Acceptable Use
DanceSport Australia takes every complaint seriously. We treat people who lodge complaints with respect, and we ask the same in return. This page sets out what you can expect from us, and what we ask of you.
Our commitment to you
When you lodge a complaint with DanceSport Australia, we will:
- Listen. Every complaint is read, registered, and given a reference number. Nothing is dismissed without consideration.
- Treat you with respect. Lodging a complaint takes courage. We won't make you feel small for doing so.
- Act fairly. Complaints are reviewed without prejudice and by people free from conflict of interest.
- Keep your complaint confidential, to the extent permitted by law and consistent with the proper investigation of the matter.
- Respond as promptly as we reasonably can, and keep you informed if a matter is taking longer than expected.
- Tell you the outcome — even if the outcome is that no further action will be taken.
What we ask of you
In return, when lodging a complaint we ask that you:
- Be truthful. Tell us what you actually saw, heard, or experienced. Don't embellish, exaggerate, or invent.
- Be specific. Vague or unfocused complaints are harder to investigate.
- Use measured language. Strong emotion is understandable, but abusive or threatening language doesn't strengthen your case — it weakens it.
- Make one complaint about one matter. If you have several distinct concerns, lodge them separately.
- Wait for our reply before lodging again. Repeated submissions about the same matter slow us down for everyone.
What we don't accept
DSA's commitment to handling complaints fairly comes with reasonable limits. The Complaints Portal is not the right place for:
Abusive language
Complaints containing swearing, slurs, insults, or personal attacks. The automatic abuse filter will reject such complaints; the system will ask you to resubmit in measured terms. Strong emotion is understandable — you can convey it without resorting to abusive language.
Threats or intimidation
Threats of violence, defamation, public exposure, or other harm directed at DSA, Members, Administrators, or any other person. Complaints containing threats may be referred to police.
Knowingly false or vexatious complaints
Complaints made without a genuine basis, or lodged for an improper purpose (to harass another Member, to gain a competitive advantage, or to retaliate). Lodging a knowingly false complaint is itself a breach of the DSA Code of Conduct and may result in disciplinary action.
Repeated or vexatious resubmission
Resubmitting the same complaint over and over after it has been considered and answered. We will engage genuinely with new information; we will not re-litigate a matter that has been fairly determined.
What might happen if these limits are crossed
The Administration Team has a graduated response, used proportionately:
In practice, the vast majority of complaints sit comfortably within acceptable use, and the issue never arises. Where the abuse filter does flag something, it's nearly always a Stage 1 conversation — "could you please resubmit, taking out the strong language?" — and the matter is resolved straight away.
A final word
We know that making a complaint can be stressful, and that sometimes you are at the end of your patience by the time you reach out. We understand that, and we don't judge you for it.
If you take a deep breath, gather your facts, and tell us clearly and respectfully what's troubling you, you'll find the Administration Team is ready to listen. That's how the system is meant to work, and it's how it works for almost everyone who uses it.