GC TechSpace
New Members Guide
Visit gctechspace.org for more information.
Revision: August 20, 2025
¶ Welcome
Welcome aboard!
You’ve just joined up to Gold Coast’s largest community workshop and collective of makers. We hope you’ll love honing your craft while saving money on tools and equipment as much as we do.
We’re delighted to welcome you into our community of like-minded makers and builders. Make the most of it: ask, learn, grow and tap into the collective skills across our membership.
This booklet will act as your guide after induction. It includes our ways of working and tips on how to make the most of your experience at Gold Coast TechSpace!
Once you’re ready to become a member please head over to: gctechspace.org/members/ and book in for one of our Wednesday open night tours.
Happy Making!
¶ Building Map, Fire and Evacuation Information:
- Main Room - Shared area, booked for Wednesday Open Nights
- Makerspace - 3D printers, Electronics, etc
- Common Chill-out area
- Kitchen
- Toilets
- Community Room - Shared area
- Quiet Room - Free to use by members
- Shed
- Storage - for members
¶ Evacuation Point
¶ First Aid Kits
¶ Fire Extinguishers
¶ First visit?
Normally your first visit will be on one of our Wednesday open night tours. Introduce yourself and let us know what you’d like to learn and what skills you have. The best way to get to know other people is to ask them what they’re working on. This works both in person and online.
Please keep in mind that some members may be busy working on their own projects and may be unavailable for long conversations or technical help. Please use common sense when interrupting someone that is halfway through a project.
While members love to help others with their own projects or technical challenges, we are not here to “build” your projects or “write” your code for you. Requests for help or guidance around certain topics is more than welcome.
¶
Join Slack
Use this invite to Slack or you've been provided a link by another member (Slack Invite). Slack is our preferred method of communication. Keep messages in the #general channel short and sweet to reduce noise, and please chat in any of the other channels dedicated to topics such as 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, Events, Jobs, Random, Robotics and many more. Find these by clicking on the 'Channels' list.
¶ Connect to the Wi-Fi
The Wi-Fi password changes from time to time, and will be provided when the financial member attends the TechSpace.
Guests or non-financial members will need to connect to the guest network, which does not have a password (subject to change).
¶ About GCTechSpace
Gold Coast TechSpace (GCTechSpace) is an open, community-based, hackerspace, makerspace, learning centre and pre-incubator focusing on technology. We exist to promote technology on the Gold Coast by providing a real location where people of all ages and experience can get together to help each other, learn tech, develop innovative tech, and ultimately for some to commercialise the tech products that they develop.
If you have questions not addressed in this manual, visit gctechspace.org or email [email protected]
¶ GCTechSpace Culture
GCTechSpace strives to promote an open and welcoming culture. We like the fact that we're a public resource for the community. To keep this kind of openness in our community, it takes a little more effort in a social sense to keep things running smoothly. Being part of an open community can be a challenge sometimes. Try to display a little extra politeness, a little extra patience, a little extra cleanliness and a little extra friendliness.
Our primary policy is “be excellent to each other.” If you're not being excellent to your other members, expect to get called out for it. And if you don't know whether something you're doing is excellent or not, odds are it isn't.
We have also made a specific commitment in our Safe Space Policy to call out oppressive, discriminative or degrading behaviour. Please make sure to be aware of what you're saying and to whom.
¶ Guests
Members may bring up to two guests on site outside of visitor hours. However during visiting hours on Wednesday open nights from 7:30PM you’re encouraged to bring all your friends! A paying member's guests must not use any tools or machinery that require an induction. Guests must also be directly supervised (i.e., standing next to) by you. You’re also responsible for anything they do, so make sure they behave appropriately.
¶ Organisation
GCTechSpace is a non-profit organisation. We collect dues from our membership to pay rent, utilities, insurance and maintenance of the space. Any funds left over are used for tools and consumables for GCTechSpace. GCTechSpace has a committee that fulfil the roles required by Australian Incorporation law and oversee the operation of the space. All the executives are volunteers and can be contacted by emailing [email protected]
¶ Regular Events
GCTechSpace has an Open Night tour every Wednesday at 7:30PM. This is the best time to come by the space to find out what's happening and to meet our community. We keep a calendar of other upcoming meetings and events at https://www.gt2gthr.com/techspace/.
