About this site

The website can be navigated via the following:

1. The horizontal navigation bar provides quick access to items related to the Portfolio and Department.
2. The left navigation bar contains sector specific, common topics and audience segment pages.
3. The right navigation bar or quick links menu contains additional information including Related Pages, In This Section or content specific contact details.
4. The breadcrumb trail (labelled “You are here:”) shows the position of the current page in the formal menu hierarchy, with links to previous pages in the pathway from the Home page.

All of this has been delivered in appropriate and consistent terminology to make it easy to find required information.

This website has been designed and built with accessibility as a key priority. The initial concept for the website was tested by an accessibility expert. Regular testing was also conducted during each phase of development. The flyout navigation system is replicated at the top level when the link is activated through the content or replacement of the left navigation.

The use of images has been minimised in the navigation of this website and plain text has been used wherever possible. All images contained on this website have been allocated alternative text (Alt Tags). Alt Tags ensure images are still readable for those using screen readers or for users who disable all images via their browser.

This website has been tested and works in a number of browsers including Netscape 4 but is best viewed in:

• Netscape 7
• Internet Explorer 6
• Firefox 1.0.2

There may be some information on the website held in non-HTML formats. If, there is information that you require and it is in a format that you cannot access, or if you experience any other accessibility difficulties, please advise the Web Administrator by email or write to:

Web Administrator
Parliamentary and Communications Branch
Department of Education, Science and Training
Location 753
GPO Box 9880
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia

To obtain hardcopy versions of publications or reports not available in a required format (such as PDF or RTF), please email the DEST Publications Inquiries Service or write to:

Publications Inquiries
Department of Education, Science and Training
Location 702
GPO Box 9880
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia

Adobe also provide tools to help make Adobe PDF files accessible to the vision impaired. These tools convert Adobe PDF documents into HTML or ASCII text which can then be read by a number of common screen reading programs that synthesize text as audible speech. These tools are available from http://access.adobe.com/

As a result of the recent redevelopment of the DEST website, many pages have now been moved to new locations. You may be using an old bookmark that has expired or clicked on a hyperlink that was broken in the source document. To access the information you are looking for you can navigate from the homepage, conduct a quick search, publication search, archive search, or an advanced search.

If you would like to link to the DEST website, the Department should be referred to as the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training. It is recommended that deep linking is minimised as the Department cannot guarantee current links will not change.

For permission to link to the DEST website or if you are still having difficulties please contact us at wwweditor@dest.gov.au.