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CHAPTER 7

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE CADETS: SOCIAL MEDIA

INTRODUCTION

7.1 Social media is user-generated content shared electronically via technologies promoting engagement, sharing and collaboration. Social media has become an integral part of society and an important form of communication, education and social interaction, extensively used by young people. V\/hile social media can facilitate communications, misuse of social media can have a serious adverse impact on the reputations and health of individuals, and on organisations.

7.2 ADF Cadets personnel utilise social media and social networking sites (SNS) in official and personal capacities. The purpose of this Policy is to provide direction and guidance for the responsible and appropriate use of social media by all ADF Cadets personnel.

POLICY STATEMENT

7.3 Social media is a legitimate tool for communication, including sustaining and enhancing the engagement of the Cadet Forces with ADF Cadets personnel and the Australian community. ADF Cadets personnel are entitled to exercise their freedom of expression through the use of social media, so long as it is consistent with their legal and ethical obligations regarding the use of official information and behaviour towards other people. ADF Cadets personnel may engage in social media activities. from passive monitoring to active discussion, provided that such activities do not contravene their obligations concerning disclosure of official information, privacy, security, copyright, decency and child protection. All ADF Cadets personnel have a responsibility to safeguard the reputation of the ADF Cadets and Defence.

7.4 ADF Cadets personnel use social media for official and personal communications. Official communications are those on official ADF Cadets social media channels. Personal communications are those on private social media channels, including social media channels with no connection or association with the ADF Cadets; and those established by individuals or organisations with a connection with the ADF Cadets, such as ADF Cadets camps or units. If ADF Cadets personnel disclose or imply in the course of using social media that they are a member of or have an affiliation with the ADF Cadets. they assume a responsibility to represent the ADF Cadets loyally, accurately and appropriately in accordance with this policy.

Official use of social media

7.5 Only Defence personnel and ADF Cadets personnel authorised to do so may post content on social media as representative of the ADF Cadets. Such authorisation must be in accordance with Dl(G) ADMIN 08-1 - Public Comment and dissemination of official information by Defence personnel. The Authorisation Officers for official social media in connection with the ADF Cadets are:

a. Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division (CRESD): First Assistant Secretary Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication.

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b. Australian Navy Cadets (ANC): Director-General ANCR, Director ANC and National Commander ANC.

c. Australian Army Cadets (AAC): Commander AAC, Assistant Commander AAC, Deputy Commander AAC and Chief of Staff Headquarters AAC.

d. Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC): Director-General CADETS-AF and Commander AAFC.

7.6 ADF Cadets personnel creating ADF Cadets websites must register the website in accordance with their relevant cadet force procedure.

7. 7 Some social media activities, such as wikis, allow for collaborative development of 'information'. In circumstances where ADF Cadets can not control, maintain or check the integrity of such information, it is not appropriate for ADF Cadets to use these pages as part of its official social media presence.

7.8 ADF Cadets or Defence personnel designated as Authorisation Officers with responsibility for official communications must in their official use of social media:

a. disclose that they are an ADF Cadets member, or a Defence member, including their rank and appointment, and use only their own identity or an approved official account or avatar;

b. disclose and comment only on information that is public domain information;

c. publish only information that is correct and accurate and complies with all relevant ADF Cadets and Defence policies;

d. not be the first to make an announcement, unless specifically authorised; and

e. comment only in their area of authority or expertise.

Personal use of social media

7.9 ADF Cadets personnel using social media other than in an official capacity must neither claim nor imply that they are speaking officially on behalf of the ADF Cadets. If an ADF Cadets member discloses that they are a member of ADF Cadets or implies an affiliation with the ADF Cadets, they must state that their views are their own and not those of ADF Cadets, Defence or the government, using a disclaimer such as, The views expressed are mine alone and do not reflect the views of the ADF Cadets'.

7.10 ADF Cadets personnel creating unofficial websites for Unit or cadet activities must register the website in accordance with their relevant cadet force procedure.

7.11 ADF Cadets personnel using social media in a personal capacity must not:

a. post proprietary ADF Cadets information;

b. reproduce ADF Cadets logos or insignia unless otherwise approved;

c. post private details or information concerning other ADF Cadets personnel;

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d. post any photographs taken on Defence bases where the location or any details about the base can be reasonably ascertained;

e. post any photographs of ADF Cadets personnel, onto any official ADF Cadets website (photographs must be provided to the relevant Authorisation Officer for uploading); and

f. use their CadetNet email address for or in connection with any purpose that is not consistent with ADF Cadets pol icy or the ADF Cadets Code of Conduct, or which may be prejudicial to the discipline or reputation of the ADF Cadets.

Use of social media generally

7.12 All ADF Cadets personnel using social media are personally responsible for what they post and when using social media in any capacity must:

a. adhere to the terms and conditions of use of the social media platform or site;

b. post or publish content relevant to the ADF Cadets only if it is accurate and genuine and in compl iance with all relevant legislation and ADF Cadets policies;

c. be polite and respectful;

d. not post, publish or respond to content that is offensive, obscene or indecent, defamatory, hateful, racist, sexist, or otherwise unlawfully discriminatory;

e. not post content, the publication of which is an infringement of copyright, a contempt of court, or a contravention of breach a court suppression order;

f. not engage in unacceptable on-line behaviour, including cyberbullying;

g. not engage in conduct that is threatening, harassing, intimidating, insulting, demeaning, or belittling;

h. not engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive;

i. not use or disclose any classified or protected information;

j. not use the identity or likeness of another ADF Cadets member;

k. not use or disclose any confidential or personal information of others obtained in their capacity as an ADF Cadets member (such as the age, address, banking and financial information, passport, driver's licence or employment details of any ADF cadets member);

I. not disclose proprietary ADF Cadets information;

m. not post any content that might cause damage to the reputation of the ADF Cadets or Defence or other ADF Cadets personnel;

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Guidance for ADF Cadets personnel using social media

7.13 Annex B provides advice and guidance for ADF Cadets personnel using or considering using social media.

Record Keeping

7.14 The official use of social media creates records which provide evidence of business transactions and ADF Cadets activity in respect of which there is a legal requirement to implement appropriate records management practices and privacy protection, as for any other Commonwealth record. Official social media material is to be captured if it:

a. is generated by or on behalf of the Commonwealth;

b. evidences ADF Cadets' business transactions or activities; and

c. is not otherwise captured.

