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Minimum Information Provision Standard
Whole of Victorian Government ICT Standard: Minimum Information Provision
Website Management Framework
Identifier: WEB/STD/09
Version No.: 3.0
Status: Approved
Original Issue Date: 27 April 2005
Date of effect: 31 March 2011
Next review date: 31 March 2013
Owner: Government Services Division, Department of Treasury and Finance, Victorian Government
Issuing authority: Government Services Division, Department of Treasury and Finance, Victorian Government
Standard: Minimum Information Provision - WEB/STD/09
Standard
Agencies will ensure that websites comply with the minimum information provision requirements applicable to each website type, as described in Minimum Information Requirements below.
Requirements - all websites
1. A statement that outlines the purpose of the website on the home page.
2. An 'About us' page that describes the website owner.
3. Copyright, disclaimer, privacy and accessibility statements.
4. A website site map and/or index.
Additional requirements – corporate websites
5. A complete list of legislation the respective agency operates under and/or administers, (1) accompanied by a link to the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website. (2)
6. The agency's organisation chart.
7. The agency's most recent annual report.
8. The agency's corporate plan, business plan and/or organisational strategy (or equivalent).
9. Information on the agency's Minister(s), including responsibilities and contact details.
10. Information on services provided and/or program details, including hours of opening or other availability and service delivery points.
11. Information on available publications and how they may be accessed if not available online.
12. A 'Contact us' page containing detailed contact information for the agency including street address and/or postal address, phone and fax numbers (with national and international codes) and an email address.
13. A link to the Victorian Government media releases page. (3)
14. Careers information and a link to the Victorian Government Careers Website. (4)
Additional requirements – program and issue websites
15. A complete list of legislation under which the agency or program operates accompanied by a link to the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website.
16. Information on services provided and/or program details, including hours of opening or other availability and service delivery points.
17. Information on available publications and how they may be accessed if not available online.
18. A 'Contact us' page containing contact details for the program the website is representing.
19. A link to the parent agency's corporate site.
Additional requirements – thematic and portal websites
20. A 'Contact us' page containing contact details for the initiative the website is representing.
21. A link to the parent agency's corporate site.
Overview
Users come to Victorian Government websites with certain expectations as to the information they will find. This standard takes steps to address these expectations by setting the minimum amount of information that Government websites should provide to users.
Providing information online has significant benefits, including:
- more efficient access to and interaction with Government information;
- increased transparency and accountability; and
- reduced costs and environmental impacts compared to traditional printing and distribution channels.
Rationale
To provide citizens with relevant and consistent levels of information across Victorian Government websites.
Derivation
None
Related principles/ objectives
Improve access to Victorian Government information and data
In scope
- All departments and four inner budget agencies (VicRoads, Victoria Police, Environmental Protection Authority and State Revenue Office) and CenITex
- All internet sites including channels, portals and subdomains.
Audience
Departmental/agency Website Management Taskforces, website managers, content authors and owners, 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.
Guidelines, toolkits and references
Guideline: About us (WEB/GUIDE/01), CIO Website, Department of Treasury and Finance
Guideline: Contact us (WEB/GUIDE/02), CIO Website, Department of Treasury and Finance
Guideline: Publications (WEB/GUIDE/06), CIO Website, Department of Treasury and Finance
Guideline: Managing Legal Risk Online: A Guide for Victorian Government Websites, CIO Website, Department of Treasury and Finance
Reference: Information Privacy Act 2000 (Vic)
Further Information
For further information please contact web.standards@dtf.vic.gov.au
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
Corporate Website - Each department/agency has a single corporate website that describes the structure and functions of the department/agency. Examples: www.dtf.vic.gov.au, www.police.vic.gov.au, www.epa.vic.gov.au
Program/Issue Website - A website that provides information or services on a particular campaign, program or issue. Examples: www.tenders.vic.gov.au, www.legionella.vic.gov.au
Site map - A site map lists or diagrams all pages within a website. Site maps can be used in the planning stages of a website, e.g. to inform the information architecture, and as another form of navigation within an active website.
Thematic/Portal Website - A thematic website contains content focused on a particular topic. Example: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au. A portal website presents information from diverse sources in a unified way, often providing outbound links for users to access further information. (5) Example: www.vic.gov.au
Footnotes
1. See Consolidated General Order and Supplements
3. premier.vic.gov.au/category/media/
5. Adapted from the Wikipedia entry for Web portal (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_portal). Accessed 27 May 2009.
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
- Guideline: About Us
- This guideline provides advice on implementing an About Us page as required by the Victorian Government Minimum Information Provision standard.
- Guideline: Contact Us
- This guideline provides advice on implementing website contact details as required by the Minimum Information Provision standard.
- Guideline: Page Last Updated
- This guideline provides advice on implementing a ‘Page Last Updated’ reference as required by the Minimum Information Provision standard.
- Guideline: Publications
- This guideline provides advice on implementing publications lists as required by the Minimum Information Provision standard.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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