Publication Date: 29 November 2002

Policy
OT AUSTRALIA NSW maintains its website to enhance member and non-member (including health consumer) access to a broad range of occupational therapy-related information and resources. All linkage requests are considered by OT AUSTRALIA NSW under this policy.

The inclusion of an external link on the OT AUSTRALIA website does not constitute endorsement of the information, products or services available on the website to which the external link refers.

The inclusion of the OT AUSTRALIA NSW URL (website address) as an external link on any website that is not controlled by OT AUSTRALIA NSW does not constitute endorsement of the information, products or services available on that website.

A disclaimer to the effect of this policy will be included on the OT AUSTRALIA NSW website.

Linkage to commercial enterprises that have occupational therapists as customers is usually undertaken as paid advertising. Refer to the separate policy 'ADVERTISING: Paid advertising in the Newsletter and Website'.

Outcome
Members report that the OT AUSTRALIA NSW website facilitates linkage to other useful information via internet links. Links are appropriate and beneficial to OT AUSTRALIA NSW.

Procedure
Linkage
Website users use hyperlinks to navigate within a site, or to move from one site to another. Technology enables hyperlinks to be established between the OT AUSTRALIA NSW website and other related websites (outbound), and from other websites to the OT AUSTRALIA NSW website (inbound).

Outbound Linkage
All outbound external links must open in a new browser window, to ensure that content from another site is not presented or represented as content from OT AUSTRALIA NSW. Website content is fluid and changeable. For this reason, the inclusion of an external link on the OT AUSTRALIA website does not constitute endorsement of, or responsibility for, the information, products or services available on the website to which the external link refers.

Requests for an outbound linkage from the OT AUSTRALIA NSW website are considered using the following criteria:

A. Type of organisation	Weighting
Government	5
Not for profit educational institutions and organisations	3
Private (for profit) educational institutions and organisations	0
B. Relevance to occupational therapy practice	Weighting
Highly relevant	5
Relevant	4
Some relevance	2
Irrelevant	0
C. Potential for members to benefit professionally from the external link	Weighting
Very beneficial	5
Somewhat beneficial	3
Not beneficial	0
D. Congruence with OT AUSTRALIA NSW Mission and Goals	Weighting
Is congruent	10
Not congruent	0
E. Originator of the request	Weighting
Current member	5
Past member	3
Non-member	0

Linkage to commercial enterprises that have occupational therapists as customers is usually undertaken as paid advertising.

Inbound Linkage
Websites may link to the OT AUSTRALIA NSW website as follows:

1. There must be no inference, indication or statement that might cause a person to believe that OT AUSTRALIA NSW endorses, is affiliated with or sponsors the information, products or services available on the linking website. This includes the opening of any part of the OT AUSTRALIA NSW website within any frame of a website that is not the OT AUSTRALIA NSW website, or in any other way that is likely to mislead users.
2. Linkage must be to the URL of the OT AUSTRALIA NSW website - http://www.otnsw.com.au

Disclaimer
The following disclaimer is to be published on the OT AUSTRALIA NSW website: "Links connecting this site with other sites are provided as a service to users of its web site for convenience only and do not mean that OT AUSTRALIA NSW endorses or approves those other sites, their content or the people who run them. This website is linked to other websites over which we have no control. We make no representations about the accuracy of information contained on the linked websites. We are not liable for content on those websites. Links to this site are permitted but OT AUSTRALIA NSW reserves the right to prevent linking by giving notice."