewing the Casey Connect website will be able to view this content. Other content can be restricted to member access. The viewing restrictions of content are set by the administrator as the content is added, and can be changed at any time. See Q14 above.
How can my group get involved?
Contact the Casey Connect Officer by emailing caseyconnect@casey.vic.gov.au or telephone: (03) 9705 5200.
