Common utility navigation elements should be incorporated into all Australian Government websites.

Why should I?

The use of consistent branding, common utility (structural, not content specific) navigational elements will assist in improving the user experience across Australian Government websites.

What should I do?

The following common utility navigation elements should be incorporated into each page. These are: Home, About, Contact us, Search.

There are a range of legal statements all government websites should display, as part of their accountability and governance structure. These include a Privacy Statement, a Copyright Notice and a Disclaimer. An Accessibility Notice may also be included. Links to these statements are generally displayed at the foot of each page.

How do I?

Utility navigation elements and description

Home

Links to primary page of the site.

About

Links either to information about the agency, or the product/program. To ensure accountability and transparency, users of each site should be able to determine who is responsible for the information presented on each site.

Contact us

Links to information to assist clients to contact the agency responsible for the resource (telephone and facsimile numbers, street and post office box addresses, e-mail address, etc.) as required in the Online Content Requirements. For product and program sites, this link can generate an e-mail or an online feedback form.

Search

This will either be accompanied by a search box or provide a link to the site’s search page. It may also incorporate an advanced search option.

Privacy

This will link to the site’s privacy statement. Further information about privacy statements is contained in Privacy and Privacy Statements.

Copyright

This will link to the site’s copyright statement. Further information about copyright and wording of copyright notices is contained in Copyright and Copyright Notices.

Disclaimer

This will link to the site’s disclaimer. Further information about disclaimers is contained in Disclaimers.

Accessibility notice

This will link to the site’s accessibility statement. Further information about Accessibility notices is contained in Accessibility.

Page Structure

All elements appearing on a page should present a clearly defined hierarchy of information, both in structure and presentation.

All elements must be presented in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.0. See Accessibility for further information.

A logically structured approach to page content

Masthead

Contains the appropriate Design and site name.

Common navigation

Includes (but is not limited to): Home, About, Contact us and Search navigation links. This element should ideally be presented as an HTML list, incorporating a ‘skip navigation’ function to allow users to navigate to the next logical point in the page’s structure.

Content

Contains the page’s title, textual content and content-specific navigation. Content-specific navigation should ideally be presented as an HTML list, incorporating a ‘skip navigation’ function to allow users to navigate to the next logical point in the page’s structure.

Foot

Includes (but is not limited to): Privacy, Copyright, Disclaimer and Accessibility navigation links. This element should ideally be presented as an HTML list.

Placement of Elements

The following elements may be incorporated into the masthead of all pages with the brand Design, site title or site specific logo (if required) and common navigation elements (Home, About, Contact us, Search).

The appropriate Australian Government branding is to be the most prominent element in the masthead (top left hand side). Secondary, in the hierarchy is the site title or site specific logo (if required). All elements must be legible.

The placement of other elements has a degree of flexibility. Common navigational elements may be presented in the masthead, but in a manner that does not compromise the hierarchy of the branding.

Site specific navigation elements may also be incorporated into the masthead, but in a manner that does not compromise the hierarchy of the branding.

The following legal statements and navigational elements should be incorporated into the foot of all pages: Copyright, Disclaimer, Privacy and Accessibility (optional). All elements must be legible.

Subjects:

• Visual
• Design
• Branding
• Navigation