Community Rules and Meetup Participation Guidelines

Meetup Rules & Participation Agreement

Welcome to Shibari Mid North Coast.

Our meetups are adult community gatherings for people aged 18 and over, created for people to connect, learn, practise rope and share knowledge in a respectful, inclusive and safety-conscious environment

Shibari Mid North Coast is an informal community of individuals who voluntarily come together to share knowledge, practice and social connection around shibari. It is not an incorporated association, company, business or professional training organisation. No membership fee is charged and no person is paid for facilitating or participating in the meetups.

By attending our events, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old and understand that our gatherings involve discussions, demonstrations and practice of Shibari, including rope, physical connection and consent-based interactions. You also agree to follow our community guidelines and contribute to creating a respectful and supportive space for everyone.

Materials to get familiar with before your first meetup

• Safety
• Consent
• Rope bottom guide

This is a Non-Sexual Community Space

Our meetups are non-sexual community gatherings focused on shibari as rope art, practice, learning and connection. Sexual activity is not permitted at meetups.

Shibari can involve trust, vulnerability, physical contact and emotional responses. Everyone experiences rope differently, and we ask all participants to respect their own boundaries and the boundaries of others.

Consent & Respect

Consent is essential in every interaction.

Always ask before touching another person, their rope, equipment or belongings.

Respect a "no", hesitation or change of mind immediately.

Do not assume consent based on someone's previous interactions or participation.

Respect people's names, identities, experience levels and personal boundaries.

You are always welcome to watch, socialise or participate. Participation is never expected.

Consent to one activity, person or interaction does not constitute consent to any other activity, person or interaction.

Safety & Personal Responsibility

Shibari and rope activities involve inherent risks, including physical discomfort, rope marks, restricted movement, nerve compression, circulation issues, falls, emotional responses or injury.

By participating, you acknowledge that:

• I am responsible for making my own decisions about whether and how I participate.
• I acknowledge related risks can include: falls; loss of balance; rope failure; equipment failure; nerve compression; impaired circulation; positional injury; skin injury; and psychological/emotional distress.
• You should only participate in activities you feel comfortable with.
• I understand that I may pause, modify or stop an interaction at any time, without needing to justify that decision.
• I will communicate relevant limitations or considerations that I reasonably believe may affect my safety or that of my partner.
• Organisers and volunteer facilitators help maintain the community rules and may intervene where they observe or become aware of a safety or conduct concern. They cannot supervise every interaction, assess every participant's competence or make decisions on a participant's behalf, and they do not guarantee the safety of any particular activity or interaction.

Rope Practice

Practise within your own experience level.

Ask for guidance when unsure. Do not undertake techniques beyond your current knowledge, experience or ability to manage the associated risks.

Suspension and other higher-risk techniques must only be undertaken by people who have the knowledge, practical experience and skills necessary to assess and manage the risks involved. Participants must not undertake a technique merely because another person suggests or encourages it.

Avoid interrupting an interaction unnecessarily. However, anyone may speak up or intervene if they reasonably believe there is an immediate safety or consent concern.

Privacy & Photography

Our community values trust and discretion.

No photography or recording without clear permission from everyone visible in the image or video.

Consent to be photographed or recorded at one event does not constitute consent to publication or distribution elsewhere.

Do not share photos, videos or personal information about other participants without their consent.

If someone asks not to be photographed, respect their request.

When in doubt, ask first.

Community Behaviour

We expect everyone to contribute to a respectful environment.

The following behaviours are not permitted at our meetups::

• Disrespectful, discriminatory or harmful behaviour.
• Unwanted touching or interactions.
• Ignoring someone's boundaries or consent.
• Aggressive, threatening or inappropriate behaviour.

If concerns arise, please speak with an organiser.  A person may be asked to stop participating or leave a meetup where organisers reasonably believe their behaviour presents a safety, consent or community-conduct concern.

Organisers may refuse participation or future attendance where reasonably necessary to protect participants or the community.

Agreement

By submitting this agreement and attending a Shibari Mid North Coast meetup, I confirm that:

• I am 18 years of age or older.
• I have read and agree to follow the Shibari Mid North Coast Community Rules and Meetup Participation Guidelines.
• I understand that these rules apply to me whenever I participate in a Shibari MNC meetup.
• I have read, or otherwise familiarised myself with, the provided safety and consent information and understand that I am responsible for asking questions if I do not understand something.
• I understand that shibari involves physical contact, physical risks and potentially emotional responses, and that my participation is voluntary.
• I understand that our meetups are non-sexual community events focused on rope practice, learning and connection.
• I agree to respect consent, personal boundaries and the safety of other participants, and to follow the community rules.
• I understand that Shibari Mid North Coast does not currently maintain public liability, personal accident or other insurance for meetup participants. Participants should not assume that their participation, personal property, injuries or activities are covered by insurance provided by the community, organisers or facilitators.

Your name and email address are collected solely for community administration, participation records and communication relating to Shibari MNC. They will not be shared with third parties except where required by law or reasonably necessary for the operation of the meetup.