How to create your local Community Matters group

Written on 08/04/2026
Reinhart S

Steps

  1. Request the Powerpoint file, edit the word 'Suburb XYZ'  with your community's name and save as a .jpg file type.
  2. Create the Facebook group (click link) for your community 
  3. Add the joining questions and rules for the group

    1. Build community / be neighbourly

      This group is for building community, so treat others with respect. No personal attacks, insults, or aggressive arguments.

    2. Have Fun & Help Out

      Share, Build, Join, Celebrate, Recommend; news such as a good service provider, a found pet, even offer to lend a hand where it’s needed. Let’s get this right and make our suburb a great place to live.

    3. Stay On Topic

      This group is for local suburb and city news, recommendations, safety alerts, events, lost pets, and help requests. No national politics, spam, chain messages, or daily promotions for businesses (one-off recommendations are fine).

    4.  No Profanity, Hate Speech or Discrimination

      Zero tolerance for profanity, racism, sexism, homophobia, religious attacks, or any exclusionary language.

    5. No Spam or Promo Dumping

      Selling items? Please use local marketplace groups. Excessive self-promotion, affiliate links, or repeated advertising will be removed.

    6. Respect Privacy

      Don’t share screenshots from this group outside without permission. If someone reports a crime or personal issue, avoid speculating or sharing names/addresses publicly.

    7. Keep It Readable & “URGENT:”

      Keep it brief and if sharing an urgent alert, start with “URGENT:” at the top.

    8.  Administrative responsibility

      It is the responsibility of all in the group to keep up to date relevant information, to monitor and request Admin intervention. The decision and action of the Admin(s) is final and should be in the best interests of building community.

    9. One Warning, Then Removal

      Admin will give a friendly reminder first. Repeat or serious violations (hate speech, harassment, doxxing) lead to immediate removal.

    10. Emergencies First

      For example (For life or property-threatening emergencies in City XYZ, Tel 000 000 0000 from a cell-phone or dial 000 from a landline. You can also call 000 from any mobile phone for direct connection to local emergency services) — don’t rely on the group.

  4. Invite your neighbours to join
  5. Invite a trusted person to co-administer with  you
  6. Administer the group and encourage good interaction