Terms & Conditions
Hi-Ground Service
To access the Hi-Ground chat room please carefully review the following terms and conditions of use and click ‘Accept’ at the bottom of this page.
Welcome
Hi-Ground provides the possibility to communicate with an Alcohol and Drug Information Service (QuIHN), peer harm reduction or other health worker in real-time using a chatroom platform. Hi-Ground Chat Moderators can provide counselling, referrals, peer support and information about alcohol and drug related issues.
These Terms and Conditions of Use outline the terms under which you may access and use the Hi-Ground Chatroom platform.
If you choose not to use the Hi-Ground Web Chat platform or the service is not currently available, you can access information, counselling, referral and support via the QuIHN website. Similar helplines are available in Queensland and other states, please visit Alcohol and Drug Services for the relevant contact numbers.
1. Health Care Disclaimer
1.1 The Hi-Ground Web Chat service is to provide initial point of contact for education and support regarding alcohol and drug matters. Hi-Ground is not a substitute for a health professional consultation or other health care provision. You should always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions you have regarding your health or a medical condition.
1.2 While the information on Hi-Ground has been researched, reviewed, and presented with all due care, the content is provided for general education and information only.
1.3 Hi-Ground does not accept any liability for any error or omission, injury, expense, loss or damage incurred by you, or another party, as a result of you using or relying on any information contained on the Hi-Ground website or any linked website.
1.4 All users are urged to seek advice from a qualified health care professional for diagnosis, treatment and answers to their health and wellbeing questions.
1.5 Hi-Ground is not a Crisis Response Service. If you (a) require urgent medical attention or (b) are in immediate danger or (c) are at risk of harming yourself or someone else, call Australian Emergency Services on 000. For additional supports, access the ‘Get Help’ function of Hi-Ground.
2. Eligibility for Access
2.1 We have the sole right to determine your eligibility for, and the extent of your access to, Hi-Ground Chatroom. Hi-Ground Chatroom is based out of Australia, aimed for the use of people 18 years of age or older and content may reflect this.
3. Appropriate use of Hi-Ground Chat Room and Blog
3.1 You must only use Hi-Ground Chat for the purposes described in these Terms and Conditions of Use. You must not use or attempt to use Hi-Ground Chat to:
- 3.1.1 Corrupt, damage or interfere with Hi-Ground Chat Room or any QuIHN or third-party data, software, hardware, website or information technology systems;
- 3.1.2 Send any offensive, inflammatory, defamatory, fraudulent or otherwise unlawful information or information that infringes third party rights;
- 3.1.3 Adversely affect the reputation or public image of Hi-Ground and QuIHN; or
- 3.1.4 Cause annoyance harass or inconvenience to users of Hi-Ground, to Hi-Ground and QuIHN, its staff and personnel or any third party.
- 3.2 Do not share personal or identifying information about yourself or others. If you are making a query on behalf of someone else, do not share their personal information or identifying details.
3.3 You acknowledge that Hi-Ground can immediately pause your use of Hi-Ground Chat room if put on notice of a breach and ban your access if Hi-Ground reasonably believes that you have breached these Terms and Conditions of Use.
4. Communications
4.1 During your communications with a Hi-Ground representative, you may provide personal information including your:
- 4.1.1 Email address if you would like us to email information to you;
- 4.1.2 Postal address if you would like us to post information to you; and/or
- 4.1.3 Telephone number if you would like a staff member of QuIHN to contact you following the chat room for follow up purposes or for a referral to an appropriate service within our organisation.
4.2 In providing Hi-Ground your personal information you consent to QuIHN using such information to contact you for the above purposes or as permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
5. Privacy
5.1 Any personal information (including sensitive information such as health information) you provide during your use of the Hi-Ground Chatroom platform will be collected by QuIHN in its capacity as an online health service provider. QuIHN will handle the information it collects about you in accordance with these Terms and Conditions of Use and the Hi-Ground Privacy Policy.
5.2 Hi-Ground and QuIHN will not disclose your personal details or sensitive information to a third party unless legally required to do so or with your informed consent or as set out in these Terms and Conditions of Use or our Privacy Policy.
5.3 You may choose to access and use Hi-Ground Chat room on an anonymous guest, however we recommend creating an account and using an alias username.
