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Consistent User Elements Standard
Whole of Victorian Government ICT Standard: Consistent User Elements
Website Management Framework
Identifier: WEB/STD/06
Version No.: 3.1
Original Issue Date: 27 May 2005
Status: Approved
Date of effect: 31 March 2011
Next review date: 31 March 2011
Owner: Government Services Division, Department of Treasury and Finance, Victorian Government
Issuing authority: Government Services Division, Department of Treasury and Finance, Victorian Government
Standard: Consistent User Elements - WEB/STD/06
Standard
Agencies will ensure that websites contain a consistent approach to the presentation of standard information elements by complying with the Consistent User Elements Requirements below.
Requirement
1. All Victorian Government websites must conform to the Victorian Government Website Branding Policy.(1)
2. Primary navigation must be located in a single, consistent location on the far left side of the page design or immediately underneath the header banner.
3. If used, breadcrumb navigation must appear at the top of the content area and contain active links for every breadcrumb except the rightmost, final breadcrumb.
4. Navigation items must not be duplicated. (2)
5. Each web page must contain a descriptive and meaningful title at the top of the content area.
6. Links to the website terms of use, copyright, disclaimer, privacy and accessibility statements must be contained in the website footer only.
7. All web pages must contain a link to the 'About us' page. (3)
8. All web pages must contain a link to the 'Contact us' page. (4)
9. All web pages must contain a link to the website feedback mechanism.
10. All web pages must contain a link to the website site map and/or index.
11. All link types must have consistent colours and behaviour throughout a website.
12. All web pages must contain a human‐readable reference identifying when the page content was last updated, checked or modified. (5)
13. Website search fields must be located in a single, consistent location on the far right hand side of page design, immediately above or underneath or within the header banner.
Overview
Users come to websites with certain expectations of their usability, functionality and presentation. Visitors to Victorian Government websites have a further expectation that these fundamental practices are approached consistently across all Government websites.
This standard sets out to meet these user needs, incorporating specific Victorian Government requirements with common expectations of websites.
Rationale
To provide citizens with a consistent, predictable and satisfying experience when interacting with Victorian Government websites.
Derivation
None
Related principles/ objectives
Citizens can readily find and utilise government information and services online.
In scope
- All departments and four inner budget agencies (VicRoads, Victoria Police, Environment Protection Authority and the State Revenue Office) and CenITex
- All internet sites including channels, portals and subdomains.
Audience
Website Management Taskforces, website managers, content authors, developers and/or anyone responsible for the management of a website.
Compliance Date
From the date of effect of this standard.
Please note that this is a refreshed standard – see the version history for change details.
Reporting Requirements
Annual reporting, using the Government Services Division WMF template (under development).
Guidelines, toolkits and references
Policy: See Communication policies and guidelines on VPS Hub for all communications policies and guidelines, including the Victorian Government Branding Policy.
Further Information
For further information please contact web.standards@dtf.vic.gov.au
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
Breadcrumb(s) - See Breadcrumb navigation.
Breadcrumb navigation - Breadcrumb navigation is a supplementary navigation mechanism composed of a left to right collection of text‐based links where each link (a breadcrumb) is the parent (navigation level) to the proceeding link. Breadcrumb navigation starts at the far left with the home page of the website and ends with the navigation level of the current page. For example, Home > About > Careers > Melbourne. Breadcrumb navigation allows users to: quickly identify their location within a website; and easily navigate website sections without having to use the primary navigation.
Content area - Content areas are web page elements that house and display the respective page's main content. Typically the content area is the largest element of a web page and the primary focus point of users.
Footer - Footers are web page elements positioned below the content area at the bottom of website pages. Footers remain consistent in location and composition throughout a website and typically contain a collection of text and link elements.
Header banner - Header banners are the topmost web page elements that typically display the website name, imagery and any relevant branding. Header banners often span the entire width of the web page design and may vary throughout a website.
Page design - The specific layout and composition of all elements of a web page.
Primary navigation - A persistent menu that allows users to access or navigate to the primary areas of the website.
Usability - Usability is the study of the ease with which people can use a thing, e.g. a website, to achieve a goal. (6)
WMF - Website Management Framework
WoVG - Whole of Victorian Government
Footnotes
1. See Communication policies and guidelines on VPS Hub
2. For example, a link to the About us page should not be found in both the footer and a primary/secondary navigation.
3. As defined by the Minimum Information Provision standard (WEB/STD/09).
4. As defined by the Minimum Information Provision standard (WEB/STD/09).
5. For example, Page last updated: 17 Nov 2010.
6. Adapted from the Wikipedia entry for usability (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usability), accessed 14 July 2010.
Alternative Formats:
The standard is available from the Government Services Division in pdf format (162kb). (This document requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader). .
Related Articles
- 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)
- 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.
- Guideline: Print Friendly
- This guideline provides advice on implementing print friendly web pages as required by the Consistent User Elements standard.
- Proposed Guideline: Structural Elements - Naming Convention
- During July 2006, the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) developed a guideline for a naming convention for the structural elements of a web page (cascading style sheets) that they hope will be taken up by developers across the Victorian State Government to provide structure and consistency when constructing web pages.
- 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.
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