The Information Access Group

01/09/2026

Have you been told that your content needs to be written in plain English or plain language? How do you really know if your writing style is clear, and your message is suitable for a wide range of users?

Join us for this free, live, one-hour webinar where we explore everything plain language.

What we’ll cover:
· The evidence for why plain language is needed.
· What plain language is and how it differs from Easy Read.
· How plain language can make life easier for you, not just your audience.
· Knowing your audience and what can affect their understanding of your content.
· What you can (and should) use plain language for.

You’ll also learn how reading levels, readability tools and international standards for plain language apply to your work.

If you’re already a plain language advocate but aren’t sure how to encourage your manager or director to endorse it, this webinar is also for you.

Speakers include:
· Sean de Kretser, Managing Director, Information Access Group
· David Murray, Editorial Quality Manager, Information Access Group
· Melanie Page, Managing Editor, Information Access Group

When:
Tuesday 15 September 2026, 1–2 pm AEST

Where:
Online via Teams. You’ll receive the Teams link after registering. Please note, this webinar will not be recorded, and slides will not be provided.

Accessibility and questions:
If you have accessibility requirements or questions about the webinar, please email: [email protected]

Register now: 29afbcc6-fde5-426c-ad2a-e368f086c58b@e69b9cbf-472e-40f7-89fa-0aa3ea2686df" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/29afbcc6-fde5-426c-ad2a-e368f086c58b@e69b9cbf-472e-40f7-89fa-0aa3ea2686df

More information is available on the registration page.



[Image description: Two people seated and looking straight ahead. One person has a laptop in front of them. Above their heads are a banner with the words ‘Plain language. Tuesday 15 September 2026. 1-2pm AEST. Free webinar’.]

06/08/2026

We worked with Dentsu Creative to create an Easy Read resource for the Australian Government's 'Act Now. Stay Secure.' campaign.

The Easy Read explains how people can stay safe from cyber crime, with cyber safe actions like:
• using strong passphrases on personal accounts
• using multi-factor authentication
• checking privacy settings
• updating devices
• looking out for scams.

We ran 2 co-design workshops and focus groups for this job with our trusted partner, As We Are Research, with 2 different target audiences. These were:
• older Australians
• people with disability.

The feedback we received in these sessions was invaluable. It helped us to understand how the target audience wanted to learn about cyber safety and how we should approach the Easy Read resource accordingly. We worked hard to consolidate all the feedback to make the best and most informative product we could, based on what the community shared with us.

You can read the resource on the Act Now Stay Secure website: https://www.actnowstaysecure.gov.au/accessible

[Image description: A resource for the Act Now. Stay Secure. campaign with the heading 'How you can stay safe online'. Next to it is an open book showing 2 pages of the Easy Read document.]

28/07/2026

Have you heard of user research but feel unsure if it’s relevant for the work you do?

Join us for this free, live one-hour webinar where we’ll explain the why, how and who of user research and when you should consider it for your next communications project.

What we’ll cover
· Why it is important to focus on your intended audience
· Different types of user research and the types of content you can test
· Why learning from your audience trumps your own expertise
· Practicing continual improvement based on user feedback

You can find more details about the webinar on the registration page.

Speakers include
· Sean de Kretser, Managing Director, Information Access Group
· Catherine Sharp, Design and Lived Experience Liaison Officer, Information Access Group
· Assunta Chiera, Inclusion Advisor, Information Access Group
· Vassie Dandanis, Lived Experience Advisor, Information Access Group
· Thomas Sluiter, Founder, As We Are Research

When
Thursday 20 August 2026, 11 am – 12 pm AEST

Where
Online via Teams. You’ll receive the Teams link after registering.

Register now
7c722cd3-d07e-4ca1-bcef-f0c2b3e72028@e69b9cbf-472e-40f7-89fa-0aa3ea2686df" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/7c722cd3-d07e-4ca1-bcef-f0c2b3e72028@e69b9cbf-472e-40f7-89fa-0aa3ea2686df

[Image description: A group of people with disability smiling. The words 'User research Thursday 20 August 2026, 11am-12pm AEST' and 'Free webinar' are written above them. The Information Access Group logo is at the bottom.]

21/07/2026

We worked with Carbon Creative (Australia) to produce Easy Read versions of 4 Territories Stolen Generation Redress Scheme documents on behalf of the Australian Government.

This suite of documents provides information for First Nations people who were removed from their families or communities in Australian territories.

The suite included topics like:
· payments and support for Stolen Generations
· personal acknowledgement
· applying for redress.

Carbon Creative ran their own lived experience testing, which was invaluable for our team to create trauma-sensitive documents. Drawing from first-hand experiences was essential for understanding the nuances in language and conveying the messages in a respectful way.

Our editorial team used clear, simple and trauma-sensitive language to explain the messages of each document. They also used language to cater to the needs of Stolen Generations survivors. For example, using language that was familiar to the target readers that we might normally consider complex for Easy Read. The editorial team also made sure the document titles were simple and meaningful to make them easy for the target audience to find and recognise.

Our studio team only used icons to portray the important ideas in the suite. They chose this approach to illustrate the content in a trauma-sensitive way for the target reader.

You can read the Easy Read suite of documents on the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme website: https://territoriesredress.gov.au/resources/short-overview-fact-sheet

[Image description: 4 Easy Read document covers of the Territories Stolen Generation Redress Scheme.]

08/07/2026

What if you know you need to consider accessibility for your communications projects, but you’re not sure how to incorporate accessibility into each step of the process?

Join us for this live, one-hour webinar where we’ll give you practical tips and considerations for planning accessibility not as an afterthought, but from the start of your project.

What we’ll cover:

· The barriers that different user groups might experience when accessing your content
· Making language accessible
· Visual design for different user groups
· Digital accessibility

You can find more details about the webinar on the registration page.