¶ Children
Due to the nature of GCTechSpace’s environment (and the extra precaution required), unattended minors under the age of 18 are prohibited from GCTechSpace, except when accompanied by a legal guardian at all times or a specific event (specifically communicated accepting ‘under 18’ attendance).
Although GCTechSpace allows accompanied minors, keep in mind that we do not make any effort to maintain a kid-friendly environment. They are present entirely at your own discretion and are entirely your responsibility.
¶ Do-ocracy
Because we’re all volunteers here, we have a “do-ocracy” policy. If you want something done, be it improvements, fixing infrastructure, etc. you’re encouraged to just do it yourself.
However, keep in mind that others may already have plans in place so please check with a few members first to avoid upsetting someone.
¶ General Membership, Probation and Payments Policy
GCTechSpace operates on a monthly or yearly membership period. Your membership fees are due based on the terms outlined in the invoice, and must be paid for in advance. At the treasurer's discretion, your site access will be disabled if you don’t make payment on time and your membership can be terminated if you become 14 days or more in arrears.
All new members enter a probation period of 3 months before the committee will allow the keycard or digital door activation. Membership may be cancelled if a person is deemed unsuitable during this probation period, based on the terms outlined in this document and on our website. Please contact the committee for any clarification.
If your site access is disabled, you must give the treasurer written notice of your payment and intention to renew membership. It may take up to five (5) business days for your payment to clear in our systems and site access to be enabled again. You are not allowed to visit or use any GCTechSpace facilities until your site access is enabled again. Attempting to gain entry to GCTechSpace or our facilities without having site access granted to you will be treated as trespassing and dealt with as such.
To sign up please talk to a committee member; we can run you through the process and provide the documents that need signing. More details are available here: https://gctechspace.org/members/
¶ Site Modifications and Electrical Work Policy
Whilst we do encourage our “do-ocracy” policy, we do need some oversight into permanent modifications to our premises. If you want to do anything like install a new shelf, paint a wall, etc. you must follow this policy. You are also prohibited from doing any sort of electrical work to GCTechSpace premises. You must be a licensed electrician and be specifically approved by the landlord or site manager.
Ticket (Green, Orange & Red) System
The ticket system at GCTechSpace is there to help bring some semblance of control to the utter chaos that makerspaces tend to be. In short we have green parking permits, red parking tickets, and orange “borked or broken” tickets.
Green tickets are required to leave your project outside of a designated storage area. Red tickets are left on things that don’t belong where they are, such as unticketed projects or mess. Orange tickets are placed on tools or machinery which are broken or not working correctly.
¶ Dings
Occasionally members may do something that isn’t excellent (whether intentionally or not). Any member is able to “ding” another person for doing something that isn’t excellent such as leaving a mess or violating a policy. You can ding someone simply by calling them out, whether that’s in person or online. However, for a ding to be officially recorded, it must be posted in the #members-lounge Slack channel. All dings must include reasonable proof and constructive criticism on how to improve.
¶ Bans & Dispute Resolution
For more serious incidents, it’s best to contact the executive directly and they can issue a temporary (or permanent) ban if the situation requires it. If you get a ban, you aren’t allowed on site other than to collect belongings. Breaches of this are treated very seriously.
Bans aren’t issued often, but are sometimes needed for more serious violations of our policies, or other behaviour. The executive can issue bans of any length and for any reason.
For very serious incidents, such as physical violence or repeatedly violating our policies, a long-term or permanent ban may be issued. All membership fees are forfeited for the time you are banned.
¶ Health & Safety
Safety is the responsibility of each and every person at GCTechSpace. You are especially responsible for your own safety, but if you see others being unsafe, tell them!
It should go without saying, but if you don't know how to use a tool, don't use it! If you want to learn how to use a tool, ask around, and wait for someone to teach you! If you're alone in the space, it is advisable to refrain from using dangerous tools/machinery.
A lot of GCTechSpace tools require induction, special training or safety equipment before use. Please check with committee before using tools.
First aid kits, a defibrillator (AED) and fire extinguishers are located on the building map. Make yourself aware of the location of fire extinguishers, they should all be in plain sight.
