Using this website
Accessibility Standards
This website has been designed and developed in line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. Our goal is to ensure the information we provide is perceivable, operable, understandable and robust for all users, including people using assistive technologies.
Key accessibility principles applied include:
- Ensuring strong colour contrast between text and backgrounds
- Clear, consistent navigation and heading structures
- Full keyboard operability throughout the site
- Support for screen reader users through descriptive link text, form labels and meaningful alt tags
- Respecting user settings such as reduced motion and text size preferences
- Providing multiple formats for key documents when appropriate
We regularly review the site to maintain and improve accessibility as technology and standards evolve.
Adjusting Text Size
You can increase or decrease the size of the text on this website using your browser’s built-in zoom and font settings.
This website has been built to fully respect user-controlled text resizing, so content will reflow properly without breaking layouts or overlapping.
To adjust text size:
Windows:
- Zoom in/out: Press Ctrl and + or Ctrl and –
- Reset zoom: Press Ctrl and 0
Mac:
- Zoom in/out: Press ⌘ and + or ⌘ and –
- Reset zoom: Press ⌘ and 0
You can also adjust the default font size in your browser’s settings or preferences menu.
No content or functionality should be lost when text is resized up to 200%, as recommended in WCAG.
Using the Language Functionality
This website includes support for multiple languages through our integrated translation tool.
To use this feature:
- Select your preferred language from the Languages menu located in the site header.
- The page will automatically translate into your selected language.
- You can switch back to English at any time using the same menu.
While automated translation may not always be perfect, it provides a helpful alternative for users who prefer reading content in their own language.
For formal complaints or detailed information, users may prefer to use a professional interpreter service such as the Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS National).
Keyboard Use and Navigation
The website can be navigated entirely using a keyboard.
Key features include:
- A Skip to main content link to bypass repetitive navigation
- Logical, predictable tab order
- Keyboard-accessible menus, buttons and sliders
- Visible focus indicators so you can see where you are on the page
Forms are fully keyboard-compatible and built using standard HTML fields to maximise compatibility with assistive technologies.
Screen Reader Compatibility
The website supports modern screen readers including NVDA, JAWS and VoiceOver.
We have applied the following screen-reader-specific considerations:
- Descriptive alt text for images
- Clear and semantic heading levels for structured reading
- Meaningful link text (avoiding generic phrases like “Read more”)
- Hidden screen reader text added where extra context is needed
- Icon-only buttons and interactive elements include accessible labels
- Error messages in forms are read aloud and are not dependent on colour alone
Animations, Motion and Visual Comfort
Users who have set their device to reduce motion will experience:
- Reduced or removed animations
- More stable page transitions
- No unnecessary movement within components such as carousels
This helps ensure a safer, more comfortable browsing experience for users with vestibular disorders or motion sensitivities.
Forms and Online Submissions
Our forms are designed to be easy to use and accessible:
- Form fields use visible, persistent labels
- Placeholder text is not used as a substitute for labels
- Errors are explained with clear text and not only by colour
- Multi-step forms are fully keyboard-accessible and use standard controls
- Each page of a form includes context and progress information
Document Accessibility
Annual reports and key publications are provided with:
- Their own dedicated page
- A text-based summary
- Multiple download formats (PDF and Word) to improve compatibility with different devices and assistive technologies
Where possible, documents follow accessible formatting guidelines, including correct heading structure, tagged PDFs and readable fonts.
If you have difficulty using this website
If you experience a problem accessing any part of this website, need information in a different format, or would like to provide feedback on accessibility, please contact us. We are committed to improving accessibility and welcome feedback from our community.