Victoria mandates plain language: What now?

The Victorian government has taken a major step towards clearer, fairer and more accessible public communication. With the Victorian Government accessible communication policy, Victoria now mandates plain language and accessibility for all future internal and external communication.

This article covers:

• who the policy applies to and what you must do
• why the policy matters for Victorian public-sector teams
• where public-sector teams may feel the pressure
• how we can help
• where to start.

Who the policy applies to and what you must do

The policy applies to all Victorian government employees, including:

• contractors
• consultants
• IT suppliers
• volunteers.

The policy covers all future internal and external communication, including websites, social media, digital content, presentations, forms, surveys and documents.

You must follow the international standard. The Victorian government adopted the Plain Language Standard (ISO 24495‑1:2023). And from now on all writing must follow the clear, direct and user‑friendly writing principles outlined in the standard.

Writing must be below a year 8 readability level wherever possible. The policy advises that some content is technical and may not reach a year 8 readability level. In this case, the policy recommends editing to remove jargon, using active verbs and short sentences then rechecking the readability level.

Why the policy matters for Victorian public-sector teams

Plain language is for everyone. Even if people can read long and complex documents, they won’t thank you for them. But plain language isn’t just best practice, it’s a commitment to access, equality and inclusion.

Plain language reduces barriers for people who:

• rely on assistive technology, such as screen readers
• have a sensory, cognitive or physical disability
• have culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• have low literacy levels.

When information is unclear, these groups suffer most. Accessible information benefits everyone.

Plain language isn’t ‘dumbing down’ – it makes information easier for everyone to find, understand and use.

Australian governments recognise accessible content benefits diverse communities and improves:

• understanding by reducing complexity and ambiguity
• trust through clarity and transparency
• engagement because people can easily act on what they read.

Where public-sector teams may feel the pressure

A new far-reaching policy can feel overwhelming, and you may have questions:

• How do we train busy teams in plain language?
• How do we check readability?
• What does ‘accessible’ really mean?
• Who oversees quality control?

These are common concerns that all teams experience when introducing plain language policies.

Where to start

Your department may now be taking its first steps to comply with the new policy. Start gradually with:

• lunch‑and‑learn sessions to introduce teams to the new policy
• targeted training for key communicators, writers and reviewers
• a longer‑term program to lift staff’s plain language writing skills.

These steps help teams build momentum while developing confidence with the new policy.

How we can help

For over 20 years, we’ve helped Australian government teams write clearer, more accessible content. This includes work with major Victorian agencies, such as Department of Premier and Cabinet, WorkSafe Victoria and the Environment Protection Authority.

Teams who adopt plain language quickly see measurable improvements:

• 50% less drafting time – writers work faster with a clear, structured approach.
• 40% shorter documents – plain language cuts clutter and focuses on what readers need.
• 50% higher reader satisfaction – clear messages reduce confusion, complaints and follow-up.

We offer evaluations to benchmark your organisation against accessible communication standards and the new plain language ISO standard. To fill any gaps, we have tailored workshops to build writers’ confidence, with real-world examples and frameworks to guide writing.

And to embed the skills we teach, our editing team can work with you to create a range of workplace documents and templates and develop style guides to ensure consistency. We even offer planning to help roll out your updated documents and training program. For more details about our work, visit our website – it has free accessible communication resources to get you started!

Plain language doesn’t just support the public, it improves efficiency, reduces rework and boosts staff confidence.

If your department is planning its next steps, let us help you plan a simple, practical approach to implementing the policy.

Book a free 30‑minute consultation or contact us to discuss your needs.

Plain language is now a requirement. But it’s also an opportunity to build trust, reduce complexity and support every Victorian who relies on your content.