How-to.. all things forum

[BrittV (facilitator)]

Below are some instructions on how to

• Register
• Post & reply
• Edit your own post
• Send/receive/report personal messages
• Upload an avatar (picture)
• Get notifications for replies, and get emailed notifications
• Subscribe to topics and forums
• Report content to a moderator for review
• Update forum username
• Like someone's post
• @Mention/tag another member
• Privately reach the Facilitation team/administrator
• Put links in posts

It’s ok to ask for support.
If you have any questions you can post in the Feedback & Queries section – we’re here to help, and there may be someone else who needs the same thing clarified!

[BrittV (facilitator)]

Before contributing posts you will need to register and make sure you are logged in.
Registration only takes a minute, in 4 easy steps:
1. Enter email and password.
2. Choose an anonymous username.
3. Answer 3 quick questions.
4. Click ‘Register’.

Rest assured that our service is completely confidential. Your information is safe and will be kept private, including the email address given.
You will need to accept our terms and conditions.

[BrittV (facilitator)]

To begin writing in the forum you will need to register and be logged in.
To start your own thread:
• Go to the forum area you want to post in.
• Click on the ‘new topic’ button along the top.
• Give your post a ‘subject’.
• Write your post into the large text box.
• Press ‘Submit’ underneath to post it.

To reply to someone else’s thread:
• Select the ‘post reply’ button along the top of the thread page.
• Write your response in the large text box
• Press ‘Submit’ underneath to post it.

[BrittV (facilitator)]

You may wish to edit something that you’ve already posted.

Or from time to time a Facilitator may ask you to do so if a part of your post breaches the terms and conditions.

This is possible by going to your post while logged in and clicking the ‘edit’ button that will be at the top of your post.
After making your edits, select ‘Submit’ and the post will be updated.

[BrittV (facilitator)]

An avatar is a picture that appears beside your name when you post in the forum.
Your picture should be something that represents you, but remember that it’s important to stay anonymous, so not a photo of you.

You can upload one by:
• Clicking the ‘User Control Panel’ button at the top of each page.
• Select ‘Profile’.
• Select ‘Edit avatar’
• Select ‘Choose file’ and select your saved image
• Select ‘Submit’

[BrittV (facilitator)]

A - You can choose to receive email notifications when there are replies to something that you post.
You can easily do this for

• New posts: Tick the box 'Notify me when a reply is posted’ under the text box before 'submitting' your post. Usually, this will be automatically ticked.
• Previous posts: You can also turn this on for your past posts by
  1. Going to your relevant post
  2. Selecting 'Edit' in the post's top right
  3. Selecting 'Notify me when a reply is posted’ under the text box
  4. Selecting 'Submit'

B - This will ensure you receive notifications. Next, to ensure these notifications are sent to your email inbox:

• On the top-right of your screen, press your username for a drop-down menu
• Select 'User Control Panel'
• On the horizontal list, select 'Board Preferences'
• On the vertical list, select 'Edit notification options'
• Mark the boxes under 'Email' for the types of notifications you'd like emailed to you.

[BrittV (facilitator)]

You can be notified by email when someone posts in a forum or topic you're interested in by subscribing, doing the following:
• Visiting the relevant topic or forum while logged in
• Select ‘Subscribe topic' or 'Subscribe forum' at the bottom of the page
• After you have subscribed to a list, this place on the page will now say ‘Unsubscribe topic/forum’.

To have these notifications sent as an email, follow step B in Email notifications instructions above.

[BrittV (facilitator)]

From time to time there are posts in the forum which are not appropriate for the community. These may be against the terms and conditions, spam, or something which you find offensive.

To report this to a Facilitator, press the ‘!’ button on the post's top right corner. You will be taken to a page to choose your reason for reporting from a drop-down menu and select ‘Submit’. It's ok to leave the reason blank if you're unsure how to explain it.

A Facilitator will action this and be in contact as soon as possible.

[BrittV (facilitator)]

Your username should be something which represents you but is not your name to stay anonymous.

To change your username:
• Go to the website's log-in portal at https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/profile/
• Press 'Welcome' in the top right-hand corner
• Select 'Update Forum Username'
• Fill in the new username you could like, and select 'Update Forum Username'

This will now be the username on both your new and older posts.

It's best not to change usernames frequently to help others recognise who you are.

[BrittV (facilitator)]

Sometimes we want to show support for a post but may not have something particular to respond to it.
Pressing the red thumbs up beside a post will show support for the post.
The author of the post will receive a notification that you have liked their post.