Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wikihelp?
Wikihelp is a World Wide Web site for free or low-cost help for people in crisis complied by everyone.
A wiki means anyone can edit their own page and improve the content. People editing Wikihelp is known as a wikihelper or editor. Small edits add up and every wikihelper can be proud to have made the site better for all.
How to use Wikihelp?
Search by entering your postcode or suburb/town into the search bar. By clicking search a page will open with a list of services. Click any service on the list to open the page of details. The details page contains active links taking you directly to the organisation's web page and other useful links. You can also gets lists of services by clicking the categories buttons. To return to the main page click the blue wikihelp icon at the top of the page.
What is the disclaimer?
Wiki Help takes no responsibility for information supplied on the website. The information in Wiki Help is compiled by the community.
Wikihelp is only as good as the people that feed information into it therefore it may not contain all the free help available. However, we aim to make it the best place to start looking. We encourage all helping agencies and those knowing about free help to place information in Wikihelp and keep it up to date.
How much does Wikihelp Cost?
It is free of charge. However, donations are required to cover running costs. Donations can any be any amount, generally people donate the value of a coffee.
Where can I complain about an agency or service listed in Wikihelp?
Complain directly to the service in the first instance. You can send a copy of your complaint to Wikihelp. We will help if we can. Note that Wikihelp is not responsible for the quality of the information on the site. Generally,the service operators upload their information into Wikihelp. Please do not deface the page of the agency if you have an issue because this may cause problems for others needing that information.
Site Errors
Please Note we have been experiencing problems with the address bar, To get around this place your address at the top of the Description.
What is Editing and Moderation?
Moderators check the pages for the following:
errors, inappropriate entries, dead pages. Gaps in the information on pages.
A moderator may delete or alter pages to improve the site.
The design and layout of pages may change over time reflecting improvements in Wikihelp.
Who Started Wikihelp?
The website was built as a project by students at Western Sydney University in 2023 from ideas and a database compiled by the founder. The idea was to make a wiki website where anyone can show what help they provide and where anyone seeking help can find information fast and on one site.
How to create your own wikihelp page?
Start by clicking ADD AN ENTRY. Put the name of your organisation in the Service Name box at the top and end the title with the State or territory abreviation eg: NSW. The address must include the post code and country, Fill out the other boxes.
FAX numbers cannot have spaces or brackets, phone number can have spaces and brackets. Then in the big box named 'Describe', put your adress first then hours of operation, then a description of the service and parking availability Is there disability access for wheelchairs and toilets?
You can format the text and upload an image to the page using the tools in the Description tool box.
If your service is available at night mention if there are any special access problems like a bell to ring, or a side door or special phone number to call.
Mention if there are vending machines for food and water. Is there a baby change room or showers and washing machines to use.
Mention if there is a pharmacy on site when adding medical services.
Multiple Entries:
If you want to have more than one entry/page for your service make sure the name of the service is different on each entry to enable the page to load. If you place informtion in a new page with the same Service Name the page will fail by overwriting the previous page with the same Service Name.If your organisation has one name, eg Salvos, make each Service Name different. This can be done by numbering your Service Name, eg: Salvos 1 NSW, Salvos 2 NSW, etc. Always end the Service Name with the State you are in (NSW, VIC, TAS etc) or, Australia, to denote the country as a whole. In the example where numbers are shown you can name the service offered instead, eg laundry, counselling, food etc. Or whatever you are giving free of charge.
Don't forget to put in your full address: John Smith, Free Street, PO Box 1, Freemarket, NSW 2766 Australia. Note where the PO Box goes in the address.
Note: that all the text and numbers on your page are searchable from the main page search bar. To find your page quickly, enter a word or number that is on on your page to bring it up.
If you have any difficulty please email us for help: info.wikihelp@gmail.com
Language
Editors use their own version of English. The Oxford dictionary, Macquarie dictionary and Websters are the usual sources for English spellings and grammar, but we have no preference. An editor may change spellings of words when they alter information on a page. We favour the Macquarie dictionary in Australia where Wikihelp was created.
How to become a Wikihelp moderator
Wikihelp needs moderators. If you have expertese and would like to edit and and add content to the site we would like to hear from you.
We also need help from other volunteers to make the site better.
Donations
Any amount can be donated. Donations are held by our trustee, Mondo Xpress Pty Ltd. All money recieved is used for the development of wikihelp.wiki Mondo Xpress Pty Ltd is an Australian company and is subject to annual auditing and the usual laws on Australian companys.