7.15 Further advice and assistance on ADF Cadets' responsibilities to capture records is contained in the Defence Records Management Policy Manual, or contact Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication Branch.

SCOPE

7.16 This policy applies to:

a. all Defence Personnel;

b. all ADF Cadets personnel; and

c. External Service Providers where adherence to the requirements of this policy is a condition of their contract.

GLOSSARY

7.17 The YOUTHPOLMAN glossary provides a list of definitions and abbreviations which apply to this chapter.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Vice Chief of Defence Force

7.18 Vice Chief of Defence Force (VCDF) has overall responsibility for:

a. the implementation of this policy across the ADF Cadets; and

b. maintaining the currency of this policy.

7 .19 VCDF is the risk owner for Group level ADF Cadets communications aimed at Brand Management.

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Chief Operating Officer

7.20 The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is the risk owner for official organisational communication, including social media communications, on behalf of Defence, CRESD and ADF Cadets.

Service Chiefs

7.21 The Service Chiefs are responsible for:

a. ensuring that this policy is implemented in the ANC, AAC and AAFC respectively ;

b. ensuring that any relevant Single Cadet Force Procedures align with this policy; and

c. resourcing the implementation of this policy within their respective Service's Cadet Force.

Head Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division

7.22 HCRESD is responsible for:

a. supporting VCDF in ensuring the implementation of this policy across the ADF Cadets;

b. monitoring the implementation and application of this policy; and

c. conducting regular and comprehensive reviews of this policy.

Directors-General Cadets

7.23 The Directors-General Cadets are responsible for:

a. supporting their respective Service Chiefs in ensuring the implementation of this policy in their respective Service's cadet force;

b. supporting their respective Service Chiefs in ensuring that any relevant Single Cadet Force Policy and single cadet force procedures are consistent with this policy; and

c. ensuring that all ADF Cadets personnel are aware of their obligations under this policy.

7.24 The Directors-General Cadets are respectively the Authorisation Officers and risk owners for official organisational communication, including social media communications, on behalf of ANC, AAC and AAFC, aimed at brand management and command responsibilities.

ADFC Commanding Officers

7.25 ADFC Commanding Officers are responsible for:

a. performing the functions given to ADFC Commanding Officers by this policy;

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b. ensuring that Non-Defence Personnel comply with this policy, and that their participation is conditional upon such compliance; and

c. ensuring that all ADF Cadets personnel enrolled in or appointed to their unit are aware of the obligations imposed on them by this policy.

DELEGATIONS

7.26 Service Chiefs may delegate their functions under this policy.

7.27 Directors-General Cadets may delegate their functions under this policy.

MONITORING AND REPORTING

7.28 CRESD is responsible for monitoring the operation of and compliance with this policy.

7.29 The following incidents must be reported through the chain of command:

a. all incidents of use of social media by ADF Cadets personnel in contravention of this policy;

b. all incidents of cyberbullying involving ADF Cadets personnel;

c. any negative, disparaging or inaccurate content about the ADF Cadets in social media; and

d. any unauthorised online use of the intellectual property of the ADF Cadets, including any trade marks, logos, slogans, patents, designs, or copyright materials.

7.30 ADF Cadets personnel who have reasonable grounds to believe that there has been or may have been an incident of child pornography or child abuse involving ADF Cadets personnel, or to whom such an incident is reported, must report the matter to the relevant child protection authority and to the chain of command, in accordance with Reporting Child Abuse Incidents (Annex C).

IMPLEMENTATION

7.31 The joint ADF Cadets policies contained within Part 3 of YOUTHPOLMAN supersede all relevant extant single Cadet Force policies on the matters to which it relates, and in the event of any inconsistency joint ADF Cadets policies prevail over single Cadet Force policies.

RELATED POLICY

7.32 Other applicable Defence policies include, but are not limited to:

Defence: Dl(G) ADMIN 08-1-Pubfic comment and dissemination of official information by Defence personnel

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Dl(G) ADMIN 45-2-The management and reporting of notifiable incidents

Dl(G) CIS 6-1-001-Appropriate and inappropriate use of Information and Communications Technology Resources

Dl(G) PERS 35-3-Management and reporting of unacceptable behaviour

Defence Manual : Defence Security Manual, Part 1- Protective Security Policy and Part 2:54-lnternet content

Defence Records Management Policy Manual

Youth Policy Manual, Part 3-ADF Cadets-Social Media Australian Navy Cadets

ADF Cadets- Social Media Australian Army Cadets

ADF Cadets- Social Media Australian Air Force Cadets

RELATED LEGISLATION

Commonwealth Legislation:

The Air Force Act 1923

Archives Act 1983

The Defence Force Discipline Act 1982

The Defence ACT 1903

The Crimes Act 1914

The Criminal Code Act 1995

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Telecommunications Offences and other Measures) (No. 2) Act 2004

Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956

The Naval Defence Act 191 O

The Public SeNice Act 1999

Cadet Forces Regulations 2013

Annexes: 7 A Guidance for ADF Cadets Personnel for the use of social media 78 Reporting Child Abuse Incidents

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