Direct link: digital.gov.au/policy/digital-experience/digital-inclusion-standard
Responsible agency: Digital Transformation Agency
Last updated: 28 October 2024
The Digital Inclusion Standard is part of a suite of standards and guidance that support the Digital Experience Policy. It sets requirements for Commonwealth entities to consider the diverse needs of all users when designing digital services. Designing inclusive digital services enhances interaction between government and the public and ensures that no users will be left behind.
The Data and Digital Government Strategy sets a 2030 vision for the Australian Government to deliver simple, secure, and connected public services, for all people and business, through world class data and digital capabilities. The Digital Inclusion Standard supports this vision by ensuring entities consider the diverse needs of their users and design for them from the outset.
The Digital Inclusion Standard applies to new public and staff facing services from 1 January 2025 and existing public facing services from 1 January 2026.
Services owned by non-corporate Commonwealth entities must meet the Digital Inclusion Standard.
Access the standard
The digital.gov.au website hosts the Digital Inclusion Standard (full text).
The criteria
Agencies must meet these 5 criteria to ensure digital services are inclusive and accessible:
- Embrace diversity – design for diverse needs from the outset, exercising co-design and applying cohort specific considerations.
- Motivate digital use – understand the motivations of your audience, communicate the benefits of adopting a digital channel and ensure that said channel is easy to use.
- Protect users – establish and maintain a safe digital environment that counters scams and misinformation and provides transparency and a feedback mechanism.
- Make it accessible – comply with all current legislation and standards relating to accessibility and ensure from the outset that your service is accessible.
- Provide flexibility and choice – create seamless experiences between service delivery channels and provide flexibility and choice for how users engage with digital services.