Accessibility Standard

The Accessibility standard directs Victorian Government Departments and Agencies to make their websites compliant version 2.0 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0)

Consistent User Elements Standard

The consistent user elements standard provides for consistent branding of websites and layout of common components, which contributes to a consistent experience for users of websites.

Content Ownership, Approval and Review Standard

Citizens, businesses and other organisations rely on information published on Victorian Government websites to keep them informed and to help them make decisions. This standard requires departments and agencies to consider the above content checkpoints and develop strong content management processes to ensure they are observed at all times.

Discoverability Standard

Discoverability is the degree to which something can be easily found and/or navigated. Ensuring websites are discoverable can have considerable benefits, including: a better web experience for users through efficient, targeted access to information and services; increased traffic to the website from external search engines, portals and other websites; and a means to consistently describe information and services, eg., metadata.

Domain Names and Allocation Standard

A domain name is a unique name used to identify a resource, e.g. a website. Readable, contextual domain names reinforce the intent of the resource and provide users with a useful mnemonic for continued use. Managed domain name allocation ensures a consistent, best‐practice approach to resource naming and that users can readily identify when they are interacting with a genuine Victorian Government resource.

Information Architecture (Structure, Classification & Navigation) Standard

Victorian Government departments/agencies must develop and maintain: a documented information architecture (IA) strategy which describes, justifies and provides a strategic direction for the IA of their portfolio of websites; and/or documented IA plans for each individual website within their portfolio.

Legal Compliance Standard

Victorian Government departments and agencies will ensure that website content, services and processes are aligned with departmental/agency and government legal compliance practices, to protect the rights and interests of citizens and manage operational risks.

Minimum Information Provision Standard

The Minimum Information Provision standard specifies the minimum information that must be made available by Victorian Government websites to meet these expectations and requirements.

Privacy Standard

The Privacy Standard provides direction to Victorian Government Departments and Agencies to ensure that website content, services and processses conform to Victorian privacy legislation and principles.

Victorian Government Website Standards Compliance Checklist

Below is the list of Victorian Government website standards requirements presented as a checklist.

Web Analytics Standard

At a minimum, all public-facing websites must implement the tracking code for the Whole of Victorian Government (WoVG) analytics account. The WoVG analytics account uses a single supplier (currently Google Analytics) to allow Victorian Government website statistics to be tracked consistently, and to be aggregated into a portfolio view. The supplier chosen is either a free or near‐free service, or is subject to normal Government procurement. A WoVG approach to web analytics will provide consistent information to central agencies that track the government's web portfolio as a whole, as well as providing all Victorian Government website owners with comparable metrics to evaluate their usage and performance.

Whole of Victorian Government Website Standards: Overview

The Victorian Government has issued a number of website standards to assist Victorian Government agencies in providing accessible and usable information services to the citizens of Victoria.

Standard on Privacy and Web Analytics

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, This standard takes effect on January 31, 2013. "... This standard applies to the collection, use, disclosure, retention and disposal of personal information for the purpose of carrying out Web analytics on external public-facing Government of Canada websites in a manner consistent with the provisions in Appendix A of this standard... This standard applies regardless of which tracking technologies or services are being used for purposes of Web analytics..."

New Zealand Government Web Toolkit

Owned and maintained by Government Information Services, Department of Internal Affairs, New Zealand Government. "The Web Toolkit replaces the old Web Standards website. It provides guidance, tips, and strategic advice on how to effectively use the online channel..."

Enterprise Operational Standard: Web Design - in pdf format (447kb)

(This document requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader). As developed by the Web Design Workgroup, Iowa Department of Administrative Services, March 13, 2012. "The purpose of the State of Iowa Web Design Standard is to: - Reinforce Iowa.gov identity and make it clear to users they are on an Iowa Executive Branch site; - Provide consistency and continuity in website appearance - Improve the quality, usability and accessibility of State web sites and services for the public; - Ensure that critical state links appear on all agency sites; - Integrate agency sites, web applications and the portal, to support the "one government" approach and move away from bureaucratic separation of information; - Increase efficiency of website development and management by agencies..."

A Security Analysis of Next Generation Web Standards

ENISA, July 31, 2011. "The web browser is arguably the most security-critical component in our information infrastructure. It has become the channel through which most of our information passes. ENISA is seizing a unique chance to make detailed recommendations for improvements to browser security before they become non-negotiable for years to come. The standards which govern the browser are currently undergoing a major upgrade. This includes HTML5, cross-origin communication standards such as CORS and standards for access to local data such as geo-location. In total 51 security threats and issues are identified and detailed in this report..."

