Welcome to Outback Learning

Accessibility Statement for Outback Learning

Outback Learning is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards.

This accessibility statement describes our ongoing efforts to make our website accessible.

Conformance Status

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Outback Learning strives to be conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

Accessibility Features

We have implemented the following features to enhance the accessibility of our website:

• Semantic HTML: Using semantic HTML elements to structure content, providing clear meaning and context for assistive technologies.
• Alternative Text: Providing descriptive alternative text for all images to convey their content and purpose to users who cannot see them. For example, the Outback Learning logo has the alt text: "Outback Learning logo: A stylized image of a red kangaroo silhouette jumping across a setting sun, with the text 'Outback Learning' underneath.". Course images, like those showing desert farming, outback tourism, and environmental conservation, are given descriptive alt text to illustrate the course's focus.
• Keyboard Navigation: Ensuring that all interactive elements are navigable using a keyboard, allowing users who cannot use a mouse to access all functionality.
• Color Contrast: Maintaining sufficient color contrast between text and background to improve readability for users with low vision. Our color palette, inspired by the Australian outback, carefully balances aesthetic appeal with accessibility. We use tools to verify color contrast ratios meet WCAG guidelines.
• Resizable Text: Allowing users to increase the text size without loss of content or functionality, typically through browser settings. The website layout adapts fluidly to different text sizes, ensuring content remains readable and usable.
• Clear and Consistent Navigation: Providing a clear and consistent navigation structure to help users easily find what they are looking for. The main navigation menu is always visible at the top of the page and follows a logical order.
• Forms Accessibility: Ensuring that all form elements have proper labels and instructions to assist users in completing them accurately.
• Video Captions and Transcripts: Providing captions and transcripts for all video content to make it accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• ARIA Attributes: Using ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes to provide additional information to assistive technologies about the role, state, and properties of interactive elements.
• Screen Reader Compatibility: Regularly testing the website with screen readers such as NVDA and JAWS to ensure compatibility and usability.
• Focus Indicators: Providing clear visual focus indicators for keyboard users to easily identify the currently selected element.
• Descriptive Link Text: Using descriptive link text that clearly indicates the destination of the link, avoiding generic phrases like "click here." For example, instead of "Click here to learn more," we use "Learn more about Sustainable Desert Farming."

Ongoing Efforts

We are dedicated to continuously improving the accessibility of our website. Our ongoing efforts include:

• Regularly auditing the website using automated accessibility testing tools and manual reviews.
• Providing accessibility training to our web development and content creation teams.
• Staying up-to-date with the latest accessibility standards and best practices.
• Soliciting feedback from users with disabilities to identify areas for improvement.

Reporting Accessibility Issues

We are committed to addressing any accessibility issues promptly. If you encounter any difficulties accessing our website, please let us know.

To report an accessibility issue, please provide the following information:

• The URL (web address) of the page where you encountered the issue.
• A description of the accessibility issue you experienced.
• The assistive technology you were using (e.g., screen reader, browser).
• Your contact information (optional, but helpful for follow-up).

Please send your accessibility feedback to accessibility@outbacklearning.com.au or call us at +61 498 227 654.

Contact Information

For accessibility inquiries or support, please contact:

Feedback and Suggestions

We welcome your feedback and suggestions on how we can improve the accessibility of our website. Your input is valuable in helping us create a more inclusive online learning environment.

Outback Learning is dedicated to making education accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. Thank you for helping us in our commitment.

Formal Approval of this Statement

This accessibility statement has been formally reviewed and approved by the management team of Outback Learning, demonstrating our commitment to accessibility as a core value. The statement will be reviewed annually, or more frequently as needed, to ensure it remains accurate and reflects our ongoing efforts to improve accessibility.

Exceptions

While we strive to adhere to the accepted guidelines and standards for accessibility and usability, it is not always possible to do so in all areas of the website. Should you experience difficulty in accessing information on our website, please do not hesitate to contact us.