Speakers include:

· Sean de Kretser, Managing Director, Information Access Group
· Assunta Chiera, Inclusion Advisor, Information Access Group
· David Murray, Editorial Quality Manager, Information Access Group
· Sienna Fernando, Studio Quality Manager, Information Access Group

When:
Tuesday 21 July 2026, 11am – 12pm AEST

Where:
Online via Teams. You’ll receive the Teams link after registering.

Register now
d58fc3b8-a0e7-4e28-8e29-627d5d1b25e4@e69b9cbf-472e-40f7-89fa-0aa3ea2686df" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d58fc3b8-a0e7-4e28-8e29-627d5d1b25e4@e69b9cbf-472e-40f7-89fa-0aa3ea2686df

[ID: A group of people in a presentation. The words 'Incorporating accessibility into your project' and 'Free webinar' are written above them. The words 'Tuesday 21 July 2026, 11am-12pm AEST' are written below them. The Information Access Group logo is at the bottom. ]

27/05/2026

Trauma-informed design considers the lived experiences of people who have gone through trauma due to poor mental health, su***de, domestic and family violence and sexual assault.

The elements of trauma-informed design include:

· photos and illustrations

· iconography

· colour

· layout.

It’s important to make sure your visual design makes the reader feel safe. Each element should be carefully considered for those who have experienced trauma.

You can learn how to take a trauma-informed approach to visual design in the article our studio team has put together.

Learn how to take a trauma-informed approach when using visual design. Including photos, icons and colours.

20/05/2026

Today, we acknowledge Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).

The purpose of GAAD is to encourage people to get curious about digital access and inclusion.

To help you get curious, we’ve put all our digital accessibility resources into one neat website resource for you: www.informationaccessgroup.com/digital-accessibility

Whether you’re just starting out on your accessibility journey, or need a gentle reminder, we have resources on topics like:

· accessibility standards in Australia

· how text-to-speech can make your content more accessible

· the most accessible way to publish information online: a guide to HTML

· a comparison of screen readers

If you have any accessibility topics you’d like us to provide resources on, we’d love to hear from you. You can email us: [email protected]

[Image description: A person with a prosthetic arm using a computer at home. The screen is showing a document next to a sound icon. Above is a poster saying 'Digital accessibility' next to a post-it note with a smiley face.]

14/05/2026

We worked with State Trustees to produce an Easy Read version of their Welcome Guide. The guide explains how State Trustees can support people with their money. For example, when someone needs an administrator.

We worked closely with State Trustees to develop an Easy Read version of their guide, sharing ideas about all aspects of accessibility to determine the best approach.

Our editorial team used clear and simple language to explain complex legal terminology and information. They worked closely with State Trustees to make sure the Easy Read version retained the informative and reassuring tone of the source content.

Our designers created a bespoke style for the guide, using accessible colours while incorporating State Trustees' hand-painted icon style to make sure the guide was consistent with their branding. Our designers used icons and images to help portray the important ideas in the guide.

The guide is a resource people can use when they meet with State Trustees to help them better understand who State Trustees are and what they do.

You can read the Easy Read Welcome Guide on the State Trustees website: https://www.statetrustees.com.au/welcome-financial-administration/

[Image description: A guide for State Trustees with the heading 'How we help you with your money' above a person using their phone. Below is an open book showing 2 pages of the State Trustees Easy Read guide.]

13/05/2026

We hosted our first Accessible Information Forum in April at the Savoy Hotel in Melbourne.

If you weren’t able to make it, we’ve captured our top 5 takeaways in this article: https://informationaccessgroup.com/news/accessible-information-forum-2026-our-key-takeaways/

Unsurprisingly, they all point to the same theme – the importance of taking a human approach to accessible communications.

Read our top 5 key takeaways from the 2026 Accessible Information Forum.

08/04/2026

What a day this was!

It’s been a couple of weeks since our first Accessible Information Forum and we are still feeling grateful.

Grateful to every attendee who came with curiosity and embraced the opportunity to contribute and learn.

Grateful for the insights and knowledge shared by the incredible line up of speakers.

Grateful for the conversations that have sparked ongoing actions.

Grateful for the overwhelmingly positive feedback, along with the constructive feedback that will help us improve the next Forum.

Together, you made the day so special.

A huge thank you to Ariella Meltzer, Assunta Chiera, Costa Vasili, Vassiliki Dandanis, Thomas Sluiter, Anthony Lam, Naomi Benites, Michelle Chu and Kathy McEwan for your time and willingness to present such powerful perspectives on accessible information.

The key takeaway? Having seen how many people are genuinely committed to incorporating lived experience into their processes, the future of accessible communications is bright!

We can’t wait to start planning the next Forum.



[Image descriptions:

Image 1: Kellie Preston and Assunta Chiera standing in front of a lectern. Kellie is speaking. To their right is an Auslan interpreter. Behind them is a big screen that reads ‘Welcome to the Accessible Information Forum’.

Image 2: The attendees of the Accessible Information Forum all looking at the camera.

Image 3: 7 of the speakers sitting in a row. Costa Vasili is holding a microphone and speaking.

Image 4: Michelle Chu standing at the lectern, presenting. To her right is an Auslan interpreter. Behind her is a big screen that reads ‘You know what good looks like’.

Image 5: An Auslan interpreter communicating with an attendee at the check-in desk.

Image 6: 2 containers of fidget toys sitting next to attendee lanyards at the check-in desk.

Image 7: Attendees watching a presentation.

Image 8: A group of attendees talking during a networking activity.

Image 9: Food and drink being served.

Image 10: The 9 speakers, Sean de Kretser and Kellie Preston standing in a group.]