W3C Cheat Sheet

"The W3C Cheat Sheet is an open source tool freely available for Web developers. It provides quick access to useful information from a variety of specifications published by W3C, the leading international Web standards community..."

On Measurement Standards

by Josh Chasin. Online Metrics Insider, December 16, 2008. "At the Interactive Advertising Bureau's Audience Measurement Leadership Forum this past Monday, its Audience Measurement Reach Guidelines document was released for public comment. This document, over 18 months in the making and a joint initiative between the IAB and the Media Research Council, goes a long way in helping sort out the differences in methods different sources use to count and report on Internet audiences..."

Web Developer Guidelines

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2008. "Web Development presents all guidelines for developing and maintaining web pages and websites to the required standards of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). A separate Web Developer Quality Assurance checklist (XLS - 327KB) document is available for download that should be used to check compliance with these requirements and which is needed for manual reporting back to the department's Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration Unit (KSCU) to show compliance to the standards. Web Development comprises an exhaustive list of guidelines broken down by web component focus, each of which individually link to further information on what the guideline is and how to implement it..."

Website Standards, Guidelines and Checklists

Western Australia, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Office of e-Government, March 2008. The Website Standards and Guidelines suite of documents include: Website Principles; Website Standards: Common Website Elements; Guidelines for State Government Websites; Self-assessment Website Standards Checklist: Common Website Elements; Self-assessment Website Guidelines Checklist...

Website Governance Framework

Western Australia, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Office of e-Government, April 2008. "The Website Governance Framework (the Framework) for Western Australian (WA) Government Websites provides WA Government agencies with a consistent approach to the management and delivery of information and services to citizens and business in the online environment... The Framework applies to all WA Government agencies, and consists of the following components. These components will assist agencies to implement the Framework. [Documents include:] Website Governance and Management Process; Website Domain Name Policy & Implementation Guide; Website Business Plan; Website Standards, Guidelines and Compliance Checklists; Website Evaluation and Reporting Guide; Online Website Registration System..."

2: The history of the Internet and the web, and the evolution of web standards

By Mark Norman Francis. dev.opera, 8 July 2008. "... Everything has to begin somewhere, so our journey will start with a focused history lesson. Below I am going to give you a brief overview of the creation of the Internet, the World Wide Web, and the "web standards" that this entire series focuses upon..."

1: Introduction to The Web Standards Curriculum/Table of Contents

By Chris Mills. dev.opera, 8 July 2008. "This is Article 1—the first article in the Web Standards Curriculum... "... the Web Standards Curriculum, a course designed to give anyone a solid grounding in web design/development, no matter who they are—it is completely free to use, accessible, and assumes no previous knowledge..."

PAS 124:2008 Defining, implementing and managing website standards: A statement of best practice

The British Standards Institution, 2008. "PAS 124 Defining, implementing and managing website standards: A statement of best practice is a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) that has been developed by Magus in collaboration with The British Standards Institution (BSI). PAS 124 provides guidance for best practice in defining, implementing and managing website standards in companies and organizations. This PAS is aimed at public and private organizations with public websites, intranets or extranets, specifically: Organizations considering, planning, or in the process of developing website standards; Organizations with existing website standards wishing to align themselves with best practice methodologies..."

Government Web Standards [New Zealand]

State Services Commission. "The intent of this wiki is to provide a collaborative website where anyone who is interested in the New Zealand Government Web Standards and Recommendations and Web Standards compliance can share knowledge and make suggestions on the future development of the Standards... There are two ways to use this wiki: 1. Browse the New Zealand Government Web Standards and Recommendations (including testing tips, good examples and discussion); 2. Register as a wiki user and start asking questions, adding useful information, and suggesting changes to the Standards..."

The Web Guidelines quality model

Web Guidelines for Government in The Netherlands (version 1.2), February 2007. "For creating web sites, internationally recognized agreements exist in the form of Web standards. Application of these standards provide a significantly better website. The Netherlands government has brought these international standards together in a quality model called the Web Guidelines. They include 125 quality requirements in order to achieve better government websites..."

Toward More Transparent Government: Advance Notice of Workshop

W3C, 30 March 2007. "W3C plans a Workshop Toward More Transparent Government co-sponsored by the Web Science Research Initiative (WSRI) on 18-19 June 2007 in Washington, D.C., USA, hosted by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Attendees will help to find ways of facilitating the deployment of Web standards across eGovernment sites, to help shape ongoing research in the development of Web technology and public policy, in order to realize the potential of the Web for access to, and use of, government information. A Call for Participation is expected in a few weeks..."