Cancer Australia – Our Mob and Cancer
Delivering inclusive, culturally safe digital experiences through meaningful co design:
- The Our Mob and Cancer website was co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to provide important information about cancer from trusted sources. It is impartial, non-commercial, evidence-based and respects culture and traditions. View the Our Mob and Cancer website.
- This collaborative effort used a strength-based approach to reflect the resilience and values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The website embodies the views, history and cultural traditions of the communities it serves.
- Artworks were commissioned to provide inclusive imagery throughout the website and create an environment that simulates a connection to Country, Culture, Community and one another.
- This website champions the positive experience that can be delivered for users, particularly vulnerable cohorts, by embracing diversity through meaningful co-design to create a safe, inviting environment.
Background
Cancer Australia was established to benefit all Australians affected by cancer, and their families and carers.
The Our Mob and Cancer website is designed to become a part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ knowledge systems about cancer. It’s a safe place for users and their mob to belong.
The Our Mob and Cancer site was created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in collaboration with Cancer Australia. It is a place that respects and upholds Culture, Country and Community.
This case study is a real example showcasing how Cancer Australia have applied the Digital Inclusion Standard.
Criteria 1: Embrace diversity
Cancer Australia established an Expert Reference Group to support co-design at all stages of website development and release. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists were commissioned to develop artworks for use across the site.
Criteria 2: Motivate digital use
The main page of the site provides a seamless user journey, displaying the key user groups and topics as well as videos and an interactive map for multimodal engagement with site content.
Criteria 3: Protect users
The site contains inclusive imagery developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to provide a safe, familiar place for users. Warnings are displayed at the bottom of each page for awareness that the site may contain images, voices and names of people who have passed away, as well as a helpline for users to call.
Criteria 4: Make it accessible
The site offers a read speaker tool on many of the subpages, that includes click and listen, text enlargement and page masking functions. In line with advice from the Style Manual, the site is written in plain, inclusive language that caters to the needs of users of the site.
Criteria 5: Provide flexibility and choice
All site content is available for print and PDF with videos featured on core content pages. The site’s interactive map provides information for individuals born as a boy or girl, with tailored content also provided for healthcare professionals.