The Australian Government Information Management Office Archive

Better Practice Examples

Accessibility

Making resources accessible to those with disabilities or with technological constraints, and the provision of resources to facilitate access to the Internet

Overview

Ensuring that all citizens can fully participate in the information economy is a high priority for the Australian Government. The ability to access this technology is increasingly important for full participation in economic, political and social life. 

Barriers to access may involve economic, social or educational issues. The division between those with the means to access the Internet and those without is known as the  'digital divide'.   Citizens with disabilities or those relying on outdated technology may face additional challenges in accessing online services.  While a range of whole of government strategies are in place to facilitate access to Information Technology, government departments and agencies are also taking an active role in helping to ensure that clients can access their online services. 

To help agencies ensure that online services are accessible to users with disabilities or technical constraints, Australian Government departments and agencies are required to adopt the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.  The Guidelines are widely recognised internationally, and have the support of Australia's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), disability groups and rural groups.

Examples of Better Practice

Providing Physical Access

Australian Government

• The Australian Libraries Gateway provides links to libraries with Internet access.

Other Australian Governments

• The access@schools program from Multimedia Victoria targets groups of concern and provides alternative means of access to these groups. The 'connecting communities' program ensures greater access to the Internet to students at one hundred and forty six schools throughout Victoria. The program is expected to provide twelve thousand Victorians in rural and remote areas with sixty thousand hours of Internet access. 

Making websites accessible to users with disabilities or with technical constraints

Australian Government

• Product Recalls Australia This website is compliant with the highest rating of accessibility (AAA) according to the W3C accessibility guidelines.
• Ausaid 
• Department of Health and Aged Care HealthInsite
• Centrelink 

Other Australian Governments

• ACT Department of Community Care 

Nominate a better practice example/provide comments this page

Do you know of an example of better practice? If you wish to nominate your example, please forward the details to the Better Practice Team.

Contact details

Contact the AGIMO Better Practice Team with your comments or contributions.