There are two breaker boxes in the Makerspace. One is inside near the front of the main room, and the other is locked by council on the outside of the building. Please contact committee if a breaker box needs to be accessed.
¶ Risks and Warnings
GCTechSpace is an ever-changing environment full of wonderful tools and equipment. Some of these tools, equipment and activities are VERY DANGEROUS AND WILL HARM OR KILL YOU if used incorrectly, without training or safety gear or if a malfunction occurs.
On occasion attendees to GCTechSpace will bring their own tools, equipment or consumables. All care is taken to provide a safe environment at GCTechSpace, however not all activities, tools and equipment can be supervised at all times.
Unsafe actions are handled via our Dings and Bans policy, available via the website.
Members, visitors and guests will be asked to sign a Liability Waiver.
¶ Consumables
For most activities, you should plan to bring your own consumables. GCTechSpace has an ample supply of basic needs, but anything large or specialised will not likely be found at the space.
All small parts in the electronics parts containers in the makerspace are free to paying members. The drawers contain resistors, capacitors, LEDs, and some semiconductors. The drawers are labelled and contain items such as tape, glue, zip-ties, soldering equipment and hot-glue.
¶ Donations
GCTechSpace is a non-profit and will accept your donations of equipment or money. We accept all electromechanical and electronic equipment if it will be useful for the space and our members. We probably don’t want your box of old printer cables, but feel free to ask.
Keep in mind that we are not an e-waste dumping site and we have to pay for proper disposal of anything we don't use. We only accept equipment donations that are usable (or in a few cases for large equipment, easily repairable and worth repairing).
¶ Storage
We provide limited on-site storage for small items to Members so you don't have to carry everything related to your projects to & from the space every time you visit. This is in the form of tubs and small lockable cabinets in the makerspace.
Keep in mind that this storage is only available if you're a paid-up member, and if your membership lapses your items may be removed and discarded to the boneyard or bins.
¶ Bins
If you notice a bin is getting full then please change it. Please double check the bins before using them. We have an e-waste bin and it’s disappointing when pizza scraps get thrown in there. Use the recycling bin for recycling items only. We also have a ‘bottles and cans only' bin, clearly marked so we can recycle these locally. Ask around if you need help.
¶ Security
All members have a responsibility to ensure GCTechSpace stays secure. Never swipe your card or provide access to others and make sure you follow the closing up procedure if you’re the last to leave.
¶ Important Links / Email / Contacts
Policies: gctechspace.org/members/
Contact Email: [email protected]
Emergency Phone Numbers: Dave 0419 749 893
¶ Closing Up Checklist
It is important that GCTechSpace remains a secure site. If you’re the last person leaving, you must make sure the site is fully secure. If you’ve been using the shed / laser cutter, and are the last one to leave that area, you must lock it up.
When leaving, you should do the following things:
- Close all windows and doors, including the shed.
- Ensure all windows and doors are firmly latched by physically turning the handle, latch, etc.
- Ensure the key code doors are locked behind you.
- Ensure the bathroom and toilet areas are clear and there are no people still using the facilities.
- Ensure all lights, fans and air conditioners are switched off.
- Ensure all tools, equipment and appliances are turned off at the wall. (except for computers, fridges etc)
¶ Access Information
Immediately after your induction, you will receive an invoice. After you pay the invoice, and your payment clears, you will enter a 3 month probation period. You will receive an email notification when this happens. If you don’t receive an invoice, email [email protected]
After the probation period your card and digital access will become activated and will let you open doors at the space.
We may offer an expedited probation period for certain people, please contact the committee for clarification.
- Always carry your access card or device on your person, including bathroom trips etc. If a door accidentally closes you might become locked out.
- Don’t mark your card with anything that relates to GCTechSpace for security reasons. We don’t want people knowing where to use your card if it’s lost or stolen.
- Your access card or digital device is required to:
- access doors, machinery and tools
- verify your membership (you may be asked to swipe it at a door to check you’re an active member)
- If you lose your card or digital device, tell us immediately so we can deactivate it. Otherwise, you may be liable for anything that happens.
- If you lose your card there may be a $10 fee to be issued a new one.
- Don’t cut, scratch, bend or damage your card.
- External doors have RFID swipe readers except for the shed.
Visit gctechspace.org for more information.