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Website Development for Government Services

Transform your government website with our expert website development services. Secure, user-friendly, and accessible to all. Contact us today.

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When building a website for Australian National, State, and local Governments, government agencies must consider accessibility, security, and privacy. Accessibility is a crucial requirement mandated by the Australian Government, with agencies required to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA and encouraged to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Security is also essential, with compliance with the Australian Government Information Security Manual (ISM) providing a comprehensive framework for ensuring the website is secure and meets government security standards. Privacy is also a major consideration, with the website required to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) to protect users’ personal information, requiring clear information and the ability for users to access, correct, or delete their personal information.

By addressing these factors, Butterfly helps government agencies meet the specific requirements in Australia for their website. We help government entities design a site that is accessible to all, secure, and privacy-compliant. Our websites assist government agencies to effectively communicate with their constituents while maintaining trust in the security of their information.

Easy-to-use websites

A government website should provide easy access to information and services for citizens. Our website design service creates user-friendly, accessible, and visually appealing sites that improve citizen engagement and satisfaction. Let us help you establish a professional online presence that reflects your agency's mission and values.

Accessible for all

Government organisations have a responsibility to ensure their digital services are accessible to all. Our Accessible Website Design Service ensures compliance with accessibility guidelines, creating a platform that accommodates all users, while promoting inclusion and equal access to information.

Australian secure hosting

Government organisations handle sensitive information, and secure hosting is critical to prevent data breaches. Our service ensures maximum security and uptime, providing a reliable and scalable hosting solution for your website. Trust us to keep your website safe and accessible to the public.

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Accessibility

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) serve as a comprehensive set of rules designed to promote the creation of accessible websites. These guidelines are particularly significant in Australia, where the government has mandated that all its websites must adhere to WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards. Furthermore, they strongly encourage striving for compliance with the updated WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements. These guidelines operate on four foundational principles, namely making content perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. WCAG elaborates specific recommendations for various types of content like text, images, audio, video, and forms. For instance, they advocate for providing alternative text descriptions for visual elements and insisting on sufficient contrast between text and background colours. By rigorously adhering to these guidelines, government agencies can ensure that their digital platforms are inclusive, catering to the needs of all users, including those who have disabilities.

Butterfly can help government agencies with website accessibility by ensuring that their websites comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA or WCAG 2.1 Level AA, which are mandated by the Australian government. We design and develop websites with the principles of accessibility in mind, such as using proper colour contrast, providing alternative text for images, and ensuring that all functionality is operable by users with different types of disabilities. 

We also provide training and support for government agencies to ensure that they are able to maintain the accessibility of their websites in the long-term. This may involve providing training on how to create accessible content or with our accessibility packages conduct accessibility audits to ensure ongoing compliance with WCAG guidelines.

Design

When designing a website for Australian government agencies, simplicity and usability are key design principles. The website should have a clear hierarchy of information and a consistent layout and design to make it easy to navigate. The website should be accessible and easy to use for all users, with plain language and avoiding complex terminology. Government websites must also comply with design standards and guidelines, such as the Australian Government Design System (AGDS). The AGDS provides design guidelines and templates for government websites, including typography, colour, and layout. It also provides guidance on accessibility, usability, and user-centred design. By following these standards and guidelines, government agencies can ensure that their websites are effective, usable, and compliant with government requirements. We help government agencies in Australia by providing expertise in website design, development, and implementation. We work with government stakeholders to understand their specific needs and requirements, and develop a website design that meets those needs while also complying with government standards and guidelines. Butterfly also provides guidance on best practices for accessibility, usability, and user-centered design, ensuring that the website is easy to navigate and use for all users, including those with disabilities.

Security

Australian government agencies prioritise website security due to handling sensitive information and the risk of cyber attacks. Adhering to standards such as the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) and the Australian Government Information Security Manual (ISM) can help agencies implement security controls such as access control, physical security, and incident management, to protect their websites and information. Government agencies must also stay up-to-date with the latest security threats and vulnerabilities by regularly monitoring their websites for security issues, applying patches and updates, and conducting regular security testing and assessments. This proactive approach to website security can help agencies ensure that their websites are secure and protected against cyber threats. 

 

We assist local, state and national government agencies with website security by providing expertise and guidance on implementing security best practices and adhering to security standards. This includes ensuring that the website is developed with secure coding practices, implementing access control measures to restrict access to sensitive information, and regularly monitoring the website for security vulnerabilities and threats. Butterfly can also provide guidance on incident management and response planning to help agencies quickly and effectively respond to security incidents. Additionally, we help government agencies stay up-to-date with the latest security threats and vulnerabilities by regularly conducting security assessments and recommending updates and patches as needed. By working with Butterfly, government agencies can ensure that their websites are secure and protected against cyber threats.

Functionality

The functionality of government websites is crucial to meet user needs, and Australian government agencies must comply with specific standards and guidelines. Accessibility is a key consideration, including compatibility with assistive technologies and alternative formats for content. Usability is also important, with a focus on clear information, plain language, and quick loading times across devices. Compliance with standards like the Digital Service Standard ensures that government websites are user-centred, accessible, secure, and performant. By adhering to these standards, agencies can ensure that their websites are functional and user-friendly.

Butterfly can help government agencies with website functionality by ensuring that their websites meet accessibility, usability, and other functionality standards. We work closely with the government agency to understand the needs of the users and design a website that is easy to use, navigate, and understand. This includes ensuring that the website is accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, and that it is compatible with assistive technologies. Butterfly also ensures that the website loads quickly, is responsive across a range of devices and screen sizes, and is optimised for search engines. By adhering to functionality standards and guidelines, we help government agencies create a website that is user-friendly, effective, and compliant with government requirements.

Government sectors

Butterfly has extensive experience working with a wide range of government bodies. We help you create secure, accessible, and compliant digital solutions to meet your organisational needs and objectives.

  • Federal government agencies
  • State government agencies
  • Local government councils
  • State education bodies
  • Research institutes
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FAQs on government website development

The WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are a set of international guidelines that provide a framework for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. The Australian government has adopted the WCAG 2.0 AA level as its standard for website accessibility. Compliance with these standards is important for government websites to ensure that all users can access the information and services provided.
Australian government websites must comply with a range of security standards, including the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) and the Australian Government Information Security Manual (ISM). These standards provide guidelines and requirements for managing security risks to protect government information.
The key design principles for Australian government websites include simplicity, usability, and compliance with design standards and guidelines. Websites should be easy to navigate, with a clear hierarchy of information and a consistent layout and design. They should also be designed with the user in mind, with a focus on providing a positive user experience. Compliance with design standards and guidelines, such as the Australian Government Design System (AGDS), is also important for ensuring that government websites are effective, usable, and compliant with government requirements.
The key functionality standards for Australian government websites include accessibility, usability, and compliance with functionality standards and guidelines. Websites must be designed and built to ensure that all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, can access and use the information and services provided. They must also be designed to provide a positive user experience, with a focus on ease of use and navigation. Compliance with functionality standards and guidelines, such as the Digital Service Standard (DSS), is also important for ensuring that government websites are user-centred, accessible, and effective.