Australia Voice is committed to making its digital content accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. This Accessibility Statement outlines our ongoing efforts to ensure our website, operated by Harbour Bridge Media Pty Ltd (ACN 612 345 678), meets the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA as the practical standard for Australian digital publishers. Our goal is to deliver trustworthy Australian journalism in a format that is usable by everyone, regardless of ability or assistive technology.
Who is responsible for accessibility at Australia Voice?
Ultimate responsibility for editorial standards and publication decisions rests with our Editor-in-Chief, James Mitchell (james.mitchell@australiavoice.org, +61 2 5550 1901). Day-to-day oversight of our accessibility work is managed by our Managing Editor, Emma Nguyen, who coordinates with our editorial team to ensure accessibility is embedded in our publishing processes. Harbour Bridge Media Pty Ltd, as the owning company registered at Level 14, 1 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000, supports these efforts through resourcing and policy development.
What accessibility standards does Australia Voice follow?
Australia Voice commits to conforming with WCAG 2.2 Level AA, the current international standard endorsed by the Australian Human Rights Commission (humanrights.gov.au) for compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. We treat this as a baseline, not a ceiling. Our editorial and technical teams work to ensure our pages are perceivable, operable, understandable and robust for users with diverse needs.
How does Australia Voice ensure keyboard navigation works?
All interactive elements on Australia Voice — including links, buttons, forms and media controls — are operable via keyboard alone. Users can navigate the site using the Tab key to move forward through focusable elements and Shift+Tab to move backward. We ensure a visible focus indicator is present on every interactive element, meeting WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.4.11 (Focus Appearance, Level AA). Skip-to-content links are provided at the top of each page to allow direct navigation to the main article area.
What are the known accessibility limitations of this site?
While we strive for comprehensive accessibility, some content on Australia Voice may present challenges. Older articles published before our current accessibility standards were adopted may lack full compliance. Third-party embedded content, such as some interactive graphics or social media widgets, may not be fully accessible. Our editorial team at Contact Us acknowledges these limitations and prioritises remediation for new content. Users experiencing barriers are encouraged to report them to accessibility@australiavoice.org.
How does Australia Voice handle contrast and visual readability?
Text and background colour combinations on Australia Voice are designed to meet WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.4.11 (Non-Text Contrast, Level AA) and 1.4.3 (Contrast Minimum, Level AA). Body text is presented in a readable font size with sufficient line spacing. We avoid using colour alone to convey information, ensuring all users, including those with colour vision deficiencies, can understand the content. The site does not use auto-playing video or audio that would interfere with screen reader navigation.
Does Australia Voice support reduced motion settings?
Yes, Australia Voice respects user system settings for reduced motion. Where animations, scrolling effects or transitions are used for visual design, they are implemented using CSS that respects the prefers-reduced-motion media query. No essential functionality relies on motion or animation. This approach aligns with WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.3.3 (Animation from Interactions, Level AAA, adopted as best practice).
How can users report an accessibility issue or request an alternative format?
Australia Voice welcomes feedback on accessibility. Users can contact us directly via accessibility@australiavoice.org. Our editor, Thomas Walsh, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead (thomas.walsh@australiavoice.org, +61 2 5550 1906), coordinates responses to accessibility reports. If you require content in an alternative format, such as a plain-text version of an article or a transcript of audio content, we will work to provide it within a reasonable timeframe. For formal complaints, please refer to our Complaints Procedure.
What enforcement route exists under Australian law?
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), individuals who experience discrimination due to inaccessible digital content can lodge a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission (humanrights.gov.au). The Commission investigates complaints and facilitates conciliation. Australia Voice works to resolve all reported accessibility issues informally before they reach the Commission. Our Editorial Policy outlines our commitment to non-discriminatory publishing practices.
How often is this policy reviewed?
This Accessibility Statement is reviewed annually by our editorial leadership team, with the next review due in September 2025. Updates are published on this page and communicated through our Newsletter. Harbour Bridge Media Pty Ltd ensures resources are allocated for ongoing accessibility improvements, including staff training and technical auditing.
Our commitments
- We will maintain conformance with WCAG 2.2 Level AA across all new content published on australiavoice.org.
- We will provide a timely response to all accessibility-related inquiries sent to accessibility@australiavoice.org, within five business days.
- We will fix reported accessibility barriers on existing pages within a reasonable timeline, prioritising pages with high user traffic.
- We will include accessibility considerations in all editorial workflow training for writers, editors and technical staff.
- We will publish an annual accessibility report summarising user feedback, remediation actions and compliance status.