These guidelines outline the requirements and recommendations for best practice for creating a web presence that is consistent with UWA's visual identity and Web policy.

Site co-ordinators / editors; custodians and approvers should ensure that information and services published on the World Wide Web are authoritative, secure, accurate, relevant, current and accessible.

1. Authoritative
2. Secure
3. Accurate
4. Relevant
5. Current
6. Accessible

Authoritative

Official websites must be immediately identifiable as an authoritative source of information by their adherence to consistent design measures.

• When visitors reach your site, how will they know that they are viewing official information?
• Does your site present a coherent and consistent image of your organisation?
• Is your position within the University and relationship to other sections of the University apparent?
• Who is responsible for what appears on your site?
• How is that responsibility exercised?
• Is there adequate control over content appearing on your site?
• Are excessive controls impairing the development and maintenance of your site?
• Who has permission to make what changes?

Secure

Appropriate security precautions should be taken to protect information and services from interference and inappropriate access.

• Is your information secure from tampering or defacement?
• Is information intended only for restricted use secured from public access?

Accurate

Information made available should accurately reflect University policies and positions. Business units should avoid disseminating or duplicating information for which they are not the primary source.

• What checks are in place to ensure the accuracy of information available on your site?
• Are you duplicating information that might be more accurately and reliably obtained elsewhere?
• Have you checked the spelling and grammar on your website?

Relevant

Information made available should address the particular needs of potential clients and users of the website. Information should be presented in a user-focused fashion.

• Will web visitors discern a clear purpose for your website?
• Does your site present an organisational viewpoint or structure that will prove cryptic and unnavigable to users outside your organisation?
• Have you identified key categories of clients and users visiting your site?
• Does your site present user-focused information addressing the particular needs of each user group?
• Does the information provided on your site reflect its position within the University and its relationship to other sections of the University?

Current

Appropriate procedures and technologies should be employed to ensure that the information made available is always up to date.

• Are visitors to your site confronted by out of date information and broken links?
• What policies, procedures and technologies are in place to ensure that your site offers only current information?
• How frequently is each page on your site reviewed and updated?

Accessible

Websites must recognise and cater for the needs of all users.

• Are technologies used on your site denying access to potential users?
• Can your site be accessed using any combination of web browser and operating system?
• Does your site adhere to accessibility standards for people with disabilities?
• Are potential visitors able to find your information listed in search engines?
• Is your site being effectively indexed by search engines?
• Is your use of various web technologies preventing people from navigating your site effectively?

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