Style guide

The website style guide is for Agriculture Victoria staff who write, edit, approve or publish content for external audiences on agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Use it to keep your content clear, consistent and easy to find and use.

What this guide covers

The style guide includes information about the Agriculture Victoria website, working with the website team, website foundations, creating website pages, website page elements (like tables, lists and links), writing and style guide, plus resources and training.

Next step: Use the ‘Style guide sections’ element above as your table of contents and go straight to the topic you need.

Work with the website team

Use Working with the website team when you need help to publish, update or improve content for external audiences on agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Before you get in touch, note the page topic and the outcome you need, then gather any supporting material you want published.

Next step: Contact a member of the Web team to discuss your request.

Website foundations

Use Website foundations to make content easier to read on a screen and easier to find in search.

• Use clear headings that match the words users use.
• Keep paragraphs short, put the key message first.
• Publish HTML content as the default, rather than documents.

Next step: Review your content against these basics.

Create website pages

Use Creating website pages when you are drafting a new page or reshaping an existing one.

• Start with 2 to 3 sentences that tell users what the page is about and who it is for.
• Use meaningful headings that reflect tasks, not internal labels.
• Remove repeated information by linking to the source page.

Next step: Draft your page content into heading and subheadings. Start with your most important information.

Website page elements

Use Key website page elements when you are choosing how to present information on a page.

• Make link text describe the destination – avoid ‘Click here’.
• Use lists for steps, options and short sets of related points.
• Use tables to show large amounts of data or numbers that are too detailed for text. Do not use them for visual formatting of your content.

See Other website page elements (A to Z) for a guide on other elements you can use to present your content.

Next step: Have someone review your content to confirm that it explains the subject well.

Writing and style guide

Use Writing and style guide to keep writing clear, concise, consistent and professional.

• Use short sentences and common words.
• Explain terms users may not know, spell out acronyms on first use.
• Remove filler so each paragraph earns its place on the page.

Next step: Rewrite your intro and first section using short sentences and clear verbs.

Resources and training

Use Resources and training to find useful information on writing web content.

Reach out to the Web team for more help.

Emergency responses

Use Emergency responses and the website to see how the web team is involved before, during and after a declared Agriculture Victoria emergency response.