Australia has a diverse population, with many cultures, languages, levels of literacy and numeracy, and disabilities and specific needs.
Literacy and numeracy
The average level of literacy in Australia, as reported in United Nations surveys of adult competencies, is lower than you might expect.
A 2012 survey in Australia by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development measured literacy on a scale of 0 to 5 (set by the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies). Almost half the population surveyed (45%) registered below level 3, the minimum comprehension level needed for adult everyday reading:
level 0 (readers can understand only basic vocabulary) – 5% of those surveyed
level 1 (readers can decode the meanings of words and sentences) – 10%
level 2 (readers can make low-level inferences from matching texts) – 30%
level 3 (readers can interpret and evaluate significant information from several texts) – 38%
level 4 (readers can synthesise layered and conditional information from complex or mixed text types, and evaluate their bases of argument) – 15%
level 5 (readers can synthesise similar and contrasting arguments, evaluate the reliability of evidence, interpret rhetorical cues and make high-level inferences) – 2%.
Refer to these levels when you are deciding what level of readability to aim for in your writing (see Readability targets for different users). Also think about how to include and portray numerical information to suit both your content and your users.
Numeracy and graph literacy are different from reading literacy. Some people may have high reading literacy but may not easily understand numerical information. Other people may understand quantitative information more easily than written words, especially if it is presented in graphic forms.
For more information on graphical content, including graphs, charts and infographics, see Visuals and data. Also see Structure and writing for additional writing tips.
Culturally and linguistically diverse groups
Although Australia is officially an English-speaking country, many people speak languages other than English as their main language.
The Australian Census (conducted every 5 years) asks people to self-report on their English proficiency. Ethnolink has written an article on the top 10 languages spoken in Australia(Opens in a new tab/window), based on 2021 Census data(Opens in a new tab/window).
To communicate and engage with groups that have low English proficiency, ensure that English information is presented at suitable readability levels. You may need to consider translating content into other languages.
You should also consider how people from diverse backgrounds react to receiving information. For example, what may appear as simply instructional to some may seem didactic and offensive to others. User research can help you identify how best to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds.
Also see Inclusive and respectful language.
Disability and specific needs
Disability describes a variety of specific needs. In Australia, disability is categorised into 6 broad groups(Opens in a new tab/window):
- sensory, such as vision, hearing and speech difficulties
- intellectual, such as difficulties with learning or understanding
- physical, such as difficulty breathing, blackouts, chronic pain, limited use of arms or fingers, difficulty gripping things, limited use of feet or legs, and other physical restrictions
- psychosocial, such as nervous or emotional conditions, and mental illness
- head injury, including stroke and other brain damage
- other, which includes long-term conditions that are restrictive despite treatment or medication.
In Australia, about 4.4 million people live with a disability(Opens in a new tab/window) (as of 2018), which is about 18% of the population. Disability can affect people’s ability to read or understand in multiple ways. It is crucial to consider accessibility and inclusivity when planning and developing content, to ensure you meet the needs of people with disability.