6. Intellectual property rights
6.1 You acknowledge that all intellectual property rights (including copyright) regarding Hi-Ground Chat room such as the transcripts of Web Chats (“Hi-Ground Materials”) is owned by or licensed to QuIHN. You may not otherwise use, copy, change, communicate, sell or otherwise deal with the Hi-Ground Materials without QuIHN’s express prior written consent.
6.2 De-identified information from chats (including chat transcripts) may be used for training purposes, reporting or research. We would appreciate being notified of such use, so we are aware and able to continually refine and improve this platform.
7. Terms of use
7.1 We reserve the right to change, suspend or discontinue all or any aspects of the Hi-Ground Chat room, blog platform and service at any time without prior notice.
8. Termination of use
8.1 We reserve the right (but are not obliged) to do any or all the following:
- 8.1.1 Remove communications that fail to conform with these terms of use;
- 8.1.2 Terminate a user’s access to the entire service or specific features;
- 8.1.3 Edit or delete any communications, regardless of whether such communications violate these standards.
9. Liability
9.1 QuIHN cannot and does not assume any responsibility or liability for any information submitted in the Hi-Ground Chat room and blog or misuse of information transmitted or disclosed via the chat room platform. QuIHN does not warrant or represent that the information you submit via the Hi-Ground Chat room platform will be protected against loss, misuse or alteration by third parties or other potential claims.
9.2 You understand and agree that the Hi-Ground Chat room and any services, content or information contained on or provided by or through the Hi-Ground Chatroom is provided on an “as is” basis.
9.3 QuIHN does not make any express or implied warranties, representations or endorsements whatsoever (including without limitation warranties of title or non-infringement, or the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose) regarding the service or any information provided through the service. In addition, we do not guarantee that use of the Hi-Ground Chat room will be free from technological difficulties including, but not limited to unavailability of information, downtime, service disruptions, software upgrades, viruses or bugs.
9.4 To the extent permitted by law, QuIHN LTD is not responsible for any loss or damage whatsoever (including consequential or incidental damage) and however arising (including due to negligence) that you may suffer, directly or indirectly, in connection with your use of the Hi-Ground chat platform (including the use of any links). We do not accept liability for any loss or damage that may result from your use of, or reliance upon, any information or material obtained from use of the Hi-Ground Chat room and blog platform.
10. Indemnification
10.1 You agree that you will indemnify Hi-Ground, QuIHN (as defined below) and any officers, employees and agents of QuIHN against any liability including third party claims, loss, damage, or expense (including legal costs on a solicitor and client basis) incurred or suffered as a direct or indirect result of or arising out of or in connection with (i) your use of the Hi-Ground Chat room and/or (ii) your reliance upon any information provided to you from use of the Hi-Ground Chat room and/or (iii) any breach by you of these Terms and Conditions of Use.
QuIHN includes:
(i) QuIHN Ltd
(ii) QuIVVA Inc
(iii) Hi-Ground
(iv) any:
(A) Related Body Corporate;
(B) joint venture; or
(C) trust
which is controlled, associated or affiliated with any of (i) to (vi).
11. Links to third party websites
11.1 The Hi-Ground Chat room may be linked through other third party websites, including through the QuIHN website, however, we do not warrant the accuracy, currency, quality, suitability, reliability or correctness of the information on any third party websites. In addition, we are not responsible for the content or the privacy practices of any third-party website.
11.2 The Hi-Ground Chat room must not be linked to any third-party website without the prior written consent of QuIHN LTD. QuIHN reserves the right to prevent linking at any time at its sole discretion.
12. General
12.1 These Conditions of Use are governed by the laws in the State of Queensland, Australia. You irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of that State and all courts with jurisdiction to hear appeals from those courts.
13. Support
13.1 If you need any technical assistance relating to the Hi-Ground Chat room and Blog platform you can contact us by sending an email to hi-ground@quihn.org. Your email should be answered within 48 hours. Our technical support team will not provide harm reduction or other health advice. If the matter is urgent, please contact QuIHN.
13.2 By using the Hi-Ground Chat room you accept these terms and conditions. Do not use the Hi-Ground Chat room unless you have read and accepted all these terms and conditions. If you do not accept the terms, then do not continue to use the Hi-Ground Chat room.
Please click accept to commence Hi-Ground Chat room.
Updated June 2021